Who wrote the Arthashastra, and what does it tell us about ancient Indian polity?

 

The Arthashastra was written by Kautilya (Chanakya), who was the chief advisor and teacher of Chandragupta Maurya. The book is a detailed treatise on politics, economics, military strategy, and administration. It explains how a king should rule, manage his ministers, collect taxes, protect the kingdom, and even deal with enemies through war or diplomacy.