As part of the online audio library, we are recording the original Chanakya Arthashastra .I am doing most of the recording myself, because i really do want to read this book, and also because then it helps me create good stories for my child. Arthashastra is a treatise on economics, strategy, public administration and politics combined. It is an incredibly fantastic book and proves to me, yet again, how advanced was the thought process of the people who came before us.
Today, however, i recorded a really special chapter, which i really want to share with the rest of you.
This is the chapter on the duties of the citizen. Sample some gems:
A. Every householder has to let the civic administration know that they have guests. The origin, destination and purpose of these guests must be disclosed, otherwise the householder will be considered complicit if the guests are found to be committing a crime.
Even if the guests do not commit a crime, the householder will be fined 3 panas per night for not disclosing details of guests housed in the private home.
B. All visitors to the republic (janapada) must be registered. They can stay with their professional or personal acquaintances if they know someone. Else, the owner of the hotel must inform the civic administration about them and must allow them to stay only after the right approval.
C. If an officer of the law omits to conduct a check where he was supposed to check, and this lapse leads to the successful committing of a crime, the said officer will be punished at the same level as the committer of the crime.
D. Yes, there was death penalty for rape in certain cases, and in most other cases, the severity of the punishment was very high - the most severe, or the second most severe category.
To know more about the duties and responsibilities of the civic administration, and the duties of the citizens, check this audio file out:
Nagrikpanidhi:
https://goo.gl/Q5Epha
Enjoy!!
