Arthashastra for Children author Deepa Agarwal: Kautilya’s theories on the art of governing a country are timeless

Deepa Agarwal; and the cover of The Arthashastra for Children.

Deepa Agarwal's new book The Arthashastra for Children (Puffin, 2023) attempts to acquaint young readers with the ancient treatise on governance, social welfare, financial management and town planning – the Arthashastra is attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), prime minister to Chandragupta Maurya. It was compiled between the second and third century BCE. In an interview, Agarwal spoke about learning the basics of economics as a child, and the challenges of adapting the Arthashastra for children today. Edited excerpts:

How did you learn the basics of economics as a child?

I learned the basics of economics by trying to manage my pocket money, which was Rs 5 per month, probably the average amount given to a middle-class child in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I was in boarding school and opportunities to spend it only came once a week when we could buy sweets or small articles at the tuck shop. I tried to keep my spending to Re 1 or Rs 1.50 per week. I realized that if I blew it all in one go—which I did once—there would be no sweets the following week. Some years I managed to save enough to go home with a big bag of sweets at the end of the school term.

Why did the Arthashastra seem relevant for children growing up in 2023?

The Arthashastra may be an ancient treatise, but Kautilya’s theories on the art of governing a country are timeless. Today, children are initiated into the nitty-gritty of governing a country via their civics textbooks and schools conduct mock Parliament and mock United Nations sessions to help them discover how governments work and nations interact globally. The Arthashastra goes far beyond that. I felt it was essential that contemporary children become aware that a visionary work of such magnitude was composed in our country 2,000 years ago. It covers almost every aspect of governing a country. By providing examples from history and contemporary geopolitics I have attempted to show that Kautilya’s theories have remained in practice and continue to guide policymakers.

What challenges did you face while abridging and adapting the text?

It is an enormous tome. The manner in which the material is organized makes it difficult to get to the core of Kautilya’s theories. A lot of sifting, rearrangement and elucidation were required. Apart from the translations, I went through numerous articles by experts who have analysed his ideas on the role of the ruler, organizing the administration of a country, actual governance, financial management, law and justice, foreign affairs and the balance of power. This helped me decode the text better so I could retell it coherently for young readers. The examples to illustrate his theories, which have been included as text boxes, also required extensive research.

Given the complexity, what age group is it best suited for?

While children have different levels of reading, I feel it would be most accessible to those above 11 years of age. Since English translations of the Arthashastra, which was originally written in Sanskrit, do not make for easy reading, many adults who wish to know what the work is all about would also find my book interesting.

It refers to price control, tax breaks, consumer protection, inheritance laws and property rights. How can schools integrate these into their curriculum?

Some of Kautilya’s theories on these topics gave me goosebumps because they seem far ahead of even our times. I feel that children need to be knowledgeable about such matters since they impact the life of every average citizen. Schools could initiate discussions on these topics, even use them as subjects for debate or essay competitions so children become aware of their rights and also their duties as good citizens.

Habits and behaviour patterns acquired at an early age usually stay with us through life. My personal experiences have taught me that it is crucial to learn how to manage your finances efficiently and be disciplined in money matters. While I do believe there is a spendthrift gene as well as a miserly one, children can be taught that a balanced approach to handling money provides security and a cushion for times of financial distress. We live in an era of increasing conspicuous consumption, access to plastic money and freely available loans can throw even cautious people off track, not to forget the social media rat race. Parents who are unable to give time to their children often make up for it by doling out excessive pocket money or buying expensive gifts, which inculcates a skewed approach to spending in youngsters. Hence it is important to educate children that budgeting your expenses, saving whether for a rainy day or something special on your wish list and investing your savings wisely will eventually be far more rewarding than instant gratification.