Core XIII | Indian Political Ideas – I (UG Semester V)

This course introduces the specific elements of Indian Political Thought spanning over two millennia. The basic focus of the study is on individual thinkers whose ideas are, however, framed by specific themes and within specific contexts. The course as a whole is meant to provide a sense of the broad streams of Indian thought while giving an understanding about specific knowledge of individual thinkers and texts. Selected extracts from some original texts are also given to discuss in class.

Course Content

Unit I

a) Manu

• Social Laws and Dharmic Government

b) Kautilya

• Theory of State
• Statecraft and Government

Unit II

a) Barani

• Theory of Kingship
• Ideal Polity

b) Abul Fazl

• Monarchy
• Views on Administration

Unit III

a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• Liberalism and Social Reforms

b) Pandita Ramabai

• Gender and Social Reforms

Unit IV

a) Swami Vivekananda

• Ideal Society
• Ideas on Hinduism

b) V. D. Savarkar

• Hindutva
• Nationalism

Essential Readings

1. Altekar, A. S. (2002). State and Government in Ancient India (3rd ed.). Motilal Banarsidass.
2. Bayly, C. (2010). Rammohan and the Advent of Constitutional Liberalism in India, 1800–1830. In S. Kapila (Ed.), An Intellectual History for India. Cambridge University Press.
3. Chakrabarty, Bidyut, & Pandey, Rajendra K. (2009). Modern Indian Political Thought: Text and Context. Sage Publications.
4. Deustch, Kenneth L., & Pantham, Thomas. (1986). Political Thought in Modern India. Sage Publications.
5. Guha, Ramachandra. (2013). Makers of Modern India. Harvard University Press.
6. Habib, I. (1998). Ziya Barani’s Vision of the State. The Medieval History Journal, 2(1).
7. Kangle, R. P. (1997). Arthashastra of Kautilya – Part III: A Study. Motilal Banarsidass.
8. Mehta, V. R. (1996). Foundations of Indian Political Thought: An Interpretation from Manu to the Present Day. Manohar Publishers.
9. Olivelle, P. (2006). Introduction. In Manu’s Code of Law: A Critical Edition and Translation of the Manava-Dharmasastra. Oxford University Press.
10. Pantham, Thomas, & Mehta, V. R. (2006). Political Ideas in Modern India: Thematic Explorations. Sage Publications.
11. Roy, Himanshu, & Singh, H. P. (2017). Indian Political Thought. Pearson India.
12. Sharma, R. S. (1991). Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass.

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Source: Undergraduate (UG) Political Science Syllabus – Core XIII (Semester V): Indian Political Ideas – I.