Brijesh asked: Is assertive stand taken by the new government on various foreign policy matters making India more relevant in international affairs? To what extent this complete shift to realism is making Kautilya, especially his Mandala Theory, relevant?

P.K. Gautam replies: The mandala theory is perhaps the most misunderstood and loosely used concept of the Arthashastra. L.N. Rangarajan in his book Kautilya: The Arthashastra states: “Most people know little of what Kautilya actually said in the ArthashastrA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar The only thing they can recall is the ‘mandala’ theory, based on the principles: ‘Every neighbouring state is an enemy and the enemy’s enemy is a friend.” Similarly, R.P. Kangle was of the view that “the neighbouring princes, samantas, may normally be supposed to be hostile. But it is possible that some may have a friendly feeling towards the vijigisu [would be conqueror], while others may even be subservient to him. Neighbouring states thus fall in three categories, aribhavin [of hostile disposition], mitrabhavin [of friendly disposition] and bhrtyabhavin [of brotherly disposition].” The popular notion about ‘your neighbour being your enemy and neighbour’s neighbour your friend’, therefore, is quiet foolish as it leads to perpetual enmity with neighbours and friendship with the next circle of extended neighbourS. Kalyanaraman Quotes and ideas about circles or mandala theory in some articles and books are often implicitly Chanakyan (in the author’s mind), but lack in terms of theoretical basis and conceptual understandinG. Balachandran Balachandran In 2002, the then External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha had stated: “Just as Kautilya talked of the Circle of States, a useful conceptual framework for the consideration of India’s foreign policy would be to view it as consisting of three concentric circles around a central axis-the first of our immediate region, the second of the larger world and the third of over arching global issueS. Kalyanaraman” A recent invention is of a maritime mandala doctrine. First, there is the immediate mandala (China and Pakistan), followed by intermediate mandala comprising East Africa, the Persian Gulf and Central Asia and Southeast AsiA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar The outer mandala comprises Japan, Russia and the USA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar Such vague ideas about mandala are due to lack of effort to engage with the text. Mandala cannot be understood in isolation and scholars have to engage with four upayas (approaches), seven prakrits (constituents), the shadgunya (six measures of foreign policy concepts) and various vysanas (weaknesses or disasters). Kautilyan scenarios are conceptual tools formulated in the context of political, social and economic challenges of a particular period in history. However, given the unchanging nature of statecraft, it could still be related to developments in contemporary international politicS. Kalyanaraman In fact, Arthashastra is said to be ideally suited for perspective as well as contingency planning on foreign policy issueS. Kalyanaraman However, much more work need to be done to reinterpret Kautilya’s ideas and thoughts in the modern context. For detailed analysis on the subject, please refer to my following publications: “One Hundred Years of Kautilya’s Arthasastra”, IDSA Monograph Series No. 20, 2013. “Understanding Kautilya’s Four Upayas”, IDSA Comment, June 20, 2013. Posted on January 08, 2015