Horses and Statecraft in Kautilya's Arthasāśtra

Sabina Chettri; Sangmu Thendup

Authors

Sabina Chettri Research Scholar, Department of History, Sikkim University, Sikkim https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5566-1177
Dr. Sangmu Thendup Assistant Professor, Department of History, Sikkim University, Sikkim

Keywords:

Mauryan period, Veterinary care, Arthasastra, war horses, animal training

Abstract

The article explores the role of horses as an important military asset in the Mauryan period. It begins with tracing the presence and significance of horses across earlier historical periods such as the Harappan, Vedic and Buddhist era. Drawing on Kautilya’s Arthasāśtra, it examines not only the strategic use of horses in war but also explores the detailed guidelines regarding stable maintenance, animal health care, dietary habits, horse breeding, training and ethical treatment of horses during the Mauryan period. The article by linking ancient political theory with practices of animal domestication, offers a holistic perspective on the significance of horses in ancient Indian warfare.

Author Biographies

Sabina Chettri, Research Scholar, Department of History, Sikkim University, Sikkim

Sabina Chettri is a Research Scholar in the Department of History, Sikkim University. Her research explores environmental concerns in ancient India, with a specific focus on the Mauryan period. She was awarded a gold medal for her Master's degree. Her academic interest lies in Ancient Indian History, and she has actively participated in numerous national and international seminars across India, presenting her research on various related themes. She is particularly interested in exploring how ancient Indian texts reflected ecological awareness, governance, and conservation ethics

Dr. Sangmu Thendup, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Sikkim University, Sikkim

Dr. Sangmu Thendup teaches History at Sikkim University. She has her specialization in Ancient Indian History. She completed her doctoral studies from Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Her area of special interests include: Early Buddhism, Early Buddhist texts, Environment and Buddhism, Gender Relations in Early Buddhism, Regional History with special reference to the regions of the Eastern Himalayas (Darjeeling and Sikkim). She has presented research papers in many national and international conferences within India and abroad. She had published a number of articles, papers and book reviews in national and international journals and books. She has guided and supervised several MPhil and PhD students. Recently she has been appointed as the Nodal Officer for the M.A Buddhist Studies being offered by Sikkim University in collaboration with Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok