Ashoka's Administrative Reforms

Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya 

Ashoka's form of governance was almost the same as that of Chandragupta Maurya. But Dhammapriya Ashoka made many reforms in the administration after the Kalinga-conquest to make his rule more humane. He wanted to uplift his subjects morally and materially through his Dhamma. Many officials are mentioned in his inscriptions, such as- Dhamma-Mahamatra, Rajuk, Pradeshika, Yukta etc. Most of these state officials were coming from the time of Chandragupta Maurya. Inspired by his religious policy and the spirit of welfare of the subjects, Ashoka expanded his duties. Ashoka's first administrative reform was that all officers from regional, rajuk to yukt, went for inspection in the state every fifth year (every third year in Ujjayini and Takshashila) Apart from administrative work, who also used to propagate Dhamma.

After converting to Buddhism, Ashoka worked diligently and enthusiastically for the propagation of religion. But he was not at all indifferent towards the government. The devotion to religion instilled in him a passion for the spiritual and transcendental welfare of the subjects. He laid more emphasis on increasing the paternal-relations between the king and the subjects. In the Kalinga article, Ashoka, while expressing his feelings towards the subjects, says, 'All subjects are my children, just as I wish for the spiritual and transcendental welfare of my children, in the same way the spiritual and transcendental welfare of my subjects. And also for happiness. Just as a mother, by handing over a child to a skilled nurse, is sure that a skilled nurse is capable of taking care of the child, similarly I have appointed Rajuks for the happiness and welfare of my subjects. In this way, Ashoka accepted his subjects as sons and was always alert for their welfare.

Ashoka was an ideal ruler who was imbued with the spirit of public welfare and public interest. He was always ready to do the work of the people. In his sixth inscription he declares, 'At every moment and at every place, whether in the kitchen, in the interior or in the garden, let my correspondents inform me about the works of the subjects.' In the same article, Ashoka further says, 'I am not satisfied with the work I do, because I consider it my main duty to work for the benefit of the subjects. stressed. Not only this, Ashoka presented a new view of the duty of the king. The king is indebted to the subjects, by performing his duty towards the subjects, he repays the debt of the subjects. In the eighth inscription of Ashoka and from the miniature inscription of Maski, it is estimated that Ashoka himself used to inspect various parts of the state so that he could know about the happiness and sorrow of the people.

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penalty-equity and practice-equity

The important feature of Ashoka's administrative policy was - equality of punishment and behavior-equality in the field of justice-administration. According to his religion, he did a revolutionary work of establishing penal-equality and behavioral-equality in the administration of justice. In the twenty-sixth year of the consecration, he gave freedom to the princes to be able to serve the people with confidence without interference. In the fourth pillar Ashoka himself says that 'I have freed the Rajuks in judicial research and punishment so that they can do justice with confidence without fear.' In this way, Ashoka made the Rajuks the supreme authority of justice-administration for penal-equality and behavioral-equality.

This may have created some discontent among the privileged class because earlier, different punishments were given to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras for the same type of crime. There was a law to go.

Ashoka was practical, he did not abolish the death penalty, but provided that no innocent should be punished. In the Dhauli article, he clearly states that this article has been written so that the city-practical should always try that the citizens do not get unreasonable bondage or punishment. In the fourth inscription, he says that the criminals who have been sentenced to death should be given three days so that in the meantime their relatives can pray (to the rajuks) for their life. , and (if this is not possible) they may prepare for the hereafter through charity, prayer, etc. If good reasons are present, then try to get the punishment reduced from the Dhamma-Mahamatra authorities.

Ashoka returns to his kingdom after thirteenth year A new type of high officials was appointed. These are called 'Dhamma-Mahamatra' Having said. Although their main function was to spread religion among the public and encourage charity, but from an administrative point of view, their function was to provide financial assistance to the families of those who have been sentenced to imprisonment, to contact the relatives of criminals and console them. . One of his functions was also that he should supervise the work of the judges that the city-judges should properly follow the orders of the emperor. Thus Ashoka tried to bring humanity in justice and punishment. He softened justice by mixing mercy.

Ashok's Central Administration

Ashoka was the sole ruler of a vast empire. It is revealed from his Dhamma writings that the axis of governance was the ruler himself. She 'Devanampriya' held the title. In his sixth inscription, Ashoka says that 'The interest of all is my duty, it is my opinion, there is no other work greater than the interest of the public, whatever feat I do, it is so that I can become free from the debt of ghosts. May I make them happy in this world and they can attain heaven in another world.' Thus Ashoka was an ideal public servant and Prajapalak as a ruler.

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Parish or Council

AMention of 'parisha' or parishad in condolence articles Get. Parisha can be identified with the 'Parishad' of Arthashastra. The third and sixth inscriptions shed light on the work of the council. The third inscription shows that the orders of the council were duly written, which were conveyed to the public by the local officials. The sixth inscription shows that the council used to consider the fundamental orders of the emperor and the decisions taken by the departmental heads on important matters. Ashoka says that if there is any kind of dispute in the council, then its information should be given to the ruler immediately. Thus the council is an important institution Was. A legend from Divyavadan reveals that sometimes the ruler had to face opposition from the council , Due to the opposition of the council, Ashoka had to stop the grant to the Buddhist Sangha.

Chandragupta Maurya's administration

Provincial Administration of Ashoka

Ashoka's extensive empire was divided into several provinces for administrative convenience. The names of five provinces are found in his inscriptions- 1. Uttarapatha, 2. Avantirtha (Avanti), 3. Kalinga, 4. Dakshinapatha and 5. Oriental or Eastern region.

The capital of Uttarapatha was Taxila and the capital of Avanti was Ujjayini. The capitals of Kalinga and Dakshinapatha were Tosali and Suvarnagiri respectively. The administration of the oriental was done from Pataliputra. There may have been other provinces besides these.

Persons belonging to the royal family were appointed in the provinces of political importance. He is 'Kumar' and 'Aryaputra' He used to go Such Kumars were appointed in Taxila, Suvarnagiri, Kalinga and Ujjayini. The Divyavadana reveals that Ashoka's son Kunala was the governor of Taxila. In the provinces of non-political importance, non-dynastic persons were appointed as governors.

The Girnar inscription of Rudradaman I shows that the Yavanajatiya Tushasp was the governor of Ashoka in the province of Kathiawar. It seems that in provincial administration, preference was given to local people, which is a sign of Ashoka's politics.

In provincial governance, there was a council of ministers to assist the governor, which controlled the autocracy of the provincial rulers.

Provinces were divided into subjects or districts. The administrators of the district were not appointed by the emperor but by the governor of the respective province. Ashoka directly addressed the Mahamatyas of Kosambi and Sarnath. In the Siddhapur inscription, the Mahamatyas are addressed by Ashoka through Kumar. In this, Ashoka sends the order through Kumar of the southern province, not giving direct orders to the Mahamatyas of Isla. It is clear that Kumar also had the right to appoint Mahamatyas.

Republic in Ancient India 

Ashok's Administrative Officer Class

In the writings of Ashoka, the names of some important officials of the administration are found, such as Yukta, Rajuk, Pradeshika, Dhamma-Mahamatra, Styadhyaksha-Mahamatra, Brajbhumika-Mahamatra, Ant-Mahamatra. , city-practical etc. Yukta, Rajuk and Pradeshika are mentioned in the third inscription of Ashoka.

contains

The containing authority is unquestionably the same as the one mentioned in the Arthashastra. Their main work was related to the management of state property, collection of rent and increase of revenue. In the third article, they have been related to the accounting of expenditure and accumulation and have been told under the council of Amatyas. He used to go on tour with Rajuk and Pradeshik.

Rajuk

'Rajjuk' and 'Rajjugraha' mentioned in Jataka texts according to Bueller The officer named 'Rajuk' is mentioned in the writings of Ashoka, who was the measuring officer of the land. In his fourth pillar inscription, Ashoka says, 'As the parents are convinced by handing over the child in the hands of a qualified lady, in the same way I have appointed Rajuks for the happiness of the rural masses.' Rajuk used to do the work of revenue department only, but Ashoka also gave him judicial authority. Thus the position of Rajuk was similar to that of the modern District Collector, who has to look after both revenue and justice. According to Strabo, there was a class of magistrates in the Mauryan administration who used to measure the land, monitor the rivers and keep a watch on the hunters and punished the people according to the crime. Ashoka says in clear words, 'I have appointed an officer named Rajuk over lakhs of human beings. Their main work is public interest and fair justice by being fearless and confident.' Probably, he had to decide the tax-assessment, exemption of taxes, water-related disputes, pasture-related disputes between farmers and pastoralists and disputes of rural artisans.

India in 6th century BCE:Sixteen Mahajanapadas

territorial

Regional economics appears to be 'regional'. Its functions are mainly tax-collection, hearing of cases and monitoring the work of the heads of various departments. was. In his third inscription, Ashoka has ordered the provincials along with Yukta and Rajuk to go on a five-year tour, which along with administrative work also did the work of propagation of religion.

In the thirteenth year of his coronation, Ashoka appointed new office bearers named Dhamma-Mahamatra was appointed. Their work was to maintain harmony between different sects, to spread religion and to encourage charity, but from an administrative point of view, their work was to provide financial assistance to the families of those who were sentenced to imprisonment, to contact the relatives of criminals. Do console them. One of his tasks was also to see that no one should be punished or tortured unnecessarily.

address-great

According to some scholars Strayadhyaksha-Mahamatre possibly referred to in Arthashastra as 'Ganidhyaksha' But according to Romila Thapar, their main work was related to women and most of their time was spent in Antarpur.

brajabhumik-mahamatre

He is the the superintending officer of the gopas residing in the Gochar-Bhoomi (Braj) was. अर्थशास्त्र में गाय, भैंस, बकरी, भेड़, घोड़े, ऊँट आदि पशुओं को ‘ब्रज’ Having said. संभवतः ब्रजभूमिक पशुओं के रक्षण एवं उनकी वृद्धि की निगरानी करनेवाला अधिकारी था।

गुप्तकालीन साहित्यिक एवं वैज्ञानिक प्रगति 

अंत-महामात्र और नगर-व्यवहारिक

अशोक के अभिलेखों में ‘अंत-महामात्र’ तथा ‘नगर-व्यवहारिक’ (नगरवियोहालक) नाम क पदाधिकारियों का भी उल्लेख है। अंत-महामात्र की पहचान रायचौधरी अर्थशास्त्र के अंतःपाल तथा स्कंदगुप्तकालीन गोप्त से करते हैं। इनका कार्य सीमा-प्रांतों में धर्म का प्रचार करना था। रोमिला थापर के अनुसार अंत-महामात्र सीमांत जातियों तथा अर्द्धसभ्य जनजातियों के बीच कार्य करते थे और उन लोगों तक सम्राट की नीति को पहुँचाने के लिए उत्तरदायी होते थे। नगर-व्यवहारिक नगर का न्यायाधीश होता था जिसकी पहचान अर्थशास्त्र में उल्लिखित ‘पौर-व्यवहारक’ से किया जाता है। अशोक के लेखों में उसे महामात्र कहा गया है, इससे लगता है कि उसका पद कुमार के समकक्ष होता था। रोमिला थापर के अनुसार नगर-व्यवहारिक न्यायिक अधिकारी थे जो नागरक के अधीन कार्य करते थे। विशेष परिस्थितियों में नागरक उनके कार्यों में हस्तक्षेप भी कर सकता था।

आयुक्त

अशोक के द्वितीय कलिंग लेख में ‘आयुक्त’ नामक एक अधिकारी का उल्लेख मिलता है, जिसकी नियुक्ति अशोक ने अपनी नीतियों के क्रियान्वयन के लिए की थी , राधाकुमुद मुकर्जी के अनुसार यह प्रांतीय अधिकारी था, जो कुमारों की देख-रेख में कार्य करता था। प्रथम स्तंभलेख में ‘पुरुष’ नामक एक अन्य अधिकारी का उल्लेख है। अपने चतुर्थ लेख में अशोक कहता है कि राजुक पुरुषों के आदेश का भी पालन करेंगे। नीलकंठ शास्त्री का विचार है कि पुरुष राजुक तथा सम्राट के बीच संपर्क-अधिकारी के रूप में कार्य करते थे। रोमिला थापर इन्हें जन-संपर्क अधिकारी मानती हैं। अशोक के लेखों में ‘प्रतिवेदक’ नामक एक अन्य अधिकारी का भी उल्लेख मिलता है। प्रतिवेदक गुप्तचर लगते हैं जिनकी समता अर्थशास्त्र के ‘गूढ़ पुरुष’ से की जा सकती है। प्रतिवेदक प्रजा की सूचना के साथ-साथ मंत्रिपरिषद् में उपस्थित विवाद की भी सूचना शासक को देते थे।

हेनरी अष्टम 

तेरहवें लेख में ‘दूत’ नामक एक अधिकारी का उल्लेख हुआ है, जो दूरस्थ प्रांतों में धर्म-प्रचार का कार्य करते थे। इन अधिकारियों के साथ-साथ अशोक के येर्रागुडी लेख में ‘कारणक’ शब्द का उल्लेख मिलता है जो संभवतः तत्कालीन न्यायाधिकारी, अध्यापक अथवा क्लर्क के लिए प्रयुक्त होता था। परवर्ती ‘कायस्थ’ शब्द इसी कारणक का संवादी ल गता है। ‘लिपिकर’ नामक अधिकारी शिलाखंडों पर लेखों को उत्कीर्ण करवाते थे।

अशोक ने मानव एवं पशु दोनों के कल्याण के लिए कार्य किया। सातवें स्तंभ-लेख से पता चलता है कि उसने मानव और पशुओं को छाया देने के लिए सड़कों के किनारे बरगद के वृक्ष लगवाये तथा आम्रवाटिकाएँ लगवाई, आधे-आधे कोस की दूरी पर कुएं खुदवाये और विश्रामगृह बनवाये। मानव तथा पशुओं के लिए अनेक प्याऊ स्थापित किये गये। उसने अपने राज्य में मानव एवं पशुओं की चिकित्सा के लिए अलग-अलग चिकित्सालय खुलवाये। जहाँ मनुष्यों और पशुओं के लिए उपयोगी औषधियाँ उपलब्ध नहीं थीं, वहाँ बाहर से दवाएँ मँगाई गईं। इस प्रकार अशोक की धर्मपरायणता ने उसे अनेक प्रकार के कल्याणकारी कार्यों के लिए प्रेरित किया, जिससे उसका शासन केंद्रित होते हुए भी मानवीय था।

भारत में प्रागैतिहासिक संस्कृतियाँ :मध्यपाषाण काल और नवपाषाण काल 

गुप्त युग का मूल्यांकन

भारत-विभाजन :कारण और परिस्थितियाँ 

औपनिवेशिक भारत में शहरीकरण:मद्रास, बंबई और कलकत्ता 

उन्नीसवीं सदी में भारतीय पुनर्जागरण 

यूरोप में प्रति धर्मसुधार आंदोलन  

नेपोलियन तृतीय :उपलब्धियाँ और मूल्यांकन 

द्वितीय विश्वयुद्ध :कारण, प्रारंभ, विस्तार और परिणाम 

कुमारगुप्त प्रथम ‘महेंद्रादित्य’

परवर्ती गुप्त सम्राट और गुप्त राजवंश का अवसान

लॉर्ड विलियम बैंटिंक