HUL 272

The Indian Nation-State

INTRODUCTION
At midnight on 14-15 august , our first PM JawaharLal Nehru declared the birth of the independent nation- state INDIA. The British colonial state which gave rise to anti-colonial movement caused a major departure from the political authority of the pre-modern period and hence constitute the birth mark of distinctive identity of contemporary INDIAN nation-state.
Nehru giving his famous Tryst with destiny speech.

Bond with culture

This state persue modernity but does claim a certain cultural continuity with tradition ,often expressed as symbolic purpose including India was also identified by the name BHARATderived from <bharatvarsha, stated in mahabharat>. State emblem of India taken from Sarnath Lion Capital of great Ashoka. The quote SATYAMEV JAYATE inscribed in the emblem was taken from mundaka upanishad. Ashoka s Dharamchakra in our flag and Panchayati raj system are few others instances which show the bond.

Topics discussed
The state formation characteristics under precolonial period FURTHER - colonialism phase post colonial state post independence career

Pre colonial period

Pre-colonial India includes many resilient groups of villages and several kingdoms having interrelationship with one another. Pan indian state was actually a dream at that period.Still there were instances where kingdom persue ambition for such a dream but before british era ,there were only these who become successful in real sense The Mauryan empire-under Ashoka The Gupta dynasty Mughal Empire under Akbar

Caste System-Change inhibiting system

In ancient India , the transformation from nomadic to agricultural settlements leads the change resisting caste system. BRAHMANS( the priest) KSHATRIYAS(the warriors) VAISHYAS(the traders) SHUDRAS AND UNTOUCHABLES(servants) There existed a hierarchy of purity and pollution and the hierarchy of wealth and power based on caste system . Lower caste were not allowed to interfere in the political nd religious matters and hence lead to BRAHMANICAL IDEOLOGY.

BRAHMANICAL IDEOLOGY
Under brahmanical edict,the state had to uphold the religion and pre givensocial order and punish those who infringed it. Political sector(Kshatriyas) exercised very little autonomy to raise revenues under this caste system. King was crowned by priest and adviced to uphold the the natural order. Under such circumstances state could not develop as political institutions.

RISE OF MAURYAN EMPIRE

It was only after the decline of such system and establishment of clear differentiation between political sphere and socio-religious sphere- the rise of MAURYAN EMPIRE took place. Such departure were caused due to two reasons
1. Heretical movement in religions like buddhism and jainism . 2. New theory of state government contained in Arthashastra by Kautilya.

Empire under Mauryan dynasty

It includes 43.40% of world population at that time. It is the period under the Great Ashoka.

Mauryan Empire
The Arthashashtra provide such a clear autonomy. The king is no more a mere protector, but he exercised soveirgn legislative , executive and judiciary powers. Taxation were collected and were used to pay the large army and bureaucracy Towards the close of Ashokas rule, state experienced some severe socio-economic and religious conflicts and heterodox sects(buddhism and jainism) Heavy taxation did not contribute much to expansion of economic state and led to the fiscal crisis of the state

Rise of Gupta dynasty

Although Ashokas policy of dhamma made only small contribution to bringing social unity and political stability. The Brahmatic reaction to the buddhist dhamma was one of the major reason for decline of Mauryan empire. This decline culminate into the rise of GUPTA Dynasty.

Region under Gupta dynasty

320-500 AD- After mauryan dyansty . Gupta dynasty was the one who aspire for a pan India dream.

Gupta Dynasty
Remarkably pluralist religion . Tolerant and supportive of other religion . Clear demarcation between social law and religious law. Removed discrimination against shudras . Associated with addition of smriti literature like Bhagwad Gita ,presenting the philosophy of nishkama karma.(selfless work). Considerable degree of political and administrative autonomy. This degree of centralization of rule which was achieved under Mauryan and Gupta was not continued until MUGHALS.

Pyramidally Segmented States

Formed during Pallava,Chola and Vijaynagara periods by interlinking of localized societies. Key features: The king actually controlled only the central zone of the state. The intermediaries and peripheral zones were controlled by the little kings and chiefs. Each segment was autonomous, had their own independent identities, internal governance and their own local rulers. Since the king had only ritual rulership over the segmentary units and no central control, the political structure was fluid and indeterminate having vague boundaries and shifting of capital.

Continued..
Due to ritual character of the state, the little kings redistributed amassed resources through dharmic activities This model suffered criticism due to ritual nature of the sovereignty of its king.

Cholas and Pallavas

Region under Cholaslongest ruling power in south india

Pallavas Empire-550600 AD

Imperial formation
The medieval India was not only seen just as a mere succession of ritual kingdoms but of real imperial formations. Indian polity functioned as an imperial formation under the chaulakyas, Rashtrakutas, cholas and Vijayanagara. Arthashastra model of the circle of kings under the paramount control of chakravartin. consisted of number of kingdoms and empires. Together they formed a scale of polities or rulerships that overlapped one another There was frequent competition between them to become the highest polity in the scale.

Mughal empire
Founded in 1526 by Babur, The Mughal Empire was a dominant power in the Indian subcontinent During Akbars reign, Patrimonial-bureaucratic state (culmination of pre modern state administration in India). Centralized administrative machinery (mansabdari system):
fusion of military and civil services into a single, hierarchic, beaureaucracy under the emperor.

The empire was divided into subahs(provinces), sarkars(subdivisions) and mohallas(revenue) having same administrative structure. Absence of unremitting centralization -Due to variation in land revenue from region to region. Mughal state seen as only true source of sovereignty.

Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire under the Great Akbar

Mughal Empire
The rise of mughal empire, in its later phase was helped by the rise of modern technology in Europe e.g. the role of artillery in wars Influx of silver into international market helped Akbar to replace the existing coin with highly valued silver coins which lead to the expansion of commerce and credit and centralization. Revisionist movements like the Mahadavi movement occurred to challenge the Islamic doctrines and their scientific beliefs In response to these, and majority of Hindus in the mughal empire, Akbar incorporated religious liberalism and Divine faith ( inter religious discussions)

Fall of Mughal Dynasty

Due to patrimonial system, mughal empire lacked modern values principles. Also, the lack of collective sense of nationhood lead to the decline of the Mughal rule The resistant movements of the peasants, zamindars and other local groups against the state also contributed to it.

Mughal emperor during Sepoy Mutiny (1857)

Bahadur Shah Zafar. His kingdom of rule was limited to a region of north
.

Contd
The patrimonial structure was initially relied upon by the British which later replaced it with modern,unitary state based European principles However, British continued to use the modern technologies of power and knowledge such as surveys, measurements, accounts and audits but they were used for new purposes.