THE BHOPAL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

UNIT I

Good Governance

Ancient good governance

Idea of Raj Dharam

 Duty to govern in a way that may disseminate happiness amongst maximum number
of subjects.
 The rulers being bound by dharma ensuring good governance to the people
 Although monarchy prevailed, there was no place for any theory of the divine rights
of the kings or of arbitrary rule.
 Raj Dharam was the code of conduct or the rule of law that was superior to the will of
the ruler and governed all his actions.
 Ramayana  Ayodhya Kand (2nd Chapter)
 Between Lord Rama and Bharat
o Advice on how to manage the Kingdom
 Effective Management Practices
o Quality of Ministers  courageous, knowledgeable and strong-willed men
with high emotional quotient
 Right Men > Yes Men
o Effective Decision Making  not too many, not unilaterally
 a core group of right people with right intentions to advice.
o Competence and confidentiality
 Appointing tested men of noble lineage and integrity
o Moderate taxes, fair and timely wages to soldiers
 Idea of Ram Rajya (Gandhian Ideal) {Young India, 1929}

*Edited & Compiled for Students by:

KALYANI JAIN
Assistant Professor
Political Science (Humanities)
The Bhopal School of Social Sciences
 THE BHOPAL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Class : Political Science Subject : Good Governance
Unit : Unit I

o “I do not mean Hindu Raj. I mean by Ramarajya Divine Raj, the Kingdom of
God. For me Rama and Rahim are one and the same deity. I acknowledge no
other God but the one God of truth and righteousness.”
o “Whether Rama of my imagination ever lived or not on this earth, the ancient
ideal of Ramarajya is undoubtedly one of true democracy in which the
meanest citizen could be sure of swift justice without an elaborate and costly
procedure.”
 Core Features:
o A society: virtue, morality and justice are the core ideals
 day-to-day interactions occur between
 citizen and citizen
 state and citizen
o Equal Rights to ‘both prince and pauper’
o An idealistic goal – a means to see God (Truth)
 Governments should keep in mind and take inspiration from while
implementing their governance agenda.
o A conversation which every Indian should have with oneself
 Concept of ‘civic engagement’