Corruption, scam, nepotism — modern words for an ancient failure. Can Kautilya hold today’s politicians accountable?
Ami Ganatra anchors the discussion in Mahabharata’s Shanti Parva, where Bhishma explains that “raja” derives from ranja — the delight and welfare of the people. Chanakya’s Arthashastra is brought in to argue that a ruler has no personal preferences; what benefits the praja is the only standard. The panel examines Vibhishana’s defection as a case study in dharmic loyalty over personal allegiance, and Shri Ram’s encounter with Vishwamitra as a test of shastric limits in executive decisions. Core argument: until citizens raise their expectations of leaders, no constitutional fix will be sufficient.
About the Speakers:
Ashok Kumar Lahiri is a highly esteemed Indian economist and a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Balurghat. He currently serves as a member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission and has previously held key positions such as the 12th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, a reader at the Delhi School of Economics, and Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank. His expertise extends to international organizations, having worked with the World Bank as a consultant and with the International Monetary Fund as a Senior Economist. A prolific writer, Lahiri has contributed to academic journals and popular media, addressing both economic and electoral politics.
Chandrachur Ghose, an author, researcher, and commentator focusing on history, economics, and environmental matters, earned his degrees from Visva Bharati and the University of Sussex. He co-authored “Conundrum: Subhas Bose’s Life After Death,” and is also a co-founder of Mission Netaji, a pressure group instrumental in the declassification of secret documents concerning Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Ami Ganatra is a Computer Science Engineer and IIM Ahmedabad graduate with 15+ years of management experience including Bain & Company. She is a student of Yoga and Sanskrit who has authored acclaimed books like Ramayana Unravelled and Mahabharata Unravelled.
