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Krishna Rajya - An Alternate System of Government For Modern India
A body that merges with the sky itself, foundering mankind's rock and harbour, child of the childless, transcendent lover, mover of earth, worker of miracles-Krishna is all these. And more.
What may not have been realized in the millennia-old history and myths that surround the god-king is his extraordinary grasp over generalship in war, and superior governance in times of peace.
At a time when nations are languishing over the lost ideals of leadership, Prafull Goradia chooses to celebrate a figure hitherto confined to temples and prayer rooms and holds him up to illustrate, one by one, the sage and seemingly hard decisions he took to safeguard mankind in the worst and best of times.
Goradia and fellow-writer of this book, Jaganniwas Iyer, do not stop at delving into India's ages-old tradition of philosophical thought to propose an alternate system of government for modern India, for theirs is a worldview. The figures of Plato and Bismarck, and the stratagems they evoked for their people, share equal space with other global leaders from other times in this unique thought experiment.
In a new initiative, the book risks no platitudes in dwelling on the ills of misgovernment-here, or elsewhere-proposing instead a carefully elaborated solution to them. What we have before us is a singular and time-tested approach to politics.
What may not have been realized in the millennia-old history and myths that surround the god-king is his extraordinary grasp over generalship in war, and superior governance in times of peace.
At a time when nations are languishing over the lost ideals of leadership, Prafull Goradia chooses to celebrate a figure hitherto confined to temples and prayer rooms and holds him up to illustrate, one by one, the sage and seemingly hard decisions he took to safeguard mankind in the worst and best of times.
Goradia and fellow-writer of this book, Jaganniwas Iyer, do not stop at delving into India's ages-old tradition of philosophical thought to propose an alternate system of government for modern India, for theirs is a worldview. The figures of Plato and Bismarck, and the stratagems they evoked for their people, share equal space with other global leaders from other times in this unique thought experiment.
In a new initiative, the book risks no platitudes in dwelling on the ills of misgovernment-here, or elsewhere-proposing instead a carefully elaborated solution to them. What we have before us is a singular and time-tested approach to politics.
- GenresNonfiction
300 pages, Hardcover
Published May 16, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 8, 2018
We all know that Lord Krishna has been an astute politician and a seasoned statesman. But this role of his has never been appreciated and fully explored. Prafull Goradia and Jaganniwas Iyer have filled this void through their book – Krishna Rajya.
We all have heard of Ram Rajya, the state of utopia. But Krishna Rajya? How could there be any Krishna Rajya when Krishna was not even a king. According the authors very little political science has been distilled from India’s long and abundant history. Is Arthshastra the only ancient text which speaks about economy and political science. Absolutely no. The author duo has taken great pains to present a concept like Krishna Rajya which is daringly novel. It is neither preachy, nor eulogy. It is contemporary and modern thesis on political science visa-vis the ancient Indian culture. According to the authors Mahabharata is a historical document. The places mentioned therein are verified. It diligently records all the major events in Krishna’s life. Even the earliest scriptures like Shatapatha Brahmana, Chanayoga upanishad, Aitreya Aryanaka and the Nirukta mention Krishna.
The most interesting aspect of the book is that it is a comparative study. So alongside Krishna we have chapters on Plato, Otto van Bismarck, Abraham Lincoln and Saradar Vallabhai Patel. Thanks to the book. It liberates Krishna from the mythological rasleelas and makes him stand along the tall order of political thinkers. Krishna Rajya is a great contribution to the writings on political science across the world and should not be missed.
We all have heard of Ram Rajya, the state of utopia. But Krishna Rajya? How could there be any Krishna Rajya when Krishna was not even a king. According the authors very little political science has been distilled from India’s long and abundant history. Is Arthshastra the only ancient text which speaks about economy and political science. Absolutely no. The author duo has taken great pains to present a concept like Krishna Rajya which is daringly novel. It is neither preachy, nor eulogy. It is contemporary and modern thesis on political science visa-vis the ancient Indian culture. According to the authors Mahabharata is a historical document. The places mentioned therein are verified. It diligently records all the major events in Krishna’s life. Even the earliest scriptures like Shatapatha Brahmana, Chanayoga upanishad, Aitreya Aryanaka and the Nirukta mention Krishna.
The most interesting aspect of the book is that it is a comparative study. So alongside Krishna we have chapters on Plato, Otto van Bismarck, Abraham Lincoln and Saradar Vallabhai Patel. Thanks to the book. It liberates Krishna from the mythological rasleelas and makes him stand along the tall order of political thinkers. Krishna Rajya is a great contribution to the writings on political science across the world and should not be missed.
March 15, 2019
A great book for political science enthusiasts as it gives very good information about world polity. Be it America, Germany or Sweden; how they are governed, how they were united. A comparative study with the discussion on Plato, Otto Van Bismarck, Abraham Lincoln, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel alongside Krishna is a great contribution in understanding world polity and what makes India different from others.
We have always looked at Krishna as Lord ; he who gave us the truth of life by “The Bhagwad Gita”, but when we look at him as an astute politician we get to learn many other things. A must read for all the political thinkers and upcoming politicians who want to join politics for the betterment of their nation.
We have always looked at Krishna as Lord ; he who gave us the truth of life by “The Bhagwad Gita”, but when we look at him as an astute politician we get to learn many other things. A must read for all the political thinkers and upcoming politicians who want to join politics for the betterment of their nation.
February 11, 2020
some repetition could've been avoided , but a must-read nonetheless to understand realpolitik employed by Lord Krishna in those times
June 18, 2024
When we think of Krishna, we only know about his childhood, some of his valours and finally preaching of Bhagwad Geeta. Apart from all these things, we can learn a lot from his life. Often we hear the term 'Ram Rajya', but here, both the authors gives us a new term 'Krishna Rajya'.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews