Jessica Frazier Discusses the Arthashastra on In Our Time

Trinity Lecturer in Theology Jessica Frazier will feature on the flagship BBC Radio 4 history programme In Our Time discussing the ancient Indian Sanskrit text the Arthashastra.

Airing on 3 March, the hour-long discussion will include Dr Frazier speaking about  the political philosophy and legacy to scholars of the Arthashastra, which provides rulers with a guide on how to govern their territory and sets out what the structure, economic policy and foreign affairs of the ideal state should be. 

Dr Frazier says: ‘It is wonderful to immerse In Our Time's audience in classical India, through the window of this fascinating text. The Artha Sastra by Kautilya, long known as the Machiavelli of India, is an extraordinary text. It is full of kings and assassins, courtesans and spies; if you want to know how to foment a rebellion, optimise your elephant-taming business, or tell whether a corpse has been poisoned or strangled... this is the place to look. It was great fun discussing this ancient political philosophy with James Hegarty, Deven Patel and, of course, Melvyn Bragg.’