Kautilya’s Political Philosophy “Arthasastra” and Indonesian Great Leaders
Indonesia is experiencing the leadership crisis — the absence of leaders who have national thinking, societal values, and mature process- based on Kautilya’s Political Philosophy
Many great leaders were born from Hinduism. In Indonesia, we know Airlangga, Hayam Wuruk, Gajah Mada, Sri Aji Jaya Baya, Sanjaya, I Gusti Ketut Puja, I Gusti Ngurah Rai, etc. Meanwhile, world Hindu figures who can also be used as role models are Mahatma Gandhi, Svami Vivekananda, Ramakrsna, Chandragupta, Yudhistira, etc. They are called great leadership figures because they are able to protect, prosper, and create peace and harmony for their society. In the teachings of Hinduism, there is various literature that explains not only the concept of a leader’s personality, but also how leaders are in a state. One of the concepts of Hindu leadership is contained in the Kautilya’s Political Philosophy “Arthasastra”
Kautilya was a Hindu figure whose ideas had a great influence on the development of the political system of his time. In terms of practical politics, for example, governing the country, Kautilya’s teachings place morality or noble character as an important principle that a ruler must have/swamin. Apart from that, there are three fundamental concepts of Kautilya’s Political Philosophy, including:
First, leaders are also thinkers. It is the same as what Plato said in The Republic as The Philosopher King, namely that the King was also a wise thinker. This basic concept means that leadership and inherent capacity are one in it.
Second, individual morality is the commander in chief. Kautilya believed that state order would be good if it were supported by shared values. Leaders must carry the values that have been embedded in the community and be the main pioneers in maintaining these values.
Third, leaders are born through a mature process. Kautilya calls it swamin, which means they are called leaders when they understand every aspect of the state and are historical actors in every state’s journey.
Compare this with the political status quo in Indonesia. Currently, the leaders chosen are those who only have popularity, the social status they are born with, and abundant wealth. Many leaders do not have national thinking, national vision, and are ahistorical. Apart from that, because it was born from an instant process, the morality of leaders in upholding popular values is also questionable. Most leaders only carry the interests of the party and oligarchy.
I called Indonesia’s conditions a leadership crisis. Therefore, Kautilya’s idea seems ‘evil’ which states that in an emergency, if there are actions that are detrimental to the common interest or disrupt the goals of a just, safe, and prosperous state, then the ruler may act outside the law.
One of them is the role of the authorities in helping society determine the right leaders, leaders who are thinkers, hold societal values, and are born from a long process. Thus, the election of 2024 is the right moment to reflect the teachings of Kautilya’s Political Philosophy on society in determining Indonesia’s future leaders.
A great nation must be led by a great leader; nationalist; visionary; and have people-oriented thinking.
