ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

A favour does not signify a friend, 
An injury does not reveal a foe;
Whether a man’s heart is virtuous or vile,
Determines whether he is friend or foe.
                                                                             [Panchatantra, Book II, verse 23]

Indian Strategic Thought regards the Panchatantra as a text of Nītiśāstra—a treatise on politics, governance, and the human condition. The anthropomorphic world of the Panchatantra draws on the Arthashastra, Mahabharata, Manusmriti, and other texts to illustrate the principles of niti. It guides the readers on matters of statecraft, such as building alliances, conducting negotiations, and treading carefully in matters of war and peace. The text also reflects on fundamental human concerns such as fate, free will, virtues, and vices.

The Panchatantra weaves together the attributes of the state and the facets of life and society through intricate plots, character backstories, arguments, and counterarguments to teach the foundations of statecraft and a noble life—money, friendship, ethics, justice, policy, and conflict resolution among others.

In contemporary times, when methods for addressing challenges of varying scale can feel reductive and inadequate, it is imperative to study historical, local knowledge systems like the Panchatantra—a rich and composite examination of human dilemmas and their inextricable presence in governance.
This workshop invites participants to examine the layered teachings of the Panchatantra: its storytelling tradition, its lessons on niti, and the applicability of its principles to local and global challenges confronting the 21st century. The workshop aims to build a dialogic space to engage with competing worldviews on ethics, governance, and geopolitics, as well as an avenue to assess, in a cross-disciplinary manner, the many roles of the Panchatantra.