Sustainable Development Practices in the Ancient Hindu Community

Abstract

This article examines the concept of sustainable development in the ancient Hindu community through a textual and analytical lens, showing how Sanskrit scriptures, especially Kauilya’s Arthastra, connect governance, ethics, economy, law, and social order. It identifies how the tradition frames statecraft as a practical science aimed at protecting welfare, maintaining justice, and ensuring stability through disciplined administration, legal regulation, and strategic oversight. Drawing on a qualitative and analytical approach with textual interpretation and a structured review of recent scholarship, the article highlights continuities between ancient normative ideas and contemporary concerns about sustainable and ethical governance. The discussion also shows that the tradition is not limited to economics alone, but presents a broader vision of social well-being, institutional accountability, and balanced public life. Overall, the article argues that ancient Hindu political thought offers a coherent framework for understanding development, responsibility, and social sustainability.