Management The Ashoka way

Emperor Ashoka (268 BC to 239 BC) the name is bound to ring multiple bells in the minds of
many Indians for various reasons. For some it might be the perfect mystic enigma that he is, for
some it might be the magnanimity of his achievements in terms of his empire, military prowess
and sheer audacity of his existence as an Emperor. For some it might be the sheer display of guts
to metamorphose ones own self from a conqueror to a champion of non-violence and peace. His
effective and efficient change management tactics adopted to facilitate his epic transformation is
bound to fascinate one and all. Apart from all these well- known facets of Ashoka, there also lies
the aspect of him being a shrewd manager, an able and efficient administrator who transformed
the Mauryan Empire into one of the most efficiently and strategically managed empires of his
time. With a full-proof financial management systems, vigilance mechanism, supply chain
management, human resource management and development, Empire Ashoka is bound to make
scores of modern day top-notch CEOs a run for their money. Lost in the sea of time, his
management techniques lay hidden from the world for centuries. Now, its time that modern
world sit up and take notice of his achievements not only as a ruler but also that of an efficient
manager who took Mauryan Empire to its glory through his sheer genius.
If Chanakya formed the basis of Indian Management System, the Ashoka truly took it to the next
level through his application of Chanakyas principles of governance and general management.
As compared to modern times, his achievements are more significant owing to lack of
technology and scientific development. It is indeed fascinating to find out that the 2.2 million
strong Mauryan Army was able to achieve and maintain Zero-Defect and Zero Failure
Supply Chain Management. International trade with 18 countries, construction and maintenance
of more than 6000 Kms of national highway, metallurgical accomplishments (rust free
Ashokan Pillars are an example), standardized industrial production norms, disaster management
preparedness, adequate financial planning and reserves, Corporate Governance Excellence are all
the landmarks of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Emperor Ashoka almost 2200 years
ago.

During his reign, the empire used to be run as a corporation with employee strength of
approximately 40 lakhs. Maintenance of the huge infrastructures was the responsibility of the
State, which also ran lot of non-profit organisations and departments to achieve welfare state
status. The extent of Good Corporate Governance as achieved during his reign can surely be a
point of envy for modern day corporations and states alike.

Financial Management during Ashoka reign:

Unlike many others dynasties and empires, Ashokas main emphasis was not only to generate
and collect revenue but also to properly manage his finances. The government was very cautious
so that the money collected was not embezzled by its officials. Asoka had revenue intelligence
and vigilance department to restrict financial corruption. Land revenue was not fixed arbitrarily.
It was rather based on the individual farmers area of land, type of fertility, type of crop, regional
climate etc. There were various other sources of income of the state. The state was engaged in
huge livestock trading internationally, shepherds and livestock breeders were taxed on the
number of produce of the animals. The empire charged toll tax and trade tax on the articles sold.
There were other taxes like tax on intoxicants, tax on mining, forest tax, fish tax, irrigation tax,
license tax etc. the state managed and owned vast estates and forests. Empire had monopoly of
mines and traded on mineral products. The empire had its own factories managed through
cooperative management of all sorts of articles. Manufacturing of cotton and silk cloths were
high revenue generating products due to very large export trade. During Asokas reign state was
earning huge revenue and profit from industry and trade at domestic as well as international
fronts. Royal treasury had reserve funds for the purpose of different contingencies and
emergencies like natural calamities, disaster and famines. Cash reserves were maintained for war
time situations and for the purpose of war. A separate provision of cash reserves were maintained
for any kind of extra ordinary disasters. Welfare state functions like development of
infrastructure, subsidized education, public health and charity for the needy people were parts of
the book of account.
Agriculture and infrastructure management:

Being an agrarian society, the state took responsibility for irrigation projects. The state ensured
that highways and maintained them properly so that agricultural produce could be traded to
different parts of the state. Large numbers of river canal projects within the state ensured a shift
from monsoon dependence to round the year agricultural activities. Due care was also taken to
ensure financial stability of the farmers. The government had 26 departmental administrators
looking after the functional activities.
Long highways formed the backbone to communication within the state. Colleges, gurukuls and
schools were constructed by the state and their maintenance also was the responsibility of the
state. Urbanization was a major thrust area and Mauryan Empire had lot of big cities with
pataliputra as its capital which in its time was larger than Rome. Hospitals were built by the state
to take care of humans as well as animals and birds. A separate department was established to
keep a record of births and deaths and also to conduct periodic census.

Industry and Production Control management:

With strong central control, the state exercised complete control over trade and industry. Prices
of commodities were fixed and state intervened wherever there was a glut of any commodity.
The superintendent of weights and measures enforced the standards of weights and measures to
be followed uniformly throughout the state. Markets were shielded from fraudulent practices of
the trading class. Ships were regulated in the river traffic and ferry charges were collected by the
state machinery. The regulation of the industry was also carried out by the state through the
superintendents. The state was the biggest owner of the industry. Both the state servants and
private traders dealt with the goods produced by the state. The customers interests against
fraudulent pricing and unauthorized practices were protected by the state through complete
control over pricing of products. Severe punishment awaited anyone indulging in fraudulent
practices and adulteration of products. An adequate minimum wage system was in place all
across the state to ensure that the workers are paid in a just manner.
Trade and Logistics Management:

Mauryan Empire was well known for its road connectivity. National and trade highways were the
path of wealth generation for the empire. Trade highways were marked by convenient stages and
served as links up to the most distant parts of the country. One route ran from the Eastern part of
the empire to the west. This ran principally along the great rivers. Inland trade was a major
wealth generator for the state and was given due importance. The trading connections of
Anathapindika of Saravasti extended to Rajagriha on one end to Kashi. Forest guards protected
the wealth of the merchants from robbers and forest tribals and were hired by the merchants
themselves. Deserts were crossed at night with the help of land-pilots guiding the caravans by the
stars. Some of the roads were called royal roads (Rajpath). There are references to merchants
travelling from Banaras to Baveru (Babylon). After the conquest of Kalinga the only possible
rival for the mastery of the Eastern trade was decimated forever. The Mauryan Empire
maintained a special department for the construction of roads. At every ten stadia the empire set
up a pillar to show the bye-road & distance. The most famous road of that time was the Royal
Road connecting the North West frontier with Pataliputra and leading thence to the mouth of
the river Ganga. Pliny a noted Roman writer, in his work called Natural History discussed
the distance and stages of this road. The state controlled foreign trade licenses were given to the
merchants of sea trade and caravan trade. Syria, Egypt, Greece, etc. were the major external
trading destinations in the west. Major articles that were exported were pearls, diamonds, spices,
sandal wood, silk yarn, ivory, cotton cloth, muslin, etc.
After centuries of ignominy in the hands of foreign rulers, its the time for Indias resurgence.
The time now is opportune for ancient Indian management philosophies to take their well
deserved seats in the fore front. Its time for the modern day management pundits to take a leaf
out of Indian history and reorient themselves as far as the dynamism and applicability of
management concepts is concerned. Right from financial management, logistics and supply
chain management, infrastructure and agricultural management to human resource management,
India has lot of examples of application of these management concepts at times when the entire
western world was probably settling down. Amongst all, Emperor Ashoka indeed leads the pack
when it comes to driving these concepts to a level of excellence in application.