Kautilya's Arthashastra as a Precursor to the Concept of Servant Leadership

The Arthashastra is an Indian text which was written by Kautilya around 2500 years ago. Mainly intended to be a textbook on statecraft for kings, this treatise covers various aspects of leadership and management that are still relevant today. On the other hand, servant leadership is a growing leadership theory that is gaining popularity due to its unique focus on followers' wellbeing. Using hermeneutic techniques, the authors have analyzed the verses in the Arthashastra related to the servant leadership theory. Based on this analysis, the authors have identified at least four dimensions of modern servant leadership that are present in this ancient text, namely authenticity, stewardship, altruism, and interpersonal acceptance. The authors recommend that further research is conducted into Indian culture and literature (including the Arthashastra) to explore the Asian roots of servant leadership