India, Sept. 9 -- By Hari Mangal

Kautilya's Arthashastra contains a maxim on 'Raj Dharma', or the duty of a ruler: 'Praja sukhe sukham rajnah, prajananam cha hite hitam.'

That is, the ruler's happiness lies in the happiness of people and his welfare lies in the welfare of people. Only a person who has faith in this maxim of Raj Dharma can be sensitive to people's interests during a disaster like a flood. The devastation caused by floods shakes people's sense of trust. When floodwaters break through field boundaries and enter village lanes and homes, fear follows. One sees a lifetime's earnings sinking before one's eyes. There is fear of livestock being swept away, concern for children and the elderly and uncertainty about the next day....