May 9th, 2009 
Aman A picture of society in the Mauryan times, we get from Arthashastra of Kautilya, Magesthanese’s Indica, the accounts left by the Greek Historians and the edicts and pillar inscriptions of Ashoka. Besides, the Buddhist religious books, works of contemporary art and architecture throw valuable light on the social and economic history of the period. India witnessed many social and cultural changes during this period. With the passage of time this region became the scene of social and cultural hotch potch. A large number of Bactrians, Iranians, Scythians, the Greeks and the people of other west Asian races had immigrated into the Punjab. Inter-marriages between different races must have further increased the number of mixed races. The purity or orthodoxy of manners of the people f the Vedic India which was the hall mark of the Vedic period was gradually lost. The people of Gangetc valley however, adhered to old customs and traditions and continued preserving the ancient order and culture. The orthodox Brahmans looked upon these areas as a land of Sin, sacrilege and impurity because of its close contact with the mlechhas or Greeks and other foreigners. Budhyana, who seems to have flourished before the time of Ashoka calls these people of mixed origin.
Magesthanese writes that Varna and the caste system were developed in India during his time. He divides the Indian population into seven parts namely, philosophers, husbandmen, herdsmen, artisans, and traders, soldiers, overseers and councilors. These represented classes and not castes as supposed by Magesthanese. Theoretically, the Brahman class enjoyed the highest position in the society and claimed to be “god on earth”. Megasthenes writes that though the Brahmans were in minority, they enjoyed a high status in society. They performed religious rites and practiced astrology. Megasthenes mentions working class along with the philosophers and Brahmans. In the royal edicts also the laboring class is mentioned side by side with the Brahmans. It seems that the Buddhist monks, Jaina and Ajivika monks enjoyed the same status as Brahmans.
Due to the influence and the intermingling of the foreigners with the people of India, the concept of cast became loose and dim and social promiscuity became the order of the day. Meat eating had become a common feature of society. Wine was a common feature of the people of India during these times. In his Arthashastra Kautilya mentions a special officer in charge of drinks. The food and drinks of the people of north western India were revolting to the conservative people of gangetic valley. They ate the flesh of pig, cock, crow, donkey, camel and sheep and drank milk of domestic animals. They were also in the habit of eating garlic. All these traits point to the intrusion of nomadic Asiatic elements in the population of the north western India.
About the dress worn by the Indians, Nearuchus, the Chief Nayal Officer of Alexander wrote, “the dress worn by the Indians is made of the cotton produced on trees. They wear undergarments of cotton which reached below the knees half way down to the ankbs, and partly twist in folds around their heads. The Indians also wear ear rings of ivory, but only the very wealthy can do this. They use parasols as a screen elaborately trimmed, while the soles are variegated, and made of great thickness, to make the wearer so much taller”.
Taxila was a great center of learning where literature, philosophy and sciences were taught. Literacy and education were widespread as can be seen from the Edicts. The Mauryan sources indicates that Pali, Prakrit, Ardhamagadhi languages were used. The Buddhist literature and the Jatakas the previous birth stories of the Buddha were written in Prakrit. Ashoka issued his orders in Prakrit in Brahmi script. But he used Kharosthi script. But he used Kharosthi script in the Gandhara region. It seems that Sanskrit was not popular. Kautilya, however, wrote his celebrated work Arthashastra in Sanskrit. It seems that Sanskrit was taught in the colleges of Taxila. Vocational education was imparted by the guilds of craftsmen.
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