Serving the barbarian to preserve the dharma

The last six centuries saw the emergence of major empires that dominated every part of the world. Inevitably then, these imperial formations governed diverse and polyglot peoples. They also developed complex systems of governance that deployed unprecedented numbers of scribes and accountants, often drawn from groups culturally distinct from the military elites. Literati serving Western empires have been much studied of late; but the phenomenon did not originate with them. This article examines one such prominent group—the Brahmans of peninsular India—through five centuries. It explores little-known aspects of their professional training. It then analyses how they rose to a dominance that persisted well into the colonial era and deeply impacted the contemporary politics of India to the present day.