Forced Labour

There was no recorded existence of slave system or forced labour in Harappan or pre-historic times.

  • During Vedic period, the term dāsa and dāsyu has been interpreted by as "servant" or "slave". A person in distress could pledge themselves for work leading to under adsatava, while under ahitaka a person's "unfree labour" was pledged or mortgaged against a debt or ransom when captured during a war.
  • During Mahajanapadas, slavery was widespread by the lifetime of the Buddha. Buddhist manuscripts mention ‘kapyari’, which scholars have translated as a legally bonded servant (slave).
  • During Mauryan empire, Kautilya's Arthashastra dedicates the thirteenth chapter ....
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