Chanakya ()

One of the greatest philosophers in the history of mankind.

General Information

Born around 350 BC and died around 283 BC Name at birth was Vishnugupta but was later known as Chnakya and Kautilya Born in Patliputra, Maghadh which is currently Patna, Bihar in India Teacher of political science at Taxila University Later became Prime Minister of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya

Childhood and Education

Vishnugupta was born to Rishi Chanak in Patliputra who was a revolutionary against the evil emperor of Magadh. Chanak was exiled after publicly speaking out against the king. Vishnugupta left soon after to study at the famous Taxila University. Taxila was the best University of the time and offered education in many different fields.

Life in Taxila

After completing his education, Vishnugupta became a professor at the Taxila University. Here he got the names Chanakya and Kautilya due to his fame and wits. Gandhar Republic attacked Taxila because the dim-witted prince of Taxila sent soldiers to the border to abuse and torture the people living there. Taxila was defeated in no time but Porus, the king of Gandhar, demanded that Gandharians not be attacked again and left without taking or destroying anything.

Alexander the Great

Before Taxila could recover from being defeated, thousands of refugees came into Taxila saying that there was a white invader by the name of Alexshendra who was planning on attacking India. The dim-witted prince of Taxila became friends with Alexander when he arrived and gave him soldiers and money to support his planned conquests. When Chanakya heard about this he immediately turned the school into a war training station and rebeled against the Greeks. Chanakya created his own army and an impressive system of spies to destroy the Greeks. Alexander conquered many kingdoms before he left India. While traveling back to Greece, he died. The general he had left in India was killed by a spy acting as a messenger. The Greek rule in India collapsed and Bharat (India) was free again.

After defeating the Greeks Chanakya returned to his homeland, Patliputra. One day, while walking on the road he stepped on some thorns. He controlled his anger, bent down and destroyed every one of the thorns. The prime minister who had recently been insulted by the tyrannical Dhananand (the king) saw this event and thought that such a determined man could help him get his revenge. He then took Chanakya to the kings court. The king laughed and made fun of him. Chanakya swore to destroy the king and his sons for that insult. The prime minister recommended that Dhananands eldest son Chandragupta would be fit to rule. His father and eight brothers had repeatedly tried to kill him because his mother was of low-caste and he was extremely strong and intelligent.

Chandragupta

Defeat of Magadh

Chanakya went around telling peasants and common folk that Magadh needed to be in stronger hands and not under the rule of the tyrannous Dhanananda. Chandragupta gathered a huge militia in this way. While he was doing this, Chanakya persuaded a greedy King called Parvatak to help because Chanakya assured him half of Magadh. Chandraguptas army attacked and defeated the army of Magadh with Chanakyas guidance.

Dhananads chief minister Rakshas was still trying to avenge his masters death. He met with Parvatak (The king Chanakya promised half his land) and convinced the king to help him by promising him the entire kingdom of Magadh. Chandragupta became sick so Rakshas bribed the physician to put poison in the medicine. Chanakya made the physician drink the medicine himself and in this way Chandragupta was saved. A few weeks later, Chandragupta was being moved to the former palace of Dhananand. Rakshas planted soldiers in the cellars to kill Chandragupta at night. Chanakya saw ants coming from a crack in the floor carrying grains of rice during his inspection and immediately realized that there were soldiers in the basement. He ordered the guards to burn the palace immediately and not to let anyone escape.

Rakshas

Rakshas was very angry after many of his warriors were burned but he didnt give up. He sent a poisonous dancer to Chandragupta to kill him. Chanakya immediately recognized the dancer and sent her to King Parvatak yo kill him Rakshas then allied with Parvataks son Malyaketu and 5 other kings to attack Magadh. To break this alliance, Chanakyas spies saved Rakshass friend and took him to Rakshas. As payment for this favor, Rakshas let the spy stay with him. The same night, the spy let himself be caught near Mlayaketus tent. He was carrying a fake letter from Rakshas telling Chandragupta that he and the five kings were going to betray him. When he read this he killed the five other kings and only let Rakshas go because he was a Brahmin. Chanakya then met Rakshas and made him the prime minister of Magadh because he admired Rakshass loyalty and determination.

Rakshas

Gifts
How Chanakyas gifts helped him achieve his goals.

Special Gifts and Abilities

Chanakya was amazing at guessing his enemys every move and never once did he fail to predict his enemys doings. He was also very good at persuasion. (defeating Rakshas) Chanakya was very good at spy work and managing spy-systems and conducting unexpected attacks on his enemies (defeat of the Greeks) Chanakya was a great political philosopher who wrote the Arthashastra and Nitishastra. He has been called the Indian Machiavelli for his works.

Chanakya vs. Machiavelli

Both were political philosophers Machiavellis works are based on how to maintain control while Chanakyas works talk about basic principles and what is an ideal ruler. Both mens works related to their respective time periods but they still have some basic things in common. Chanakya used his principles and defeated the Greeks and Maghada while Machiavelli didnt defeat any government or empire.

Accomplishments
The many great things Chanakya accomplished in his lifetime.

Uniting India

Chanakya was the person who thought of the plans to defeat Alexander out of India. To accomplish this, he united different kingdoms to fight against the Greeks which was a very rare occurrence. He also thought of the plans to take over his homeland, Magadh, from the tyrannical rule of the Nand Dynasty and handed it over to his main apprentice, Chandragupta Maurya. Under Chanakyas guidance, Chandragupta created a huge empire unititig most of India by using Magadhs enormous military force and wealth. This later became the great Ashokan Empire and for the first time in its history, India was a united nation.

Major Works by Chanakya

The Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy written by Chanakya. It is divided into 15 books and is basically a kings manual on how to run a kingdom. The Nitishastra is a book about political ethics taken from various Shastras and compiled by Chanakya and is also useful when running a government.

Excerpt from Arthashastra

A debt should be paid off till the last penny, and an enemy should be destroyed without a trace. A human being should strive for four things in life dharma (duty), artha (money), kama (pleasure) and moksha (salvation). A person who hasn't striven for even one of these things has wasted life. A man is great by deeds, not by birth. A person should not be too honest. Just as straight trees are chopped-down first, honest people are taken advantage of first. Friendship should be among equals .

Impact

In India, Chanakya is held as a intelligent scholar who rid India of the Greeks and killed the bad and tyrannous kings of the time and gave way to the Ashokan Empire. His books are also very esteemed and have helped many people operate businesses and even governments. In the west, however, scholars view him as a malicious but genius Brahmin who ruthlessly slaughtered and overthrew kings to put himself in power. This of course is not true but is the cause of misinformation from the British. In his time he became very famous and liked after defeating the Greeks but after defeating Magadh, many commoners and nobles loyal to the Nand Dynasty wanted revenge.

Quotes from Chaanakya Neeti

If you were to choose between evil person and a snake to keep company with, opt for the snake. Because a snake will bite only in self-defense but an evil person can put a bit for any reason and any time or always.

Quotes from Chaanakya Neeti

Strange is the character of noble souls. They dont give much weight to the importance of riches yet when riches comes to them the weight of the money bends them down into more humility.

Quotes from Chaanakya Neeti

You can win over; a greedy by offer of money, a proud person by cowering before him, a fool by agreeing with him and a scholar by speaking the truth.

Quotes from Chaanakya Neeti

Do not live in a country that does not allow you; self-respect, honor, means of living, a family, kith and kin, friends, well wishers, ways of education and self-development. Quit such country. It is not fit for living.

Quotes from Chaanakya Neeti

Be content with what you have already got as wife, food and income. But dont ever be content with your knowledge, self-improvement and charity.

Quotes from Chaanakya Neeti

Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends

Sources

Microsoft Encarta 2004 Amar Chitra Katha: Chanakya http://www.researchfellow.net/fpost131.ht ml http://www.worldofbiography.com/9046Chanakya/gallery.htm Chandra Prakash Dwivedis Chanakya