Who was Chanakya ?

Chanankya started studying Vedas at a very early age. He had a great attraction towards politics. He was a student of politics right from child hood.

Known as a masterful political strategist, He knew how to put his own people in the opposite camp and spy the enemy without his knowledge before destroying him forever.

Chanakya was an ace in turning tables in his favor irrespective of the circumstances. He never budged to pressure tactics by the ruthless politicians.

After acquiring vast knowledge in various branches of study he wanted everybody to get benefited. He was so famous in the university that he had many nicknames.

He was called variously by different people, namely – Vishnugupta, Kautilya and Chanakya. The whole nation was bewildered by the cleverness and wit of this seemingly small boy who went on single handed unify the country with the sheer power of his character.

He was called variously by different people, namely – Vishnugupta, Kautilya and Chanakya. The whole nation was bewildered by the cleverness and wit of this seemingly small boy who went on single handed unify the country with the sheer power of his character.

While teaching at Taxila University, Chanakya came to know that there was a chance of foreign invasion.

Europe’s great warrior Salukes was readying his armies to attack the weakened republics of India.

There were grave designs threatening the unity and integrity of the nation. Chanakya was aware of the internal and external threats of the country.

He left Taxila University for Patliputra which then made it’s beginning for some vital and drastic changes in politics of India and Patliputra.

When Chanakya met the king for the first time, he was disgusted at the ugly appearance of Chanakya. As time passed he developed contempt for Chanakya. There was no refinement in words and conduct. The king did not like the way Chanakya behaved with him. The king removed Chanakya from the post of president without any reasons. Chanakya erroded like a volcano and said that he would dethrone the king.

Pursued by Nanda's soldiers, Chanakya escaped into the forests, where he met the young Chandragupta Maurya.

Chanakya who was freshly wounded by the Nandas founds a companion to destroy the distraught king.

After hearing a woeful story of Chandragupta and getting emotionally charged, he vowed to destroy the Nandas and get Chandragupta his rightful place as a king of Patliputra. Chanakya said "I will get you the kingship, Chandragupta.

. From that day on Chanakya and Chandragupta worked in tandem to destroy the corrupt and unscrupulous rule of the Nandas.

Chanakya used to add poison in little amounts daily in Chandragupta's food in order to make him immune to poison, if some enemy tries to poison him.

Before defeating the king, he tested various strategies before victory but each time there was defeat. Finally, with change in strategy, Chanakya and Chandragupta attacked the borders of Magadha. King Nanda had large armies on his side with a very loyal and intelligent minister named Amatya Rakshasa. Chanakya knew that there was only one way of getting him out of the way was by defeating the Nanda king.

Finally, after a bitter battle and after the weaknesses of Nanda king became visble, Chanakya won the battle.

His works include “Arthshastra by Kautilya” which is complete encyclopedia of how government should work for a stable rule and economy.

Another work includes “ Chanakya Neeti” as everyone is aware about. The book helps for being a better person or better, teaches one to survive in the untrustworthy world.

Though the story is a revengeful tale, but Chanakya’s aim was not only getting revenge but also a smooth running administration and happiness of people. His works are greatly appreciated and also criticized by some. There are yet another versions of the story to be read and yet many criticism to be faced. But India will never have a strategist and economist as he was.

Chanakya was a philosopher, economist, and statesman who wrote the Indian political treatise, the ‘Arthashastra’ (Economics). In this seminal work he had compiled almost every aspect of what had been written in India up to that time regarding property, economics, or material success.

He is considered a pioneer in the fields of political science and economics in India due to the significant contributions he made to the development of these fields. Chanakya, also identified as Kauṭilya or Vishnu Gupta, was a powerful statesman in the court of the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Maurya empire.

Born into a Brahmin family, Chanakya was educated at Takshashila, an ancient centre of learning located in north-western ancient India. He was a highly learned person with in-depth knowledge in varied subjects like economics, politics, war strategies, medicine, and astrology. Beginning his career as a teacher, he went on to become a trusted ally of Emperor Chandragupta.

Acting as the emperor’s counselor and adviser, he was instrumental in helping Chandragupta overthrow the powerful Nanda dynasty at Pataliputra, in the Magadha region and helped Chandragupta consolidate his powers. Chanakya also served as the adviser to Chandragupta’s son Bindusara.