Chanakya / koutilya / Vishnugupt
Period 283-350 -390 B. C.
चाणक्य / विष्णुगुप्त / कौटिल्य
Extremely intelligent economist, political policy maker , guideline generator , visionary, Prime minister like post holder (of Samrat Chandragupt era) ,Taxsila universities Head Teacher, religious , ruthless , bold decision maker , writer ,,, One can go on adding lot of things like these in studying this legend.
His Arthshastra अर्थ शास्त्र , Nitishashtra निति शास्त्र , Political ethics राज्य-कूट नितिशास्त्र covers lot of guide lines (including curfew, spy etc…!) are relevant in modern days also. His wide spectrum and deep knowledge includes peaceful public governance, political policies , executives -management , planning , economics ,strategies , political guidance , surveillance , quality maintaining, improving …those days science utilities , war time strategies , public welfare…oriented attitude makes him a legend.
Chanakya was born with teeth ! People forecasted he would be a king /an advisor to king…As he was Brahmin by cast to be a king was a far shot . His family broke his born teeth to avoid the un due fame.
His father was Hrishi Chanak , a famous teacher of takshshila university …
{ when Europe was struggling in development India was prosperous … had even Nalanda now in BIHAR and Taxila now in Pakistan near Rawalpindi…as prime locations for education ! ..many then called it Taxila }.( Chanak name was an honor too ! as it means to take up grain with peak as by bird , who were allowed to take up farms after the routine crop removal.. some were left ,,,,, a super example of bird feeding in those days !!! after few hrs Chanak Acharya used to search for remains of grains keeping his own priority at the last level first feed then eat concept !!)
Gandhar Republic ( Sindhu River area) was not happy cause they were defeated by king Poras ! Alexander the great’s army was also disturbing , Ruler of Patliputra King Nand was also behaving in cruel manner harassing his own people by taxation and even squeezing the public by his arrogant attitudes. Europe’s another warrior SALUKAS was also planning to attack India as it was easy to march on… these all weakened India .. would further do so… these thoughts came across Chanakya .
Many believed that he was also responsible in solving refugee crisis in Taxila as refugees from every where came to Taxila for shelter. All were not academic oriented and civic facility was not sufficient. Even though out side camps were planned and jointly, publicly on humanitarian ground they were allotted and accommodated well in Taxila in quota. This was a management marvel achievement. Moved by refugees’ feed backs , he decided to leave a teaching and left University campus to contribute to the Nation.
He selected Patliputra.( Now Patna Bihar ) . This was the leading kingdoms amongst various kings ( Chinese writer traveler 399 B C Faihan Confirms in his work ) .
A Scholar from Taxila and popular Chanakya soon was widely accepted by the public of Patliputra … Joined the charity committee and became president by his popularity and leadership qualities. In doing so he had to come in direct contact with King Dhananand .Who was dishonest cunning and lavish … extremely ignorant and almost a cruel ruler.
From the very first meeting they were not getting on… in name of a routine courtesy Chanakya refused to sing appeasing tunes of Dhananand and even advised some thing which that king did not like it at all..
Brahmin should not be killed , This was the advise given to Nand by his then Prime Minister like post holder AMATYA RAXAS, almost as good as Chanakya but was wowed to the Chair and was faithful to Nand . King Nand could not tolerate his arguments and removed him from the post ..did that “ YOU ARE FIRED !!” kind … insulted Chanakya and showed the exit door. This was enough to generate fire in the teacher . He thought the king did not deserve to run a country …
Is a King un questionable ?
How could he misbehave to the public in a way he likes…?!
He wowed to dethrone him.
When he was walking in these thoughts later…. A prick of some specific grass injured his sole… he removed every bit of that grass by digging earth with it roots so in future also won’t harm any one !!!…. This act gave another addition to his wow that not only he would dethrone the Dhananand but would also destroy king totally …with his entire family… Till then won’t tie his SHIKHA (चोटी)(ચોટલી), Extremely prestigious kind of oath being a Brahmin to do so in those days….
The whole act was deeply observed by a near by young kid CHANDRAGUPT .
The very first meet is interesting as a litmus test . Chanakya after destroying grass was seeing that the boy was a silent spectator …. Chanakya asked him “ What is worrying you ?” , the reply of Chandragupt won favor from this words ,” Yes , I am worried , but I just witnessed you are more worried !!! and little frustrated as well …in destroying the grass after the injury… “ .
This was the beginning.. They both did have quality leadership, talents and inner strength enough to be mutually attracted between them . They became an ideal TEACHER-STUDENT composite unit. Youth + Experience + Theory +Remarkable fits+ + operational capabilities.
Chanakya groomed Chandragupta to become a perfect King from people and made him expert in all fields. Mourya Surname , though evidences are there that he was from KING FAMILY but distantly related and more of a public emerged elect …and groomed Leader ….to King… type .
The wars with Greek invasion i.e. Alexander and Salukas and the fights with Nand are having chronological mix-ups.,
Alexander’s सिकन्दर influence was waning luckily as his own ill health and death of his supreme commander NICOSAR and PHILIP in war . Alexander returned to Babylon and died . His Satraps (Highly Commanding Deputies ) were dislodged gradually and it was total destruction and no influence to other kingdoms situation this favoured the stability of Mourya King . Chandragupt met Alexander as per some historians and had bad arguments so Alexander arrested him .
Aristotle well known European WISEMAN contemporary of Chanakya was fan of him as well. Whatever Chanakya was to Chandragupt ,,Aristotle was to Alexander ..
This helped Chandragupt to get released…
Helena was daughter of Salukas . Chandragupt and she fell in love !!!! Firstly Chanakya was very much against….then the love +… PERT periodic evolution and revise thinking The concept taught and practiced in modern days !!!!!
Over came his religious taboo and permitted him to go for marriage .!!!
He did have a compromised theory in mind as ,it would be great to go for a better progeny in different gene relationships and warriors of Greek would be calmed down and work shoulder to shoulder….as following loyalty was blood + Dynasty related and oriented !!!!This helped the Greeks as well , because they got Indian breed in exchange and got many options for family settings..
Few migrated back after Alexander’s death. They seized to be the foreign force they used to be. As Chanakya had compromised with Greeks the militancy to India was almost nil.
With Dhannand the fights and war took a chronic mode.
First Chanakya + Chandragupt attacked centre and direct core territories of pataliputra The resistance and Amatyaraxas + Nand duo + were competent not to give a way..Chanakya withdrew !!!! took back foot , revised the techniques and attacked from peripheries after a strategic withdrawal !!!
The army was not that much to hold the winning positions !! as they marched forward ….peripheries became weaker and again Nand army surrounded them and march was stagnant !!! The GURU again withdrew !!! and went for plan 3 !!!
Spy Techniques , the whole we know about to day was well practiced and pioneered then..!! On strategic positions he planted spy … gathered vital information’s then gradually in piecemeal chronic war mode succeeded !!!
Nand was old …driven to jungle where in removing total ‘Nandism’ he was secretly killed. As Chanakya did not want to take a chance of a possible ploy that he may adopt some one and give his kingdom..thus could prevent Chandragupt !!!! After winning back … Mourya Samrajya kingdom with Chandragupt as a king flourished ..
In Post war decisions Chanakya shows great maturity…! He called Amatyaraxas and offered him the Prime minister like his own POST !!! This surprised A.’raxas as well as his skills and knowledge was important to Patliputra Kingdom . He was LOYAL TO CHAIR !! Forgive and Forget principle of POLITICS is seen here..
He invited Nand’s goldcoin maker to continue his work with little modification!!! as during war the great GURU found out that the coinmaker was manipulating gold coin by mixing some other metal thus reducing the cost prizes !!!
As the mix was so perfect was cheating his king Nand and was getting huge benefits also !!! Chanakya even remade the formula bettering gold dilution in metal mixing and appointed him for this vital post instructing no further dilution and assuring loyalty and even praising his skills !
Two important posts Prime Minister like and Financial Minister like were given to Defeated KING’s loyals .!! ,,, enemy was ruthlessly killed as well ! to avert possible adoption ploy !!!!!
The war is not yielding results. After getting solidarity he never went for fights. Compromised with King Poras II and decided its time to write down.. became a writer….and wrote Nitishashtra , Arthshashtra and Guidelines for Governance…Like Aristotal , Galileo to day’s most of subjects have their views as pioneer !!!!!
He retired from active politics and preferred his own teaching job ..Chandragupt was also religious in later days he also took retirement and his son BIMBISAR was made King . Subandhu was another minister senior enough was more near to the new king. Subandhu was from deep inside very much against Chanakya . He appeased king a lot.
This story is a root cause of his exit ….
Chanakya without knowledge of Chandragupt was giving poison in food gradually increasing the dose ! Idea was to immune the king and raise his lethal dose…
Chandragupt gave his food ACCIDENTLY to his wife who was pregnant and last days … …this dose was too much for the lady.. she died . Chanakya got her belly cut and saved the fetus who later became prince BIMBISAR (meaning little poison).
The story with proof was (with minor changes ) presented to the new king by Subandhu . Actually Chanakya was innocent , saved the prince .. but this way the cutting of belly was twisted to a murder…Bimbisar got aggravated also and arrested Chanakya!!.
This depressed the Teacher. He clarified his position. Bimbisar apologized., but hurt Guru could not digest this remarks and after proving him self innocent went for total retirement and went to jungle worship place then leaving food water gradually and Samadhi .(accepted Indian way of self retiring and sacrificing- ending- life religiously peacefully )
The Guru asked Bimbisar not to give capital punishment to Subandhu.
All these put Chanakya above many wise man , legend , un believable elastic policy changer and founder . He even crushes his own religious beliefs as allowing Chandragupt to go for Helena… Giving his own post to Amatyaraxas … That gold coin maker retained .even a thief + cheat appreciated .telling Bimbisar not to give capital punishment to Subandhu….Making choice of King from public…writing for future generation Nitishashtra , Arth Shashtra , Guidelines for good Governance etc..
Who say Chanakya did all these for his personal revenge ?… then they are myopic and do not appreciate the personal quality of this man . Western Media Hitler’s GESTAPO and SS army , Israel MOSAD , KGB Russia , CIA USA , Scotland Yard UK , CID India , are also giving him respect !!!!
If you come across these ….. all have same story different names…
Chanakya = Vishnugupt = Koutilya
Chandragupt = Sandrocorts = Rhushal pet name only chanakya used.
Amatya Raxas = Raxas Mantri Some belive this is a DESIGNATION NOT NAME
Alexander = Sikander = alec sunder एरीक सुन्दर... Aristotle = Arastu ..अरस्तु
-Dr H G Joshi … fine tuning by;
*For preparing this article Dr. H M Zala has contributed many tiny information.
