CHANAKYA

  Name           :  Chanakya

 

 

Country        :  India

Period           :  Born :  350 B.C.E.                   

                      :  Died  :  275 B.C.E.

Age               :  75  years

Alma Mater : Takshashila
Profession    : Teacher, Advisor of Chandragupta Maurya
Famous for   : Foundation for Mauryan Empire
Teachings     : Artha Shaastra, Ethics of Political Rules (Chanakya Neeti)

 

   

Chanakya is famous in history of India as a sage-like person who by his political shrewdness and expediency helped in the establishment of the mighty Mauryan empire.  Chanakya was wise, clever, foresighted, determined and deeply read in economics, diplomacy and politics. 

 

There is a legend that Chanakya was once invited to the court of the Nanda rulers of Magadha where he was insulted.  Chanakya took a vow to cause the downfall of the Nanda dynasty.  With the help of a brave and capable general, Chandragupta, he succeeded in fulfilling his vow and founded a new Mauryan dynasty in Magadha.

 

 

Chanakya expelled the Greek invaders from India with his help again.  Chanakya served as a friend, philosopher, and guide to Chandragupta Maurya.  Chanakya is alsobelieved to be the author of  "Artha Shaastra", the classical Indian treatise on statecraft.  It lays down rules of government and also gives a detailed account of the contemporary state administration.

Chanakya was born in a poor Brahmin family of Takshashila.  His real name was Vishnugupta.  Chanakya is also known as Kautilya, because of his "Kut-Niti" or diplomacy.  He was educated at Takshashila, a great educational centre in those times. 

 

 

In his personal life, Chanakya was like an ascetic and the legend goes that he lived in a mud-hut near the royal palace.  A very famous Sanskrit play, "Mudrarakshasa", has for its theme one of the diplomatic feats of Chanakya.

 

 

Two books are attributed to Chanakya:
1. Arthashastra and
2. Chanakya Niti, also known as Chanakya Neeti-shastra.

The Arthashastra discusses monetary and fiscal policies, welfare, international relations, and war strategies in detail. The text also outlines the duties of a ruler.

Chanakya Niti is a collection of aphorisms, said to be selected by Chanakya from the various shastras.

Chanakya is regarded as a great thinker and diplomat in India. Many Indian nationalists regard him as one of the earliest people who envisaged the united India spanning the entire subcontinent.

The diplomatic enclave in New Delhi is named Chanakyapuri in honour of Chanakya. Institutes named after him include Training Ship Chanakya, Chanakya National Law University and Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership. Chanakya circle in Mysore has been named after him.