ChanakyaChanakya ( (चा�णक्यचा�णक्य))

One of the greatest One of the greatest philosophers in the history of philosophers in the history of

mankind.mankind.

General InformationGeneral Information Born around 350 BC and died around Born around 350 BC and died around

283 BC283 BC Name at birth was Vishnugupta but was Name at birth was Vishnugupta but was

later known as Chlater known as Chāānakya and Kautilyanakya and Kautilya Born in Patliputra, Maghadh which is Born in Patliputra, Maghadh which is

currently Patna, Bihar in Indiacurrently Patna, Bihar in India Teacher of political science at Taxila Teacher of political science at Taxila

UniversityUniversity Later became Prime Minister of Emperor Later became Prime Minister of Emperor

Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya

Childhood and EducationChildhood and Education Vishnugupta was born to Rishi Chanak Vishnugupta was born to Rishi Chanak

in Patliputra who was a revolutionary in Patliputra who was a revolutionary against the evil emperor of Magadh. against the evil emperor of Magadh. Chanak was exiled after publicly Chanak was exiled after publicly speaking out against the king. speaking out against the king. Vishnugupta left soon after to study at Vishnugupta left soon after to study at the famous Taxila University.the famous Taxila University.

Taxila was the best University of the Taxila was the best University of the time and offered education in many time and offered education in many different fields.different fields.

Life in TaxilaLife in Taxila After completing his education, After completing his education,

Vishnugupta became a professor at the Vishnugupta became a professor at the Taxila University. Here he got the names Taxila University. Here he got the names Chanakya and Kautilya due to his fame Chanakya and Kautilya due to his fame and wits.and wits.

Gandhar Republic attacked Taxila because Gandhar Republic attacked Taxila because the dim-witted prince of Taxila sent the dim-witted prince of Taxila sent soldiers to the border to abuse and torture soldiers to the border to abuse and torture the people living there.the people living there.

Taxila was defeated in no time but Porus, Taxila was defeated in no time but Porus, the king of Gandhar, demanded that the king of Gandhar, demanded that Gandharians not be attacked again and left Gandharians not be attacked again and left without taking or destroying anything.without taking or destroying anything.

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great Before Taxila could recover from being defeated, Before Taxila could recover from being defeated,

thousands of refugees came into Taxila saying thousands of refugees came into Taxila saying that there was a white invader by the name of that there was a white invader by the name of Alexshendra who was planning on attacking India.Alexshendra who was planning on attacking India.

The dim-witted prince of Taxila became friends The dim-witted prince of Taxila became friends with Alexander when he arrived and gave him with Alexander when he arrived and gave him soldiers and money to support his planned soldiers and money to support his planned conquests.conquests.

When Chanakya heard about his he immediately When Chanakya heard about his he immediately turned the school into a war training station and turned the school into a war training station and rebeled against the Greeks. Chanakya created rebeled against the Greeks. Chanakya created his own army and an impressive system of spies his own army and an impressive system of spies to destroy the Greeks. Alexander conquered to destroy the Greeks. Alexander conquered many kingdoms before he left India. While many kingdoms before he left India. While traveling back to Greece, he died. The general he traveling back to Greece, he died. The general he had left in India was killed by a spy acting as a had left in India was killed by a spy acting as a messenger. The Greek rule in India collapsed and messenger. The Greek rule in India collapsed and Bharat (India) was free again.Bharat (India) was free again.

ChandraguptaChandragupta After defeating the Greeks Chanakya returned to After defeating the Greeks Chanakya returned to

his homeland, Patliputra. One day, while walking his homeland, Patliputra. One day, while walking on the road he stepped on some thorns. He on the road he stepped on some thorns. He controlled his anger, bent down and destroyed controlled his anger, bent down and destroyed every one of the thorns.every one of the thorns.

The prime minister who had recently been insulted The prime minister who had recently been insulted by the tyrannical Dhananand (the king) saw this by the tyrannical Dhananand (the king) saw this event and thought that such a determined man event and thought that such a determined man could help him get his revenge. He then took could help him get his revenge. He then took Chanakya to the king’s court. The king laughed Chanakya to the king’s court. The king laughed and made fun of him. Chanakya swore to destroy and made fun of him. Chanakya swore to destroy the king and his sons for that insult.the king and his sons for that insult.

The prime minister recommended that The prime minister recommended that Dhananand’s eldest son Chandragupta would be Dhananand’s eldest son Chandragupta would be fit to rule. His father and eight brothers had fit to rule. His father and eight brothers had repeatedly tried to kill him because his mother repeatedly tried to kill him because his mother was of low-caste and he was extremely strong and was of low-caste and he was extremely strong and intelligent.intelligent.

Defeat of MagadhDefeat of Magadh Chanakya went around telling peasants Chanakya went around telling peasants

and common folk that Magadh needed to and common folk that Magadh needed to be in stronger hands and not under the be in stronger hands and not under the rule of the tyrannous Dhanananda.rule of the tyrannous Dhanananda.

Chandragupta gathered a huge militia in Chandragupta gathered a huge militia in this way. While he was doing this, this way. While he was doing this, Chanakya persuaded a greedy King called Chanakya persuaded a greedy King called Parvatak to help because Chanakya Parvatak to help because Chanakya assured him half of Magadh.assured him half of Magadh.

Chandragupta’s army attacked and Chandragupta’s army attacked and defeated the army of Magadh with defeated the army of Magadh with Chanakya’s guidance.Chanakya’s guidance.

RakshasRakshas Dhananad’s chief minister Rakshas was still trying Dhananad’s chief minister Rakshas was still trying

to avenge his master’s death. He met with to avenge his master’s death. He met with Parvatak (The king Chanakya promised half his Parvatak (The king Chanakya promised half his land) and convinced the king to help him by land) and convinced the king to help him by promising him the entire kingdom of Magadh.promising him the entire kingdom of Magadh.

Chandragupta became sick so Rakshas bribed the Chandragupta became sick so Rakshas bribed the physician to put poison in the medicine. Chanakya physician to put poison in the medicine. Chanakya made the physician drink the medicine himself and made the physician drink the medicine himself and in this way Chandragupta was saved.in this way Chandragupta was saved.

A few weeks later, Chandragupta was being A few weeks later, Chandragupta was being moved to the former palace of Dhananand. moved to the former palace of Dhananand. Rakshas planted soldiers in the cellars to kill Rakshas planted soldiers in the cellars to kill Chandragupta at night.Chandragupta at night.

Chanakya saw ants coming from a crack in the Chanakya saw ants coming from a crack in the floor carrying grains of rice during his inspection floor carrying grains of rice during his inspection and immediately realized that there were soldiers and immediately realized that there were soldiers in the basement. He ordered the guards to burn in the basement. He ordered the guards to burn the palace immediately and not to let anyone the palace immediately and not to let anyone escape.escape.

RakshasRakshas Rakshas was very angry after many of his warriors Rakshas was very angry after many of his warriors

were burned but he didn’t give up. He sent a were burned but he didn’t give up. He sent a poisonous dancerpoisonous dancer to Chandragupta to kill him. to Chandragupta to kill him. Chanakya immediately recognized the “dancer” Chanakya immediately recognized the “dancer” and sent her to King Parvatak yo kill himand sent her to King Parvatak yo kill him

Rakshas then allied with Parvatak’s son Malyaketu Rakshas then allied with Parvatak’s son Malyaketu and 5 other kings to attack Magadh. To break this and 5 other kings to attack Magadh. To break this alliance, Chanakya’s spies saved Rakshas’s friend alliance, Chanakya’s spies saved Rakshas’s friend and took him to Rakshas. As payment for this and took him to Rakshas. As payment for this favor, Rakshas let the spy stay with him.favor, Rakshas let the spy stay with him.

The same night, the spy let himself be caught near The same night, the spy let himself be caught near Mlayaketu’s tent. He was carrying a fake letter Mlayaketu’s tent. He was carrying a fake letter from Rakshas telling Chandragupta that he and the from Rakshas telling Chandragupta that he and the five kings were going to betray him. When he read five kings were going to betray him. When he read this he killed the five other kings and only let this he killed the five other kings and only let Rakshas go because he was a Brahmin. Chanakya Rakshas go because he was a Brahmin. Chanakya then met Rakshas and made him the prime then met Rakshas and made him the prime minister of Magadh because he admired Rakshas’s minister of Magadh because he admired Rakshas’s loyalty and determination.loyalty and determination.

GiftsGiftsHow Chanakya’s gifts helped How Chanakya’s gifts helped

him achieve his goals.him achieve his goals.

Special Gifts and AbilitiesSpecial Gifts and Abilities Chanakya was amazing at guessing his Chanakya was amazing at guessing his

enemy’s every move and never once did he enemy’s every move and never once did he fail to predict his enemy’s doings. He was also fail to predict his enemy’s doings. He was also very good at persuasion. (defeating Rakshas)very good at persuasion. (defeating Rakshas)

Chanakya was very good at spy work and Chanakya was very good at spy work and managing spy-systems and conducting managing spy-systems and conducting unexpected attacks on his enemies (defeat of unexpected attacks on his enemies (defeat of the Greeks)the Greeks)

Chanakya was a great political philosopher Chanakya was a great political philosopher who wrote the Arthashastra and Nitishastra. who wrote the Arthashastra and Nitishastra. He has been called the Indian Machiavelli for He has been called the Indian Machiavelli for his works.his works.

Chanakya vs. MachiavelliChanakya vs. Machiavelli Both were political philosophersBoth were political philosophers Machiavelli’s works are based on how Machiavelli’s works are based on how

to maintain control while Chanakya’s to maintain control while Chanakya’s works talk about basic principles and works talk about basic principles and what is an ideal ruler.what is an ideal ruler.

Both men’s works related to their Both men’s works related to their respective time periods but they still respective time periods but they still have some basic things in common.have some basic things in common.

Chanakya used his principles and Chanakya used his principles and defeated the Greeks and Maghada defeated the Greeks and Maghada while Machiavelli didn’t defeat any while Machiavelli didn’t defeat any government or empire.government or empire.

AccomplishmentsAccomplishmentsThe many great things The many great things

Chanakya accomplished in his Chanakya accomplished in his lifetime.lifetime.

UnitingUniting IndiaIndia Chanakya was the person who thought of the Chanakya was the person who thought of the

plans to defeat Alexander out of India. To plans to defeat Alexander out of India. To accomplish this, he united different kingdoms to accomplish this, he united different kingdoms to fight against the Greeks which was a very rare fight against the Greeks which was a very rare occurrence.occurrence.

He also thought of the plans to take over his He also thought of the plans to take over his homeland, Magadh, from the tyrannical rule of homeland, Magadh, from the tyrannical rule of the Nand Dynasty and handed it over to his main the Nand Dynasty and handed it over to his main apprentice, Chandragupta Maurya. Under apprentice, Chandragupta Maurya. Under Chanakya’s guidance, Chandragupta created a Chanakya’s guidance, Chandragupta created a huge empire unititig most of India by using huge empire unititig most of India by using Magadh’s enormous military force and wealth. Magadh’s enormous military force and wealth. This later became the great Ashokan Empire and This later became the great Ashokan Empire and for the first time in it’s history, India was a for the first time in it’s history, India was a united nation.united nation.

Major Works by ChanakyaMajor Works by Chanakya The Arthashastra is a treatise on The Arthashastra is a treatise on

statecraft, economic policy and military statecraft, economic policy and military strategy written by Chanakya. It is strategy written by Chanakya. It is divided into 15 books and is basically a divided into 15 books and is basically a king’s “manual” on how to run a king’s “manual” on how to run a kingdom.kingdom.

The Nitishastra is a book about political The Nitishastra is a book about political ethics taken from various Shastras and ethics taken from various Shastras and compiled by Chanakya and is also compiled by Chanakya and is also useful when running a government.useful when running a government.

Excerpt from Excerpt from ArthashastraArthashastra

A debt should be paid off till the last penny, A debt should be paid off till the last penny, and an enemy should be destroyed without a and an enemy should be destroyed without a trace. trace.

A human being should strive for four things in A human being should strive for four things in life — life — dharmadharma (duty), (duty), arthaartha (money), (money), kamakama (pleasure) and (pleasure) and mokshamoksha (salvation). A person (salvation). A person who hasn't striven for even one of these who hasn't striven for even one of these things has wasted life. things has wasted life.

A man is great by deeds, not by birth. A man is great by deeds, not by birth. A person should not be too honest. Just as A person should not be too honest. Just as

straight trees are chopped-down first, honest straight trees are chopped-down first, honest people are taken advantage of first.people are taken advantage of first.

Friendship should be among equals . Friendship should be among equals .

ImpactImpact In India, Chanakya is held as a intelligent In India, Chanakya is held as a intelligent

scholar who rid India of the Greeks and killed scholar who rid India of the Greeks and killed the bad and tyrannous kings of the time and the bad and tyrannous kings of the time and gave way to the Ashokan Empire. His books gave way to the Ashokan Empire. His books are also very esteemed and have helped many are also very esteemed and have helped many people operate businesses and even people operate businesses and even governments.governments.

In the west, however, scholars view him as a In the west, however, scholars view him as a malicious but genius Brahmin who ruthlessly malicious but genius Brahmin who ruthlessly slaughtered and overthrew kings to put himself slaughtered and overthrew kings to put himself in power. This of course is not true but is the in power. This of course is not true but is the cause of misinformation from the British.cause of misinformation from the British.

In his time he became very famous and liked In his time he became very famous and liked after defeating the Greeks but after defeating after defeating the Greeks but after defeating Magadh, many commoners and nobles loyal to Magadh, many commoners and nobles loyal to the Nand Dynasty wanted revenge.the Nand Dynasty wanted revenge.

Comparison of Chanakya’s life to Comparison of Chanakya’s life to my ownmy own

In Chanakya’s life there were In Chanakya’s life there were hundreds of different kingdoms and hundreds of different kingdoms and it was very unsafe to travel because it was very unsafe to travel because of dacoits and princes who liked to of dacoits and princes who liked to torture peopletorture people

In my life there aren’t any evil kings In my life there aren’t any evil kings or foreign invaders that I have to be or foreign invaders that I have to be scared of or fight against.scared of or fight against.

If Chanakya was still alive…If Chanakya was still alive…

If Chanakya was still alive I wouldn’t If Chanakya was still alive I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire earth would be surprised if the entire earth would be a super country with its be a super country with its government in India.government in India.

I also think that there would be very I also think that there would be very less wars and only “ideal” rulers less wars and only “ideal” rulers according to the Arthashastra would according to the Arthashastra would be allowed in office.be allowed in office.

SourcesSources Microsoft Encarta 2004Microsoft Encarta 2004 Amar Chitra Katha: ChanakyaAmar Chitra Katha: Chanakya http://www.researchfellow.net/fpost1

31.html http://www.worldofbiography.com/90

46-Chanakya/gallery.htm

Chandra Prakash Dwivedi’s Chandra Prakash Dwivedi’s “Chanakya”“Chanakya”

TimelineTimeline

11/18/07 – Sources Found11/18/07 – Sources Found 11/25/07 – PPT started11/25/07 – PPT started 12/9/07 – Finish content12/9/07 – Finish content 12/16/07 – Finalize and animate12/16/07 – Finalize and animate