Book: Rule the World – The way I did…Chanakya
ISBN: 9788122310108
Author: Prof. Shrikant Prasoon
Publisher: Pustak Mahal (www.pustakmahal.com)
Leaves from the life of Chanakya
Chanakya was a man of fast and lasting action, a strict teacher and a fair administrator, an immaculate strategist, a destructive force and a creative energy, highly emotional, annihilator of a kingdom and a creator of a vast dynasty.
This book is a treatise on his political, economic and social ideas that continue toinfluence millions of people down 2500 years. Here are three extracts about his persona from the book.
The Appointment of the Minister-in-chief
Nand Dynasty was finished. Maurya Dynasty had taken a bright start. Chandragupta Maurya ascended the throne. The job of unifying the nation was almost over. Peace and normalcy was restored in the kingdom. Chanakya wanted to see everything secure. Though he was efficiently looking after everything, he was also feeling badly the need of a Prime Minister. He was looking for one.
One man from the enemy camp had impressed him as wise, sincere, honest and truthful to the king. He was the famous, rather notorious Amatya Rakshasa, who had earned the nickname of Rakshasa, because of his tough stands. One thing in him that Chanakya appreciated most was the fact that Amatya did not desert the losing king. He remained true to him and fought for him tooth and nail till the end. He decided to make him the Prime Minister to serve the Mauryan Empire.
On the other hand, Amatya Rakshasa did not like Chanakya. He hated him for ruining the king that he was faithful to. Chanakya met him and asked him to be the Prime Minister. Amatya Rakshasa blatantly refused.
Intermittently, he kept on persuading him to accept the post. Once Amatya was to attend a function at the residence of a businessman. Chanakya reached there and invited him to become the Prime Minister. He told, “A Prime Minister is not responsible to a king or to a government or to the board of ministers, he is responsible to the land and the people. The people have a right to see the best person at that high pedestal. You have the ability. People have faith in you. You must accept this challenging job.” Amatya Rakshasa was in a fix. After a lot of discussions, he accepted the post.
It is a rare example when the right hand man of the defeated king was made the Prime Minister.
Chandragupta’s Marriage with Helen
Chanakya thought of the welfare of the nation. He wanted the security of the country and safety to its people. Greeks were still there. Alexander had returned back. He had appointed Seleucus Nicator to govern India. Chanakya was looking out a way to make him friend and grab the kingdom, which was still under his control. He knew well about his daughter Helen, also known as Cornelia. He planned the marriage of Chandragupta with Helen.
He announced his decision to his dear pupil and king. Chandragupta was in a fix. He was not in a position to deny his mentor but he secretly loved a girl named Chitra. Chandragupta got an opportunity and declared his willingness to marry Chitra. Chanakya was not lenient. He did not listen to the king and forced him to marry Cornelia. The king had to surrender to his guru.
In all probability, the marriage was solemnised in 305 BC, when Seleucus Nicator was defeated in the battle. As dowry and as defeated general, he gave four big provinces to Chanakya. They were Kabul, Kandhar, Herat and Makaran. The details of this war are available in Indica written by Megasthenes.
It is also claimed that later on Chandragupta married Chitra.
The Lamp
This incident has perhaps been described by Megasthenes in Indica. It is related to him. He had come to India and had heard about Chanakya. He wanted to meet him. It was not difficult to meet him. He sent words and was allowed to go to the hut in which Chanakya was living.
When Megasthenes reached there, it was the first hour of the evening. Chanakya was writing something under the dim light of an earthen lamp. He raised his head, welcomed the guest and asked, “What’s your purpose?”
“I’ve come to see you and talk to you about yourself and on different topics.” So was the candid reply of the foreigner.
Chanakya asked him to wait. Then he took another lamp and after lighting it, he put off the first lamp. Then he invited Megasthenes to sit on the broad mat. Megasthenes sat down but could not hide his surprise. He asked, “I feel there must be a reason that you have put off the first lamp and lighted another one, but I don’t find any difference in them; neither in the make and size nor the light that is coming out. Please tell me why you changed the lamp.”
“Before changing it, I asked about your purpose. I came to know that it is a personal meeting. So I put off the official lamp whose oil comes from the government treasury and I lighted the lamp for which I purchase oil from my salary. While doing a personal work, I can’t misuse the government’s money.” Chanakya gave a simple reply.
It was really unbelievable for the visitor. He knew Chanakya was all powerful in the Mauryan kingdom, yet he was behaving in such an honest way. He bowed before him and said, “This is the reason of your immense power.”
This book on Chanakya must be thoroughly read and his teachings followed for better vision and greater gain for self and the society.
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