CHANAKYA

(A write-up on Chanakya on his 2350th Birth Anniversary)

Dr Chaman Lal Raina.

In tracing the socio-religious thought of India, we are reminded of certain basic features of surpassing interest. India has at all times faced the aggression since the invasion of Alexander in 321B. C. Why did it happen? We need to turn the pages of the documented pages of the Vedas and to go through the tradition of the religio- spiritual thought of the followers of the Sanatana Dharma, now popularly known as Hindus. The Sanatana Dharma teaches Shanti/ peace, peace and peace alone. Chanting of the ??Shanti Mantra?? is mandatory after every Puja/ worship either in the Mandir/ temple or in the home. This practice is still current in the Hindu way of worship in Bharata/ India or outside India. The practice is seen in all the denominations of Sanatana Dharma. All the four Vedas are filled with the Shanti Mantras. Gautama the Buddha advocates the concept of Ahimsa, so did Mahavir Swami the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the Jainism in the true sense of the term. Both of them were the princes, they advocated non-violence, non-injury and won not only the hearts of the Kshetriyas but of the common man, who would take pride in maintaining the law of Dharma for the betterment of the then India. The great institutions like Takshashila and Nalanda flourished on the soil of the then India., which could produce scholars like Chanakya.These great institutions of higher learning were open to all, irrespective of ethnicity, caste and color. The common man funded these Gurukuls/ universities, which popularized the education for all. The law of inheritance, given by the law giver Manu is a big privilege to the eldest son to inherit the throne of his father??s kingdom however selfish he would have been. But this was not the intention of Manu. But it did happen. The egoistic nature of the ruling classes was the contributing factor, as there would be tendency to extend the empire, and to show the other Raja down in strength and power. Start of malpractices in the administration created a gulf between the bureaucracy and the general public. But the system of Bhiksha/ asking for foodstuffs and donations from the ??Grihasthis??/ house holders by the Brahmacharis/ inmates of the Gurukula was in the social norms then. Thus the parent-teacher relationship made the socio-educational ethos in higher norms of the Vedic system and its applied curriculum, in the then Bharata/India. Vedic language became the language of the elite, and it flourished. in the royal courts. Sanskrit happened to be the linguafranca, but Prakrit and Pali had taken the roots in the non-urban areas. This happens, because of the powerful changes of the linguistics patterns everywhere. Still Sanskrit could retain its efficacy, which proved to be a cementing force for socio- cultural ties and integration.

The political ethos could not integrate the boundaries and the concept of Bharata being the one Rashtra/ nation could not evolve. Why? The law of inheritance was one of the main factors in this problem as the throne would go to the eldest son, however selfish or incompetent he would have been. Egoistic nature of the Rajas contributed to this problem. The court intrigues hatched by the vested interests in the administration created internal problems. Lack of Rashtriyata/ national interest in understanding that Bharata is the territory spread from the Himalayas in the north up to the shores of the Indian ocean and stretching her wings in the north east and north west is One

The Devi Arharva Shirsham Says:

??Aham ??Rashtri ?? Sanghamani ??Vasunam ??Chikitushi ??Prathma ?? Yajnanam??

To recite the Devi Atharva Shirsham of the Vedas lost its meaning and became a ceremonial utterance in religious utterances only. The concept of Rashtra is the confederation of all the socio-religious ethos of the Bharata Mata. But it did not penetrate into the minds of the then rulers.

It was partly, because of the best standards of learning institutions and the commercial trade links with other countries that the name of Bharata became the eye sore for non-Indians to invade the then India. Alexander the expansionist wanted to be the ruler of the globe of his vision and to enforce the Greek culture in the world of his dimensions. He knew about the military strategies related to the territorial war territory then. He waged the wars , conquered the ruling units and reached the north western boundaries of the then India with partial resistance from the then rulers. It was the year 321 B.C

..

Acharya Chanakya being a great socio-political scientist at the university of Takshashila, became very upset with the invasion of Alexander, but did not loose his heart. He made conferences and seminars on the burning topic in the campus : ??Save Bharata from Invasion??. Because of his inborn genius and selfless dedication, he gained the support of the Kulapati/ Chancellor of the university to hold such meetings in private and public to mobilize the human resource to see Alexander out of the territories of Bharata and to create the Central government to make Bharata militarily a strong nation in defending the boarders of the Rashtra and for the internal peace, whenever need arises. He succeeded in his mission, through Chandragupta Maurya, his most favorite student and the Rajaniti Snataka/ political science and economics graduate of the Takshashila University. He had studied the military science as well and was appointed the Senapati Kartikeya /Commander of the Liberation force??s with the head quarters at the university of Takshashila. He succeeded in his mission , through his political wisdom, diplomatic policies and the in-depth research in the Socio-political thought of India. In spite of his best efforts, Alexander got hold of the territory of the frontiers. His Kshatraps/military commanders got hold on the land., after Alexander died during his return. He got Carnivallia- the daughter of Seleukos married to Chandragupta Maurya to make him much stronger in dealing with the Indo-Greek ties, both politically and diplomatically. This marriage took place under the treaty of ??jus connubii?? or the rights earned by marriage. It was the diplomatic vision of Chanakya that Seleukos defeated his sworn enemy Antigonus. In return Chandragupta was given the territory of Kabul,Gandhar and Herat. Then Chandragupta annexed the Punjab and Saurashtra. He was also given the port of Patal at the sea shore. The foremost aim of Chanakya was to see a strong Bharata to flourish, after the invasion of Alexander. He succeeded in his dream, which he turned into reality.

He was an economic strategist and applied those strategies for the welfare schemes, enhancement of revenue, and application of other schemes during Chandragupta??s rule. Chanakya made Chandragupta the emperor of Magadha after deposing the Magadh King Dhananad of the Nanda dynasty. Magadha having strategically the strong base and centrally located, served the mission of Chanakya to see India free from any foreign invasion in future and to inculcate the spirit of Indian nationalism in the kings of smaller states under Chandragupta Maurya .Chanakya wanted to win Rakshasa-the faithful minister of the fallen dynasty of the Nandas, for his inclusion in the cabinet of Chandragupta. Chanakya was more interested in the cultural and political integration on the strong foundation of the socio-religious environment. That was why, he believed that Shasatra / military strength, Shastra/ scriptural attainment should be combined for the welfare of the then India. As an educationist, he felt the necessity of the interdisciplinary courses and comparative studies, which must be in the higher curriculam. He made the two hands of a Shasta/ ruler, stronger. The first component is the physical strength to combat any eventuality and the other is for intellectual analysis to live with peace for attaining progress and prosperity. A nation can forge ahead, when the internal peace prevails and can compete the challenges of the time, when the policy planners are properly trained in their respective fields. This leads in the specialization of the administrative net work ,under the capable but honest hands. Chanakya succeeded in implementing the secret agency lead by Bhagurayana and Siddharthaka faithfully. All the secret services were put to checks and cross checks. Both the Intelligence Chiefs conducted the missions in bringing political integration under the banner of Chandragupta Maurya with a feeling of?? ??Bharata is one??.

Chanakya has been attributed with the name of Kutil-Matih Kautilya, which means that he was man with twisted brain and intellect Thus he was named as Kautilya, by the think tanks of that era. Since he was the son and student of Acharya Chanak, therefore, he was also addressed as Chanakya. Otherwise, he was Vishnugupta for his parents, friends and the Gurukula community including all the official documents of the time. Beyond doubt, he was an arch-diplomat. In the time of Chanakya (fourth century B.C.), Itihasa was taught to learn the lessons from history what had already taken place and happened. The Itihasa was not only history as it is assumed in today??s concept of history, but it would deal with cosmogony, cosmology and divinity; Itivritta / dynastic chronicles and events of the past from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata era; Akhayika/ historical narrations and anecdotes; Udharana/ illustrative stories; Dharma Shastra / enforcement of law and legal codes and Artha Shastra/ political economy. Being the Adhishthhata/Dean and Acharya/Professor of the faculty of Politacal and Economic Thought of the Brihaspati and Shukra Niti at the Takshashila, he was himself talented in the hisory,criminology, law and legal institutions along with the theory and applied economics. Only his quotations have been saved so far in these 3350years He was the chief architect of the foundation of the Maurya administration, every page of Indian Itihasa/ history says so. He is known to the western world, the Indologists and the students of the comparative political thought either as Chanakya or Kautilya, because of his great contribution towards -a treatise on the Political economy. Artha Shastra

About Artha Shastra

For the purpose of counteracting of the concept of Purna Tyaga/ total renunciation, the Artha Shastra of Kautilya came as an illumination to those, who preferred to see Bharata as BHARATA MATA as one Rashtra. The Artha Shastra is divided in fifteen books known as Adhikarnas and divided into180 sections known as Prakarnas, again each section is further divided into150 Adhyayas/ chapters

Book 1 It deas with the discipline and training of the ruler/ king; criminal penal

code and its enforcement; eligibility of the ministers, administrative

system and intelligence network system.

Book 2 It deals with the organizational system based on the bureaucratic set up.

The duties and responsibilities, procedure and norms for the collection of

taxes, trade and commerce.

Book 3 It deals with civil laws and administration.

Book 4 It deals with suppression of anti social activities

Book 5 Action taking laws against sedition and treason, scales of pay and fixation

of the expenses for the royal entourage, including the government officials

Book 6 It deals with the essential features of the state units, consisting of seven - . fold system

Book 7 It deals with the inter- state political and diplomatic relations.

Book 8 Measures against natural calamities and dangers at the time of calamities

Book 9 It deals with military campaigns and its refresher courses.

Book 10 It deals with ancillary problems in the defense.

Book 11 It deals with the economic planning and political institutions.

Book 12 It deals with research and analysis of the secret services

Book 13 Regarding the fresh set-up measures to be taken in a conquered country.

Book 14 Regarding the secret designs for the destruction of enemies

.Book 15 It is the glossary regarding the technical terms used in the Artha Shastra

We need to celebrate the 2350th birth anniversary of Acharya Chanakya-the great son of Bharata, with a vision of political integration to see Bharata as a federation with a central rule, after installing Chandragupta Maurya as the King of Bharata . He did not accept any position , other than enhancing the creativity and excellence among the graduates of the Takshashila/ Taxila university. Not only, Chanakya excelled through his political genius, but also being as alchemist, where he would introduce the ??Vish-Kanya to get his motive fulfilled as the strategist to save the territorial interests.?? He was not an idealist, but pragmatic and very dynamic in his attitude to life for seeing the destruction of the enemy.

Visual Source material:

Chanakya Serial, telecast by Door-Darshan, New Delhi

Annotations with Bibliography:

1 Acharya Chanakya by Dr Shanti Swarupa Tripathi for ascertaining accuracy about Chanankya??s birth and the relevant information regarding the marriage of Chandagupta with Carnaillia.

2 The Cultural Heritage of India, Vol V, The Ramakrishna Mission, Instiute of Culture. India

3 Chandragupta Natak by Jai Shankar Prasad.Chanakya himself admits in this drama that he was very tough, but for the present era. The future should be lived with peace and prosperity. A man is needed to make tough sacrifices for the better future to witness. Jai Shankar Prasad writes that the Greeks had invaded the Nishad mountain range and the King of Takshashila was also instrumental in making his territory subservient to the Greeks. It was only Puru or Porus ,who resisted it. Hence it was obligatory on the part of Nanda-the king of Magadh to be ally with Porus, which he did not do. This was not liked by Chankya, which lead to his down fall, after the invasion of Alexander was over. Thus Chandragupta crushed Nanda to defeat

4 Mudra Rakshas Nataka by Vishakhdatta. It is a drama based on the political intrigue, on the resolute actions in various norms.The main theme dramatizes the reconciliation of Rakshaka, the most faithful minister of Dhananand, by the great visionary Chanakya,who wants to win him over in the service of Chandaragupta.

5 Devi Atharva Shirsha explains the concept of?? Rashtra??.pub. Gita Press, Gorakhpur

6 Vedic Vision by Dr Satyavrata Siddhantalakar for the description of the 'Sanaskaras' in the Gurukula System.

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7 Vishnu Purana explains the territory of Jambudwipa Bharatra Varsha .pub, Gita Press, Gorakhpur.