Chanakya (His life and philosophy) Background – Raveesh Magod ▪ From Hubballi ▪ B. E. @ BVB College of Engineering, Hubballi – 2010 ▪ A “Sankalpite” from 2010 to 2012 – Initial days of Jignyasa ▪ M. S. (2014) and Ph. D. (2018) from Arizona State University ▪ Currently working as an Analog Design Engineer at Kilby Labs, Texas Instruments ▪ A Jignyasu Who is Chanakya? ▪ Author of the well-known work Arthashastra ▪ Prime minister and chief advisor of Chandragupta Maurya ▪ One of the first documented economist and political strategist in the world ▪ A strong proponent of a unified Bhaarata → Bhaaratavarsha ▪ A celebrated teacher of Takshashila Source: https://www.mapsofindia.com/history/mauryan-empire.html Timeline – Birth ▪ Born as early as around 16th century B.C. (puranic evidence) or 350 B.C. (colonial interpretation) ▪ Believed to be from Magadha ✓ His father Chanaka was a teacher at Magadha ▪ Other sources point to birth in Kerala ✓ References to south Indian practices in Arthashastra ▪ Chanaka putra Chanakya ▪ Birth name was Vishnugupta Source: Google Images Sneak peek at Indian History – After Mahabharata • Mahabharata war around 3138 B.C. (or 3067 B.C.) • Beginning of Kaliyuga – 3102 B.C. • Power of Kurus declined post Kaliyuga • Center of power gradually shifted to Magadha • The birth place of • Gautama – Buddhism1 • Mahavira – Jainism • Present day Bihar and Odisha – Close to Pataliputra of Magadha period Source: A Historical atlas of South Asia 1Source: Buddha's Birth Earlier Than Thought | National Geographic http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/ Sneak peek continued – The Mahajanapadas • Primarily referenced by Buddhist texts on the pre-Buddha Era • Pointers to these states mentioned in Anguttara Nikaya – One of the 5 volumes (Nikaya) of the Sutta Pitika • Janapada/Ganapada – A people’s republic • Solasa Mahajanapada Sneak peek continued – Bhaaratavarsha • Empire vs. Samrajya – Independent kingdoms with “emperor” • Monarchy prevailed – Kings were bound by Dharma • Arthashastra - gives details on smaller kingdoms relation with the emperor • Besides military strength • Personality • Administrative strength • Adherence to Dharma Source: A Historical atlas of South Asia http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/ Sneak peek continued – Bhaaratavarsha • Extent of India: • Modern day Afghanistan – West • Kanyakumari – South • Himalayas – North • Myanmar – In the east • Monarchy did not prevent a grass root democracy at local level • Kautilya redefined the boundaries of India – Himalayas to the southern sea and a thousand yojanas (1 yojana = 7.64 miles) east to west Source: A Historical atlas of South Asia http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/ Sneak peek continued – Kingdoms of North India • Gandhara • Kshudraka • Arutt • Madra • Vahlika (Bactria) • Magadha • Puru • Kirata • Kaikeya • Kashi • Nepal • Kashmira • Malwa • Lichachavis Source: Portraits of a Nation – History of Ancient India Bhaaratavarsha – Key ideas • Invasions to India – and not a particular kingdom. Alexander or thereafter • Entire region basically followed Vedic Dharma • Welfare of the people remained a prime concern • Consolidation of statehood • Systemization • Administration • Trade and monetary growth • Spread of religion and culture Source: Uttarapath And Dakshinapath: The Great Trade Routes Of Jambudwipa Nanda kingdom – Magadha ▪ Elevated levels of corruption – Right at the level of king and ministers ▪ King (Dhanananda) accused of ✓ Hoarding wealth from “Raaja kosha” ✓ Heavy taxation on citizens – even on essentials • Eg. Taxes on firewood for cremation ✓ Non-supportive of education (Brahmanas) ✓ Excessively involved in sense pleasures ▪ Shaktaar (Mantri) – An honest man. Imprisoned by the king on questioning his actions ▪ Acharya Chanak - Teacher at Magadha and father of Chanakya (Also imprisoned) Quick Recap of discussion on Dec 14th, 2018 ▪ Mahabharata war (3138 B.C.) and shift of power to Magadha ▪ Buddhism – 19th century B.C. ▪ The 16 Mahajanapadas of ancient India ▪ Entire region basically followed the Vedic Dharma ▪ Monarchy existed – King followed Dharma ▪ Greek historians data for timeline of Chandragupta ▪ The Nava – Nandas The Science of Historiography ▪ Itihaasa – Iti + ha + asa – In this way + it + happened ▪ The invasionist model for Indian history ✓ Aryan invasion ✓ Muslim invasion ✓ British invasion ▪ Approaches in presenting history ✓ Type 1 – Objective account of data obtained from various sources ✓ Type 2 – Evaluate past in the viewpoint of present social life ✓ Type 3 – Theorist who thinks S & D makes current superior and past barbaric ✓ Type 4 – Print few facts and shape it around political agenda • Eg. for 3 & 4 – Macaulay, Max Muller, Marxist, etc. ▪ “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter” Source: Portraits of a Nation – History of Ancient India The Science of Historiography ▪ Sources of History and Historical Evidence ✓ Literary (Vedas, Epics, Upanishads, Arthashastra, etc.) – Natural conditions, royal dynasties, occupation, social and economic organization ✓ Account of Foreigners – Greek writers, Fa-Hien and Hieun-Tsang (In corroboration) ✓ Archeological, coins and inscriptions ✓ Geological – Radiocarbon dating for Saraswati river belt ✓ Astronomical – Linking close to 150 astronomical references in Mahabhaarata with computer software ✓ Linguistic – Similarity between Sanskrit and European languages ✓ Fauna and flora – Accurate references in early texts ✓ Genetics – Early inhabitants native to India, rule out the possibility of entry of new group to India in the last 15,000 years Source: Portraits of a Nation – History of Ancient India Chronology of the Magadha empire ▪ Shishunaga dynasty ✓ Bimbisara ✓ Ajatshatru • Patricide • Pataligrama – Pataliputra • First Buddhist council • References to meeting Buddha (Gautama) ✓ Darsaka ✓ Udayi ✓ Followed by the Nandas Source: A Historical atlas of South Asia http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/ PS: Wrong references to birth of Buddha Chronology of the Magadha empire ▪ Mahanandi – The last descendant of Shishunaga dynasty or the first king of Nandas ▪ Mahanandi’s son with a Sudra women – Mahapadma Nanda. Contrary evidence suggests he was a son of a barber ▪ A barber in Pataliputra – Had learnt yielding weaponry ✓ Initially assigned a small troop ✓ Later became the commander of the army ▪ Conspiracy and murder of Mahanandi with the help of Sunanda Devi and ascent to the throne ▪ Nine (8) sons – Nava-nanda (Last son known as Dhanananda) Mahapadma Nanda – An ambitious monarch ▪ Mahapadma Nanda hated Brahmins and Kshatriyas ▪ Defeated Kashi, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Maithila, Shoorasena, Vitihotra, Haihaya, Kalinga and Ashmaka ▪ Padma means “ten thousand crores” ✓ Amassed huge wealth ✓ Had unparallel army Source: A Historical atlas of South Asia http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/ Unpopularity of the Nandas ▪ Nanda kings were largely unpopular ✓ Possession of huge wealth implies great deal of extortion ✓ Heavy taxation and hoarding ✓ Relations with neighboring kingdoms hostile ✓ Lowness of birth and ascent to throne ✓ Heterodox disposition ▪ The empire had shown signs of revolt – Kalinga regains control Source: https://www.mapsofindia.com/history/nanda-empire-323-bce.html The rule of Dhana Nanda ▪ Hoarding the revenue collected in Raajakosha ✓ Does not leave a trail – Angada and Shishupaala ✓ Shaktar – Minister plans to catch the king and ministers in act ▪ Shaktar consults Chanak – Protest against Dhana Nanda ▪ Chanak’s death ✓ The episode of firewood for cremation ▪ Vishnugupta heads to Takshashila ▪ Graduates and becomes a teacher at Takshashila Source: Chanakya T. V. series (1991) directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi The University at Takshashila ▪ Oldest among universities in India ✓ Existed well before 1000 B.C. ✓ About 55 miles from Sindhu river (West of Rawalpindi) ▪ Recognized authorities on various subjects – Complete autonomy to the teacher ▪ Only higher education imparted – Students came from all over Bhaarata ▪ Highest level of education – Intellectual capital of India Source: D G Apte, Universities in Ancient India Destined meeting of Chanakya and Chandragupta ▪ Chanakya arrives at Pataliputra for a Conference ▪ Is insulted by the king Dhana Nanda ▪ Legend 1: Game of King and his court (Raajakilam). Concept of unity among Janapadas demonstrated by Chandragupta ▪ Legend 2: The story about a captured spy ▪ Chanakya observes and is impressed ▪ Chandragupta follows his teacher to Takshashila Source: Chanakya meets Chandragupta (Chanakya TV series) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FNDtLsMwfM The common “rift” between the states ▪ Ambhiraaja – ruler of Takshashila ✓ His son a greedy ruler ✓ Repeated conquests at the border with Kaikeya ▪ Kaikeya ✓ Paurava or Parvateshwara or Porus (King) ✓ Much more powerful than Ambhi ▪ Ambhi was defeated by Paurava – The vast spy network of the Porus ▪ Internal fights between Maloi (Malawa) and Kshudraka “Ganarajyas” Source: Portraits of a Nation – History of Ancient India Quick Recap of discussion till Dec 21st, 2018 ▪ Chanakya born as early as around 16th century B.C. (puranic evidence) or 350 B.C. (colonial interpretation) ▪ Buddha’s timeline – 19th century B.C. ▪ Sneak peek at Bhaaratavarsha - The 16 Mahajanapadas of ancient India ▪ The science of historiography and biased interpretations of Indian history - “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter” ▪ The chronology