Chanakya (Marathi, Paperback, KHER B. D.)

Chanakya is a novel that presents the story of the great strategist Chanakya who lived in India approximately 2400 years ago. It was his revolutionary nature and forward thinking that led to the formation of an integrated India from a country that saw years of unrest and turmoil.

Summary of The Book

Author B. D. Kher delves deep into the archives to present the story of the man who was known for his great thinking and his knowledge regarding political science and economics. Very little is available in terms of accurate information about Chanakya. Most of the information about him has come from accounts that are semi-legendary in nature.

The origins of Chanakya’s birthplace remain dubious and there are multiple theories regarding this. While Buddhist texts state Taxila in modern-day Pakistan as his birthplace, Jain scriptures state he was a South Indian native. Chanakya’s early life and education happened in Takshashila, a center for learning in the ancient period, where he grew up to be a teacher as well. Chanakya’s life was connected mainly to the cities of Takshashila and Pataliputra, or present-day Patna.

Chanakya faces great humiliation in the court of the Nanda king, and vows to bring about the downfall of the Nanda empire. Chanakya and Chandragupta’s pact with Parvataka brings about the Nanda collapse. The Nanda territories are divided amongst Chandragupta and Parvataka. Parvataka’s son, Malayketu, after his father’s death, seeks control of all the former territories held by the Nanda empire. He is aided by his minister Rakshasa, who was also a minister in the Nanda courts. Chanakya, after thwarting several Rakshasa attempts of killing Chandragupta, hatches a strategy which sets Malayketu and Rakshasa at conflict and ends Malayketu’s quest of gaining control over the territories.

Chanakya highlights the nature, foresight and insight of the great Chanakya, who brought stability to a country that had not seen peace due to so many years of infighting before.

About B. D. Kher

B. D. Kher was an Indian author who is best known for his works on biographies, history and fiction.

Some of his most renowned works are Sanjeevan, Gandharvagatha, Yadnya, Hiroshima, Anandbhavan, Hasare Dukh and Samagra Lokmanya Tilak.

Born in Pune, Maharashtra, India, B.D. Kher wrote around 117 books in his writing career. He worked for the Marathi dailies Kesri and Sahyadri as associate editor and editor respectively. He received numerous awards for his books.