CHANA-kya?????
CHANAKYA... My tribute to the visionary!!!
So,
I was surfing interent, dont how and when reached here, though
whatever you would see is an excellent piece of information for an
excellent person, what ever he did was mind blowing and does make
sense in every bit of it... I request you all to read this till the
end and try to relate with our current world scenarios.. all the best
Chanakya
is also known by the name of Kautilya and Vishnugupta as is mentioned
in his text. His famous work called Arthashastra is a classic example
of statecraft and politics and is read in Europe even today. It
basically consists of the principles of politics and how the state
works. An able ruler has to be a ruthless leader to make sure that
the state works smoothly and efficiently. The legends associated with
Chanakya are very interesting and provide a testimony of his
greatness.
Legends:
When Chanakya was born he had a full set of teeth, which is a sign that he would become a king or an emperor. But since he was born in a Brahmin family, it was considered inappropriate. Thus, his teeth were broken and it was predicted that he would make another person a king and rule through him.- Even as a child, Chanakya had the qualities of a born leader. His level of knowledge was beyond children of his age.
- Chanakya was thrown out of the court of King Nanda as he was a blunt man and spoke his mind clearly. Chanakya swore he would take revenge.
- Chanakya comes across Chandragupta as a young child. Even at that age, he was a born leader and showed the qualities of an able Emperor. He was the guiding force behind Chandragupta and the vital person who made him an able Emperor.
- Chanakya adds poison in little amounts daily in Chandragupta's food in order to make him immune to poison, lest some enemy tries to poison him.
- However Chandragupta was unaware about this and once gave a little food to his wife who was in the ninth month of pregnancy. She didn't survive but Chanakya cut open her belly and took out the baby.
- This baby grew up to become an able emperor named Bindusara. He had a minister named Subandhu who did not like Chanakya. He told Bindusara that Chanakya had killed his mother.
- Without assessing facts, Bindusara confronted Chanakya. On knowing the whole story, he felt ashamed at his hasty actions and begged for forgiveness. He asked Subandhu to go and apologize and make Chanakya come back.
- Subandhu was very cunning and on the pretext of going to apologize to Chanakya, he killed him. Thus, ended the life of a great person like Chanakya just because of political rivalry.
People
who think that the society in which we live will remain the same; are
dissuading themselves of the truth. Society is a complex and dynamic
system changing constantly leaving those people behind who say no to
change. Broadly speaking, Chanakya dreamt of a country reaching the
following levels of development in terms of ideologies and social and
economic development:
• A
self sufficient economy which is not dependent on foreign trade.
•
An egalitarian society where there are equal opportunities for
all.
• Establishment of new colonies for the augmentation
of resources. He also advocated the development of the already
annexed colonies. His imperialistic views can be interpreted as the
development of natural and man made resources.
• According to
Chanakya, the efficient management of land is essential for the
development of resources. It is essential that the state keeps an eye
on the occupation of excess land by the landlords and unauthorized
use of land. Ideally the state should monitor the most important and
vital resource – Land.
• The state should take care of
agriculture at all times. Government machinery should be directed
towards the implementation of projects aimed at supporting and
nurturing the various processes; beginning from sowing of seeds to
harvest.
• The nation should envisage to construct forts and
cities. These complexes would protect the country from invasions and
provide internal security. The cities would act as giant markets
increasing the revenue of the state.
• Internal trade was more
important to Chanakya than external trade. At each point of the entry
of goods, a minimal amount of tax should be collected. The state
should collect taxes at a bare minimum level, so that there is no
chance of tax evasion.
• Laws of the state should be the same
for all, irrespective of the person who is involved in the case.
Destitute women should be protected by the society because they are
the result of social exploitation and the uncouth behavior of men.
•
Security of the citizens at peace time is very important because
state is the only savior of the men and women who get affected only
because of the negligence of the state. Antisocial elements should be
kept under check along with the spies who may enter the country at
any time.
• Chanakya envisioned a society where the people are
not running behind material pleasures. Control over the sense organs
is essential for success in any endeavor. Spiritual development is
essential for the internal strength and character of the individual.
Material pleasures and achievements are always secondary to the
spiritual development of the society and country at large
"Taxation
should not be a painful process for the people. There should be
leniency and caution while deciding the tax structure. Ideally,
governments should collect taxes like a honeybee, which sucks just
the right amount of honey from the flower so that both can survive.
Taxes should be collected in small and not in large proportions".
Most
of his views were so farsighted that they appeared to be prophesies.
Talking on diverse subjects such as corruption, he commented very
rightly, "It’s just as difficult to detect an official’s
dishonesty as it is to discover how much water is drunk by the
swimming fish".
15
GREAT THOUGHTS BY CHANAKYA
1)
"Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't live long enough
to make them all yourselves!!"
2)"A person should
not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are
screwed first."
3)"Even if a snake is not poisonous,
it should pretend to be venomous."
4)"There is some
self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without
self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
5)"
Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why
am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful.
Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these
questions, go ahead."
6)"As soon as the fear
approaches near, attack and destroy it."
7)"The
world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
8)"Once
you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and
don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the
happiest."
9)"The fragrance of flowers spreads
only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person
spreads in all direction."
10)"God is not
present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your
temple."
11) "A man is great by deeds, not by
birth."
12) "Never make friends with people who
are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give
you any happiness."
13) "Treat your kid like a
darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold
them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your
grown up children are your best friends."
14) "Books
are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind
person."
15) "Education is the Best Friend. An
Educated Person is Respected Everywhere. Education beats the Beauty
and the Youth."
reference:-http://www.hinduism.co.za/chanakya.htm
