Chanakya's Chant - Ashwin Sanghi

  An entrepreneur by profession and an author by choice, Ashwin Sanghi’s novel - Chanakya’s Chant - is prodigious. It is written in the fashion of a double novel - the book has two protagonists, set in two timelines. In the 340BC, we have Chanakya - the kingmaker, pioneer of Political Science and Economics in India and author of the Arthshashtra. In the modern era, there’s Pandit Gangasagar Mishra, who lands upon a tablet inscribed with Chanakya’s Chant.

Adi Shakti, Namo Namaha
Sarab Shakti, Namo Namaha
Prithum Bhagavati, Namo Namaha
Kundalini Mata Shakti; Mata Shakti ,Namo Namaha

 

The mantra comes as a curse from Suvasini, Chanakya’s childhood love, who gets terribly pawned in the midst of Chanakya’s political games, and his revenge. She curses that Chanakya will have no lineage, no successors to pass on his knowledge to and his wisdom could be accessed in the future by using this mantra but only if it is used to ascend a female. Shakti must triumph over Shiva. And so comes into the picture Pandit Gangasagar Mishra, who finds the tablet, inscribed with this mantra in the modern times and adopts it. He then players a new age kingmaker (or prime minister – maker) and aims to make Chandani the prime minister of India.

  The book alternates between the two times, proffering various similarities in the fallacious and sagacious two protagonists. Chanakya’s basic story is known to most Indians, as the man who unified India under King Chandragupta Maurya. However, it is educating to learn exactly how his philosophies worked, the measures undertaken, plans made, his use of science and technology, as well as of people and society. His shrewd methods definitely benefitted him, and succeeded in the re-creation of Bharat. However in the process, he eliminated many existing kings ( no doubt about that not all of them deserved to be kings), destroyed relationships, created misunderstandings, played with emotions and became himself a man without love and emotions(some might say a man with no weakness). 

  A rather interesting concept in this book was the creation of Vishakanyas - reality poison maidens. Carefully selected and groomed by a practice known as Mithridatism (though it is not referred to as such here), they were Chanakya’s secret army of assassins, and greatly useful in his cause.

  In the modern times, we get to see how an ancient text – the Arthshashtra or the Science of Wealth - still applies to our society. The intelligent and sharp Pandit Gangasagar Mishra begins his life as a young boy working for Agrawalji, after his father’s death. He learns about business, creating profit, strategies etc... and “the incestuous relationship between business and politics.” One day, on an assignment from Agrawalji, Gangasagar finds a tablet inscribed with the Chanakya Chant. Soon after, he resigns from his job and starts his own political party, with his former employer as his financer. Hence begins his tale of ascension into the political scenario of Kanpur and his slick planning to make Chandani, the daughter of a pan vendor in a slum, the prime minister of India.

  Some of Pandit Gangasagar’s decisions seem too far-fetched and unrealistic in the modern times, especially since it is hard to believe that manipulating one man and killing another would be quite so easy in the current society.

  All along the book, similarities are drawn between Chanakya and Gangasagar, especially in their schemes, ruses and contrivances. As someone who relishes historical fiction, the parts elucidating Chanakya’s story seem more attractive. However the match and pace of the tales of both the protagonists are spell binding and keep the reader captivated.

  So, if you’re bored of non-generic novels, and are searching for a break from sappy romances and gruesome murders and chilling horrors, look no further!! This mashup of history, politics, and intellect with fiction is something you’ll definitely revel in!!!