If we don't learn a lesson from the #History, History will repeat itself...

धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः

 

Chanakya (c.350 - c.275 BC) 

also known as 

Kautilya

is one of the earliest known political thinkers and kingmakers in the literal sense of the word.

The commonly told tale is that after Chanakya was humilated by the Nandas, and chandragupta being thrown out of the nanda army, chanakya was walking in a forest when the kusa grass hurt him by tripping him over. Since the grass is extremely difficult to uproot, people let it grow without destroying it but chanakya poured sugar syrup on the grass. When Chandragupta asked him why, Chanakya replied that he was making the root of the grass sweet which will attract ants and the ants will destroy the grass. And that did happen. When asked why a simple grass was being destroyed for vegenance, Chanakya replied that everyone owes a duty to the society by removing noxious things, and he would remove even a king if the king adopted adharma. Seeing Chanakya's intelligence and foresight, Chandragupta asked to be accepted as a disciple.

Chanakya entered the palace of the Nandas. He saw ten gold plates and thrones. He was told that nine were for the eight Nanda princes (who were brothers) and their father Sarvarthasiddhi. The tenth was for the most learned person in Vedas. It was occupied by Subandhu, whose incompetence was widely known. Chanakya sat down in the tenth throne. The nine princes and Subandhu entered the place and noticed Chanakya sitting on the throne. The youngest two brothers, Sukalpa and Dhanananda, asked him to get up and leave. Chanakya replies, 'I am the most qualified for the tenth throne. It is my right to sit on it. If subandhu defeats me in a literary debate, I will readily step down.'

The princes become angry but Chanakya remains calm and continues his request for a debate. Sukalpa insults him by calling him a monkey but Chanakya continues to be calm and says that the duty of the king is obey the dharma. Since the tenth throne is to be given to the most learned man, it is dharmic that a contest be held. Further, Chanakya notes that he may be black like a monkey but scholars are noted for what is in them.

The princes get angry and ask the guards to throw him out by pulling him by the tuft of the hair. At this instance, Chanakya takes the famous oath, 'I will not tie my tuft of hair until I uproot the whole Nanda dynasty and establish dharma in magadha. Rulers like you have spoiled Bharat. The tuft of hair which you arrogantly pull now will be like a serpent which comes back to bite you.'

The lesson that should be learned from the first paragraph of this write-up - is especially important for the next Prime Minister Candidate of #Bharat - Yogi Maharaj...

Just don't shut down the madrasas...

But destroy it completely in the Chanakya way 

so that they cannot pop up again...

Enjoy the poem written and recited by my wife...

#Reema