Chandra Gupta Maurya, The Great

Chandra Gupta Maurya, The Great

The title “The Great” suffixed to Chandra Gupta Maurya is intentional and rational. Alexander, The Great, this generation is clueless as to why the greatness is applicable to him. Maybe, Alexander at the end of his life, he may feel guilty of wearing the title. Is Greatness a result of invasions and showing mightiness? Then, we should also allow Donald Trump, US President or Kim Jong-Un to use the title. If we reason that a King has to be powerful not in misusing his powers towards unnecessary invasions, but, in building a strong empire where the citizens living in the empire feel patriotic and lead a life with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. India is proud to see a Great Leader in Chandra Gupta Maurya. He was the founder of Maurya Dynasty.  He lived from  340-298 BCE. He was the father of Emperor Bindusara and Grand-father of Emperor Ashoka. Even though he was a conqueror, he managed the territories much better than the earlier rulers. Much is not known about him but we are fortunate to know from the Kautalya’s Arthashastra. Kautalya is also called Chanakya who was the Prime Minister of Chandragupta. A great work like Arthasastra could only be thought and written by none other than Kautaliya. During later part of the century many writers would have contributed more on the Arthasastra. By doing so, doubt raised on the actual time period of Arthasastra. The main purpose of Arthasastra may not be to describe the Mauryan polity, but as a standard guideline for all rulers to govern their territories in a wise and scientific manner. Another classical way of understanding Maurya Dynasty is from the works of Megasthenes called “Indika”. Megasthenes (born C. 350 BC – died C. 290) was a Greek Ambassador in the court of Chandragupta. He was sent to India by Hellenistic King Seleucus I. He gave the most complete account of India then known to the Greek and was the reference point for later generation historians. On the contrary, we find that Alain Danielou, a French Historian may not know the real nature of Indians. He perceives – Chanakya and Chandragupta’s rule as Machiavellian: “It was”, writes Danielou, “a centralized despotism, resting on military power and disguised into a constitutional monarchy”. (Histoire de l’Inde p. 114). How can he use these kinds words when he was not even born (AD 4^th Oct 1907 to 27 Jan  1994) during Mauryan times? With narrow outlook towards life and with minimal interest to investigate the truth, we will find this kind of interpretation. A good historian should not be judgmental but put the truth as it is and not as you think it is. Young students who want to know the rich legacy of the past can be confused with such kind of statements.

Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta described the capital in the following words:

“At the Junction of this river (Ganges) with another is situated Palibothra, a city of eighty stadia (14.72 kilometers) in length and fifteen stadia (2.72 kilometers) in breadth. It is of a shape of a parallelogram and is girded with a wooden wall, pierced with loopholes for the discharge of arrows. It has a ditch in front for defence and for receiving the sewage of the city. This ditch, which encompassed it all round, is 600 feet in breadth and 30 cubits in depth, and the wall is crowned with 570 towers and has four and sixty gates.”

During 326 BCE, while fighting his way into India, Alexander the Great came across the army of King Porus, the ruler of the local state of Paurava, located in modern day Punjab. After fighting to his last breath, King Porus surrendered to Alexander, who was impressed by the courage and stature of his enemy. Alexander made Porus his ally and turned him into king of all conquered India as a Macedonian tributary. Chandragupta with the help of his Chief Advisor – Chanakya entered the capital of Magadha Kingdom, Pataliputra, where he triggered a Civil War. He finally seized the throne putting an end to the Nanda Dynasty. After this victory, Chandragupta fought and defeated Alexander’s generals located in Gandhara, present day Afghanistan. Following these successful campaigns, Chandragupta was seen as a brave leader who defeated part of the Greek invaders and ended the corrupt Nanda government, thus gaining wide public support. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, the Eastern territories controlled by the Macedonians fell into the hands of General Seleucus, including the region of the Punjab, which today is part of Northern India and Eastern Pakistan. Seleucus was busy enough with what was happening on the western borders, so Chandragupta saw a tempting opportunity and launched an attack on Seleucus and captured a big portion of what today is Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 305 BCE, Chandragupta signed a treaty with Seleucus in which both rulers established borders, and the Punjab was given to Chandragupta in return for 500 war elephants.

Currently, India has a problem with Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. Pakistan claims that some portions of Kashmir is their property and the issue is debated since generations without any logical solution. The delay in the solution has led to so many proxy wars in the name of religion and many innocent lives were lost. If in case a solution has to be decided, India, should remember the glory of its military strength and prove the neighbours that no part of India can be compromised. In return to have a good deal, Pakistan as is still under-developed, can seek support of India in terms of socio, cultural, technological development of the country for the next decade. It has to be win-win or India should not shy away from playing the card of war when it is required to protect its sovereign land. When civilization started in Egypt, India is Civilized and maintained its dignity. In the current situation, India lost its memories and living in the assumptions of Western Intelligentsia. It is time, India and Indians are made aware of the rich and past glory and inspired to lead such a living.

Dr. B. Ravikanth

Reference:

Some parts of the texts are taken from the link https://www.ancient.eu/Chandragupta_Maurya/