The Lamp

   
Every one has heard something about Chanakya.Recently I read a book on life and works of Chankya. Prior to reading this book I had a negative impression about Chanakya.It was because some of his writing are a bit critical of women.After a thorough study of his life and work I have realized he was a highly learned Brahmin and an able administrator. During the times of Chankaya (350-275 BC) most part of North India was ruled by Nanda dynasty. Chankaya was not happy with the Nanda dynasty as it didn’t care about its subjects and was very poor at governance.

          Chanakaya once visited the Kings court to advice him on governance.The arrogant king insulted him calling him ugly black bhramin.Chanakya was very upset by this insult. He untied the hairs at back of his head.Then he took an oath in front of the court that he will defeat and bring down the Nanda dynasty. Chanakya succeeded in defeating the Nanda dynasty with the help of his student Chandra Gupta Maurya and established the Maurya kingdom. Chanakya was the first person to advocate the idea of a single empire covering most of India.As per the archeological evidence the first united India was formed under leadership Chandragupta Maurya.

      But the purpose of writing this blog is to highlight the ethics followed by Chankaya.This is a real life account of Chankaya recorded by a Greek historian, philosopher and statesman Magashenese.He travelled from Greece to India  to meet Chankya.Magashenese met Chankaya in his hut at night.Chanakya was writing some thing in the light coming from an earthen lamp. Magashenese introduced himself to Chankaya and told him that he had come to meet him and wanted to discuss some personal things with him. On hearing this Chankya put off the earthen lamp and put on another earthen lamp kept in close vicinity.

           The Greek Philosopher was bit surprised as to why Chankya put of the lamp and switched on  other one. The make and intensity of light was same for both lamps. The Greek philosopher finally asked Chankaya the reason for switching off the first lamp. Chanakya replied that first lamp was owned and fueled by the king and the other one was his own.Second lamp was fueled by his own money. As Magashenese had come for a personal visit Chankya used the lamp lit by his own money.Chankayka said he doest make use of the Kings resources for his personal work.

         Magashenses has written in his work that “no wonder Chanakya held such great powers, he never misused people’s resources for personal use and had high ethics in administration” .In today time when we see rampant corruption all round,this example from Chankakya’s life is a guiding example of ethics to be followed in public life.I will finish off with a quote of Dr Abdul Kalam, "When the almighty appoints you to a position he has already taken care of your means,if you take anything more than that then it is an illegal gain".