Chanakya

Description: According to semi-legendary narratives, preserved in various variants, Chanakya (ISO: Cāṇakya, pronunciationⓘ) assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in his rise to power and the establishment of the Maurya Empire. According to these narratives, Chanakya served as the chief advisor and prime minister of both emperors Chandragupta Maurya and his son Bindusara. Chanakya was traditionally identified with Kauṭilya, the author of the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra.The Arthashastra is now thought with high probability to have been composed by multiple authors during the early centuries of the common era—several centuries after the Mauryan period—the backdated identification with Chanakya to have served to add prestige to the work.

Profession: Author