Off we go! Chanakya Neeti beckons

My first entry in my new blog. Feels good to have a space to 'pour down all of it'. And what better way to start off than writing about the TV series Chanakya by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi. I finished watching Chanakya today - all 47 episodes. My sister and I watched all of them together. And boy do we miss it! Remember that feeling when you're about to finish a book that you like so much that you actually just don't want it to end. And you miss it when it finally ends. I'm getting that empty feeling now. We even searched again if we could miracuously find a 48th episode. But no, we'll have to live with it (The ending episodes are just too good).

After I started watching it with my sister, some days back, I have shared the episodes with my family and friends and, in all, 9 people have started watching it now. And 4 more have asked for it. I am propogating it everywhere and every new person that joins makes me proud. Thanks to the amazing direction of Chandra Prakash Dwivediji and the greatness of Chanakya. My sister's friend started watching it after us and finished before us, and my other sister also shared her experience on facebook regarding this .

The rebillion against Alaxander's rule, the overthrow of Nanda dynasty, the man behind it all - Chankaya/Vishnugupta - I am short of words for that man. The kind of politics he plays is unimaginable to us 'aam janta'. Having spies (guptachars) is one thing but he takes it to another level. Scripting everything for his enemies. Everything. They're like his puppets, doing what has already been planned by him. Kutil Brahamin, they called him! And what amazes you so much at the end is his pure intentions. The reason behind everything is his firm belief for the unification of Bharat. Such a great patriot. No greed for land, money, power. Being the maha amatya of Magadha, he wanted to be releived of all the politics and go back to teaching. That's Chanakya Neeti for you. So much inspired I am! I think every India should watch it.

There are some striking quotations in it. Here are some of my favourite ones.

Right from the start, this message to Chanakya from his father :

"Agni ko samarpit karne ke pashchat apavitra bhi pavitra ho jata hai. 
Tu apne bheetar sadhna ki agni ko janm dena, jalna, gyan ki sadhna mein jalna. 
Sooraj na sahi, deepak toh zaroor banna."
- Acharya Chanak, Episode 4


And then these lines from Chanakya to the Nanda king Dhananand:

"Shikshak kabhi sadharan nahi hota Dhananand, pralay aur nirman uski god mein khelte hain."

"Mera dhan gyan hai Dhananand, aur agar mere gyan mein shakti rahi toh main apna poshan kar sakne wale samraton ka nirman kr lunga."
 - Chanakya, Episode 8


"Humara anubhav sakshi hai ki rashtiya charitra ke abhav mein humne apne rashtra ko apmanit hote hue dekha hai, 
Humara anubhav hai ki shastra se pehle hum shaastra ke abhav se parajit hue hain,
Hum shastra aur shaastra dharan karne walon ko rastriyta ka bhod nahi kara paye aur vyakti se pehle khand khand humari rashtriyta hui hai."
- Chanakya, Episode 22


There are so many other discussions involving Amatya rakshasa, Mahamantri and Chandragupta that you can listen to again and again.

The biggest lesson, according to me from the series for everyone should be this, I'll quote Chanakya:

"Iss desh ko durjano ki durjanta se itna aghat nahi hua hai jitna ki
Sajjanon ki nishkriyta se hua hai."

The face of Chandraprakash Dwivedi pops up in front of me when I read these lines. Hats off! Speak up against the bad stuff and support the truthful is what Dwivediji implies with these lines. It's emphasised so many times throught the serial Chanakya in differnt diffrent forms. 


Also, to unite:

"Sangathan mein shakti hai,
Akele mein fat ti hai."

Obviously this one's not from Chanakya :)


To not forget your roots, your sanskriti, is another important lesson for me. And for that, you must be in awe with its richness, you should be well aware of its glory. Only then will you not shun it. It's important therfore, Oh, our Bharatiya bhai behenon, to read up on your roots and be well aware of it, so that you feel proud to be an Indian - not ready to settle abroad at the first oppurtunity you encounter.

Uthishta Bharata!