Chanakya Neeti is a book based on Chanakya, an Indian theorist, teacher, philosopher, economist and a noble mentor to the Mauryan emperors between 350 -275 BC. The book portrays about his ideologies and ideas in diverse situations, which are pertinent even to today’s’ times. People follow his ideas to escape from the web of several evils to lead a happy and peaceful life. Chanakya was also known as Kautilya or Vishnu Gupta. He was prominent lecturer at the ancient Takshashila University. He was an expert of economics and political science. Besides teaching, he also advised the Mauryan kings, Chandragupta and his son Bindusara. Chanakya played a crucial role in the establishment and expansion of the Mauryan Empire. In this book, the author tells about Arthashastra, the ancient thesis about Indian Polity. The book focuses on Chanakya’s detailed theories. He wrote his discoveries as to the manner people used to live their lives in ancient India. The book explains the behaviours and patterns a person should follow with different people in life. This book was published in 2002 and is available in paperback form. It comprises of Neeti Sutras in Sanskrit, which are in concise form, but are very impressive. Their translation is done in English and a bit is explained in laymen’s terms too. It is available online on Amazon India. About the author: B.K. Chaturvedi is an Indian Civil Servant. He is also former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his involvement in the field of civil services, in 2010. He belongs to the 1966 IAS batch.

चाणक्य नीति—महेश शर्मा विष्णुगुप्त चाणक्य एक असाधारण बालक थे। उनके पिता चणक एक शिक्षक थे। वह भी शिक्षक बनना चाहते थे। उन्होंने तक्षशिला विश्वविद्यालय में राजनीति और अर्थशात्र की शिक्षा ग्रहण की। इसके पूर्व वेद, पुराण इत्यादि वैदिक साहित्य का उन्होंने किशोर वय में ही अध्ययन कर लिया था। उनकी कुशाग्र बुद्धि और तार्किकता से उनके साथी तथा शिक्षक भी प्रभावित थे; इसी कारण उन्हें ‘कौटिल्य’ भी कहा जाने लगा। अध्ययन पूरा करने के बाद तक्षशिला विश्वविद्यालय में ही चाणक्य अध्यापन करने लगे। इसी दौर में उत्तर भारत पर अनेक विदेशी आक्रमणकारियों की गिद्धदृष्टि पड़ी, जिनमें सेल्यूकस, सिकंदर आदि प्रमुख हैं। परंतु चाणक्य भारतवर्ष को एकीकृत देखना चाहते थे। इसलिए उन्होंने तक्षशिला में अध्यापन-कार्य छोड़ दिया और राष्ट्रसेवा का व्रत लेकर पाटलिपुत्र आ गए।