Chanakya (The Master of Statecraft)

About the Book

When the learned Brahmin Vishnugupta is humiliated by the arrogant king Dhana Nanda in a public gathering he swears revenge. Anger is his weakness, but strategy, his strength. This formerly unknown Brahmin goes on to become the most well-known kingmaker in Indian History: Chanakya. Using a combination of cunning, ruthlessness and luck, Chanakya fulfils his vow and propels a boy of unknown origins, Chandragupta Maurya, to the throne of the most powerful kingdom of that time, an empire even Alexander the Great hesitated to confront.

This fascinating account shows how Chanaky went from being a penniless fugitive with the rebel prince of Pataliputra to the prime minister of Magadha, and finally the author of the groundbreaking Arthashastra. With fun snippets and lesser-known facts about this remarkable stateman and the Mauryan age, this book promises to be an exciting and gripping adventure story.

About the Author

Author, poet and translator, Deepa Agarwal writes for both children and adults and has published about fifty books. She has received, among others, the NCERT National Award for Children's Literature for her picture book Ashok's New Friends, while her historical fiction Caravan to Tibet featured in the IBBY Honour List 2008. Five of her books have been listed in the White Raven Catalogue of the International Youth Library, Munich. She is a regular contributor to children's magazines in India and abroad, and her stories have appeared in many anthologies and school textbooks. Her recent titles include Rajula and the Web of Danger and The Game of Shadows.

Deepa conducts workshops and storytelling sessions in schools. As founder- organizer of the Habitat Children's Book Forum in New Delhi, she plays an active role in promoting the habit of reading.

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