| Title | : | Chanakya (Itihasa #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 166 |
| Publication | : | Published June 25, 2018 |
Jurist, war strategist, kingmaker. Master administrator. Author of the Arthashastra. But before the legend, there was the boy: Vishnu Gupta.
Pataliputra, capital of the great Nanda empire, is teeming with crime and corruption. Granted unlimited authority by the hedonistic emperor Mahapadma Nanda, evil mastermind Maha-amatya Kartikeya has the city in a vice-like grip.
But another name bubbles up through the chaos; there is talk of a young genius, Vishnu Gupta. When the Maha-amatya investigates the rumours, he recognises a future rival in the boy. He is determined to destroy this competition from the roots – family and all. Vishnu must gather all his wits and his formidable knowledge to protect everything he holds dear. The holy scriptures, his brilliant interpretations of the Vedas and the power of his unmatched mind: these are the only tools he has against the might of the most powerful man in the empire.
Epic storyteller Ashok K. Banker imagines the life and formative years of India’s greatest genius, a man whose influence persists down the ages. In this first instalment of a thrilling trilogy, he recreates Chanakya’s early struggles and triumphs.
Chanakya (Itihasa #1) Reviews
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Even if you were found snoring while reading history, there is no way you could have overlooked the role of Chanakya in Chandragupta's reign. Banker's first installment in this trilogy follows the life of the massive personality of Chanakya whose works are of great significance till date and are often taught in higher education.
Commencing in Pataliputra during the reign of Nanda, this book holds together a great deal of history. We find Vishnu Gupta the brightest in his class, and his smartness outsmarts even his seniors. Throughout the book you can find several instances where his wit seldom delineates his character as prudent and arrogant child.
In the very first chapter, he proves his extreme brilliance in class by memorising the whole of the Rig Veda during his vacations. His father later scolds him for showing off, but his mother questions why he shouldn't shine. To this, the father replies -
'... it's not about learning. It's about blending in '
Human psyche has seldom underwent a change and we still are afraid to be round pegs in square holes just as our ancestors were. The characterisation of Vishnu Gupta outshines every other character, certainly in a positive manner. Having read and loved Banker before, I indeed love what and how he writes. My only complaint is that this book is a bit too thin and ends too soon for a reader who was enjoying it.
You can grab the book on Amazon.
I Rate Chanakya 4/5 Stars. -
STORY: Ashok K. Banker in the first installment of his historical fiction series, the Chanakya trilogy, introduces us to the legendary figure as a young boy of 7 years age, also called Vishnu Gupta. Far from his home, in the city of Pataliputra, there's a minister (Maha-Amatya Kartikeya) who rules by brute force and evokes great terror in the minds of the citizens. When Vishnu and his family head to Pataliputra for a congregation, his life gets bound in the chains of wanting to protect his family and doing the right thing.
REVIEW: I've always been intrigued by Indian historical fictions related to characters from the epics. And this one was such a wonderful read! I finished reading it in one day. The plot presents certain broad themes of battle between good and evil, importance of knowledge, tradition, monarchy etc. But the narrative that fills in the blanks is so refreshing because it draws a profile of an individual we've come to see as a master-thinker, a guide to Bindusara and Chandragupta Maurya. So to read about Chanakya as a 7 year old was so fulfilling.
He has been portrayed as a boy who was extremely intellectual and had great powers of logic, understanding, far superior than the gurus and adults of that time. At times the maturity he displays can stupefy you; after all how often do you find children or even teenagers nowadays with such clarity of thought. The pace of the novel is fast and gripping. There are a few Sanskrit terms used here and there, but they enrich your reading experience all the more. The language used in this novel is quite suitable for intermediate readers. If you are not very well versed in English, you might want to keep a dictionary at hand. That said, you must read Chanakya by Ashok K. Banker. It is a splendid read, one that I highly recommend! I simply CANNOT wait for the second book in this trilogy.
RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars
WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT: An engaging tale of how Chanakya's intelligence held him in high stead and brought him face to face with corrupt leaders.
Thank you Writers Melon and Westland Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. -
A slice of personal history well served.The book traces the childhood days of one of the greatest mind born on the land.A world-class strategist and economist who changed the fate of a whole empire.It traces the journey of a young boy Vishnu Gupta,the circumstances which conditioned his young mind, his sense of righteousness into Chanakya, the kingmaker.
The Story unfolds with the antics of a seven year old brahmin boy who stands out among his peers due to his sharp wit and unparalleled intellect. His father, a learned scholar and the whole family journeys to Pataliputra to attend a Colloquium.There he come across a different world and a host of characters who shaped his wheel of life.
Maha-amatya Kartikeya, the prime minister of Nanda Empire who discovers his nemesis in Vishnu does not let boy with little pigtail off his sight.But little does he know about the trouble lurking around the corner.
Watertight plot with a strong story-line and rich vocabulary makes it an interesting read.The story is fast paced.Well etched characters with their distinctiveness captured my attention especially Vishu, Maha-amatya and Chandra.The author brought alive the premise and characters through his fine writings.Loved the relationship dynamics between the two warring heads.
The writer brought to light the deep nexus of crime running in the veins of the city.He exposed the plight of common people,their helplessness and the whimsical doings of royalty.
Vishnu is portrayed as a gifted boy with photographic memory,pronounced analytical power,sensitive and a sharp intellect which makes him stand out among the revered scholars.His greatest quality is the way he uses the availavle resources and turn the situation in his favor.
The climax left me unsatisfied.It marks the beginning of another story where the reader will get to see more of the prowess of brilliant minds. Eagerly waiting to discover another part of Chanakya's life.
I would love to recommend the book to every reader who loves to read about the life of greatest minds who shaped history. -
Vishnu Gupta, an eleven-year-old young genius from a village called Chanak is the protagonist of the story and the most amusing character in the book. He has the wisdom and knowledge which could challenge even the greatest gurus of his times.
Vishnu Gupta and his family including her father, mother and three sisters leave for Pataliputra, the capital of the Magadha Empire for attending an intellectual conference. The great Nanda empire has an evil Prime Minister named Maha-amatya Kartikeya but majorly known as Rakshasa. He suspects Vishnu to be his future rival and so took steps in advance to eliminate any future rivalry with him.
The story begins with an interesting and whimsical account of the little Vishnu and his entertaining tactics to avoid sitting in the gurukul. The character of Vishnu is well evolved through the book and turns out to be the most clever and witty one. It was so humorous to read about how he denoted the boys in his age group as The Children! as if he was already a grown-up man. But in cleverness, sure the hell he was.
The character of Chandra was also found in the book and it was pleasing to read about his childhood as well along with the Chanakya.
The writing is convincing and eloquent making the reader fully engrossed in the book. I loved reading this very first installment of the Itihasa series by the author and very much eager to read the next book.
I will definitely recommend this book to all the readers and specifically to the lovers of this genre. -
Chanakya, an economist, a strategist, a man fit to guide an entire nation to its benefit. I have always been fascinated by the entire Chanakya Neeti and Chanakya’s Arthashastra. For me, Chanakya isn’t history, it is a part of our very being, if only we understand the subtle hint that works around being a better human being, the “correct” human being as needed. I try to read anything and everything that surrounds Chanakya, if not read, at least posses the books in order to read them later. When I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read and review it without a doubt.
I am actually happy for a fact that the author, Ashok Banker, picked up this topic, rather this person for his trilogy. About the book, being the first book of the trilogy, I must say it has been written very well. The grip is intense making you go ga-ga across pages. The pace is beautifully fast, it doesn’t make you feel bored or monotonous at any point. The language, it is simple yet you can understand the hint of intellect spread across the pages of the book. The use of Sanskrit has been done smoothly, it doesn’t seem too heavy, it actually blends with the book rather nicely.
One thing that bothered me a bit was the way the story was being portrayed. There were many instances that didn’t really match with my knowledge. Maybe I am judging it in a more non-fictional manner. Other than this point, I really enjoyed reading this book. If you read it leaving the history behind, you will enjoy it so much. Saying all, it is really gripping, once you start reading the book, it becomes very difficult to put it down. A must read especially for all the history lovers out there, they can feel the power. -
You might have read many books on Chanakya but none of them concentrates on his early life. There is not much known about the childhood of Chanakya. Ashok Banker uses his imagination to create his childhood days.
The story is more character driven. Banker concentrates on the characters of Vishnu Gupta and his antagonist Maha-amatya Kartikeya. In fact he put extra effort in the antagonist character. He is dangerous, nasty and cruel with no possible trace of human emotions. I always has this creepy feeling whenever he comes into the picture.
Your mind will blow away when these two comes face to face.
There is also a third character that of Chandra which will sure to gain more prominence in the coming book. As of now he is a thief but brave and intelligent.
Plot is of secondary importance. The author seems to be reluctant in getting into shastrath or scriptural debate. Any other author would have written a full fledged chapter on the debate. But Banker refrained from doing so. There were a few thriller scenes which will heightened your feelings of suspense and excitement.
Overall it was a good and crisp read. The author's writing was lucid and descriptive. -
It is always wonderful to discover the stories behind history especially Indian history. I always feel like there aren't enough stories to cover the intricacies that have occurred over the past centuries.
We have all grown up studying Chanakya and his Neethis A.K.A his Rules of Justice. Chanakya's Arthashastra is said to have played a role in the formation of the Indian constitution. We all know of Chanakya as a serious and wise Brahmin so it was wonderful to see him portrayed as a boy of seven. Although fictitious, I fell in love with the wily little boy who routinely outsmarts adults. The author was descriptive and I could vividly picture the entire Gupta family and the courtiers of Pataliputra.
I also applaud the author for touching on sensitive issues such as human trafficking and corruption at all echelons of power. It was interesting to see that the problems that the society faced in the 300-200 B.C are still prevalent in modern day society and the powers to be are still trying to curb the society of these menaces. Vishnu Gupta's understanding of the inner workings of the delicate political hierarchy was invigorating to read. I can't wait to read the next book in this aptly named 'Itihasa' series!
Although a short read, it was fast paced and packed a lot of happenings. I finished the book in a single day and I cannot wait to read the rest of the story. -
Finished last night.
Short and simple and fast moving.
It is a story of Chanakya, one of the great war strategist of History.
But it starts from his childhood.
We get to see how a prodigy boy promised himself to bring the justice to Patliputra.
Of course, it is fiction, history blended to make it interesting.
But the story focus on the boy and maha-amatya, that is what makes it good.
It does not dwell on the unnecessary philosophy of ancient India, nor does it praise how pretty the country was at that time.
It is a simple tale of a boy.
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Chanakya, is the first book in the trilogy and it lays the foundation for the next books. Everyone is more or less aware of the political and economic acumen of Chanakya in the Mauryan empire but hardly anything has been written about his early years. Chanakya or Vishnu Gupta with an extra-ordinary prowess to grasp the teachings of historical literature often stood out in his peer group. His mentors and gurus were not only dumbfounded by his capacity to learn the difficult shlokas and versus but also failed at times to answer the very many doubts and questions.
Vishnu Gupta’s mundane life in village takes an important turn when his father comes to Pataliputra to attend a conference of learned scholars from all over the country. What these naïve citizens did not know was that the kingdom which was famous for its glamour and greatness also had an underbelly of violence, crime, injustice and cruelty. The empire was being run parallel by two rulers- a clueless emperor who thought he controlled the kingdom and a “Rakshasa” who remained obscure but had a minute grasp over every single element. With his unscrupulous means, he makes sure that the real power remains in his hands. Vishnu Gupta and his simple family are pulled in the vortex of this dark side of the city. Vishnu’s sharp intellect does not fail to realize that the only way to remain safe and bring about the desired change in the society is to stay back. Thus begins the journey of seven year old Brahmin lad to become the remarkable individual that changed the course of history in the coming years.
In Banker’s typical writing style, he keeps the story simple yet interesting, a real page-turner if you will. You might have heard the anecdotes earlier but they still seem new. Overall, the book is captivating and can be finished in a couple of days. This first book of the trilogy has certainly done a great job of leaving us craving for the next ones in the series. I, for sure, will eagerly wait for what Banker has to tell us about Chanakya. -
The only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is that it ended too early. Just as Vishnu's character began to grow and show its potential, the book ended with his first feat without even showing the consequences of it. It was a really short book and I finished it in one sitting, just read it cover to cover but that is also because it was so interesting.
Beginning as a clever description of the little Brahmin who was the odd one out among his peers and not just for being a genius but also his quirky appearance which he used to his advantage, hooked me in.
The overall build-up of the premise, starting from Vishnu’s home and the environment there and then moving to the empire of Patliputra and the social and economic setup there was quite interesting to read about. I already like reading Historical Fiction and it is even more fun when it is Indian history. Moreover, Chanakya is the kind of person who invokes a lot of curiosity in everyone’s mind. I had barely gotten my hands on the book when two people already asked to borrow it once I was done with it. The reason is simple. Everyone wishes to know more about such a genius man. But what I really adored about this book is how his character is shown to be quite precocious in childhood and yet he has that childish feel to him. Despite being quite smart for his age, he is stubborn and even after possessing a lot of knowledge, which would make an adult humble, he prefers showing-off.
Yet the righteousness that he held in his character even at the age of seven was extraordinary. The way the author made sure that the reader got just as interested in characters other than Vishnu was all made possible through his incredible writing style which was not only simple and easy to read but also stimulating. The only complaint I have is that instead of just making this as the first installment, the author should have added more to the story and made it into one big book (I guess that is more up to the publishers) but that would have left me feeling more satisfied and feeling better about reading the book than I do now. -
To read full review go to
http://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2018/0...
I'm honestly a new fan of Ashok K. Banker now. I love when authors twist history and come up with a whole new story about famous and infamous historical people. Ashok K. Banker in one such tremendously gifted author who knows how to spice up facts and turn them into fiction.
The very thing that I loved about this book is how Chanakya has been portrayed. The Chanakya we read about in history books is defined as a crafty advisor to Chandra Gupta Maurya. The pictures we have seen so far makes us believe that maybe Chanakya was one of those straight-faced no nonsense men who can only think about ascending the ladder. But in this book we get a childish, playful and humble side of young Chanakya.
Coming to the fictional setup of the book, I can only say that it was amazing. I never expected to read a small fictional tale. I was expecting facts only snippets about how Chanakya became Chanakya. However, it was a really pleasurable read. How a little boy outwits his gurus and his father is something to look forward to.
The story also includes the childhood back story of Chandra Gupta Maurya and King Dhanananda, thus showing us the beginning of their lives as the usurper of the Mauryan dynasty and the emperor of the Mauryan dynasty, respectively. This book is a really interesting read and an entertaining one. Anyone who loves fictional take on history should definitely pick this one up. I am so eager to read the next two books in the trilogy. -
Vishnu Gupta, the teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, is known to everyone. But, the childhood of Chanakya is know to very few.
The plot takes off with the childhood of Vishnu Gupta, the son of a teacher and a brilliant student in Hindu scriptures. In another part of the of the world, in Pataliputra, the capital of Nanda empire, Mahaamatya Kartikeya, the Prime Minister, recognizes a talent in Chandra, a thief boy. Nanda empire happens to be in anarchy and the power lies in the hands of people who stands with injustice. Vishnu Gupta sets out to Pataliputra with his family, where he comes under the scrutiny of Mahaamatya. Further what happens is the crux of the story.
Author has tried to give enough space in developing the plot and characters. The base or foundation of the plot is the USP of the book. Author has adapted contemporary narration eventhough the story is historical fiction. The eeriness and cruelty of the people in the Nanda empire especially the prince is depicted realistically.
The plot has consumed more space in development that by the time the real plot comes up the story ends abruptly. This might be in view of persuading the readers to wait impatiently for the next part. -
This story is termed as “Book 1”, so it is obviously intended to be the first part in a series. Accordingly, the story does not take much time to complete as it is only 154 pages.
Chanakya of course is one of the most well-known figures in Indian history. This first part shows Chanakya or Vishnu Gupta as a seven-year old child prodigy and genius, who when asked by his teacher at the gurukul to memorise the first Paksha of Mandala Seven, memorises the entire Rig Veda instead!
Vishnu Gupta, with his parents and three sisters leave their village Chanak to go to Pataliputra, the capital of the Magadha Empire, as his father has to attend a conference there.
Pataliputra is an extremely sinister place, firmly under the control of the “Maha-amatyaji” Rakshasa, the Prime Minister of the Emperor Mahapadma Nanda. The Prime Minister is involved in and takes a cut out of every illegal activity that takes place in Pataliputra. The Yuvraj Dhana Nanda, is portrayed as an extremely demonic child! Another interesting character that is introduced in the story is Chandra, a young pickpocket, who helps Vishnu Gupta’s family.
Circumstances and fate bring Vishnu Gupta in contact with the Prime Minister and later the Emperor and the Yuvraj. It will remain to be seen how the story will go forward in the sequel.
I highly recommend “Chanakya”, as an extremely interesting story that has left me awaiting the sequel! -
Chanakya, by Ashok Banker is the first of the trilogy in the Itihasa series. The story is a short and sweet one, it’s about a 7 year old boy named Vishnu Gupta, who has special intelligence and has a knowledge which can be compared to the best of the yogis in the world.
His father takes him to Pataliputra for a conference of Brahmins, there he encounters the force of Maha-atmya Rakshasha, the Prime minister of the Mahapadma Nanda. He is evil, and anyone who stands against him or even mutters his name is sent for execution.
Rakshasa hears the rumours about this little boy and his wits and intelligence and considers him to be his future rival, so he decides to take care of him when he is young itself.
Vishnu Gupta sees the anyaya (injustice) happening in Pataliputra and he decides to put an end to it. But, does this 7 year old boy manage to stand up against the mighty wrath of the Raksasha and if he does, how does he do it? Read the book to enjoy Vishnu’s intelligence play against injustice.
The book is written in a simple language, very easy to read and the script is not complicated. The focus of the subject is very clear and one can visualise each and every scene of the story as if the reader is witness to all the events happening in the story.
As part of the trilogy, the reader will be excited to read the forthcoming parts of the story and will look forward for it. Only thing a reader would wish is the intelligence of Vishnu Gupta is used in many more ways and the remaining two books will have much more events than the first one.
All in all, a short, sweet entertaining read! -
Simple English and writing flows. Of course, History is His Story and this one is Banker’s with all the masala that makes it interesting
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[Honest rating: 4.5 stars]
What I got from this book:
1) Ashok K. Banker is overshadowed by the likes of Amish and Anand Neelakantan.
2) Ashok K. Banker is a wizard with words.
What I liked about this book:
1) Crisp language for intermediate readers.
2) Fast-paced plot.
3) Engaging story.
4) Has everything to be a bestseller.
5) Short, easy read.
6) Keeps you on your toes - especially Vishnu Gupta and his arguments.
7) Is a much-needed history lesson. -
It’s the first book of the,”Itihasa,” series. Everybody has a brief idea about who Chanakya was, but this book starts by introducing us to his childhood self and how he became the Chanakya we know.
I love reading historical fiction, and the whole setting of the book is great but for me this book does nothing but introduce us to the characters of this series, and show off Chanakya’s skills from an early age. Honestly,I expected a little more substance.
Even the ending of the book did not catch my attention, which it should have considering there are going to be more books in this series and I, as a reader should be invested in the story, wanting to know more about what is happening or going to happen in order to pick up the next book.
There are some topics discussed in the book, like the fight between good and evil, and human trafficking, which the author has entwined as the sub-plots quite brilliantly, which I really enjoyed reading.
This book is a quick read, as it is only of 150 pages,and is fast paced. I wouldn’t be reading this series any further. -
TITLE: Chanakya
AUTHOR: Ashok K. Banker
PAGES: 168
PUBLISHER: Westland
ISBN: 978-9387578166
GENRE: Historical
THE BLURB:
Jurist, war strategist, kingmaker. Master administrator. Author of the Arthashastra. But before the legend, there was the boy: Vishnu Gupta.
Pataliputra, capital of the great Nanda empire, is teeming with crime and corruption. Granted unlimited authority by the hedonistic emperor Mahapadma Nanda, evil mastermind Maha-amatya Kartikeya has the city in a vice-like grip.
But another name bubbles up through the chaos; there is talk of a young genius, Vishnu Gupta. When the Maha-amatya investigates the rumours, he recognises a future rival in the boy. He is determined to destroy this competition from the roots – family and all. Vishnu must gather all his wits and his formidable knowledge to protect everything he holds dear. The holy scriptures, his brilliant interpretations of the Vedas and the power of his unmatched mind: these are the only tools he has against the might of the most powerful man in the empire.
Epic storyteller Ashok K. Banker imagines the life and formative years of India’s greatest genius, a man whose influence persists down the ages. In this first instalment of a thrilling trilogy, he recreates Chanakya’s early struggles and triumphs.
REVIEW IN A SINGLE LINE:
One time read
THE REVIEW:
Chanakya is a very well known, well versed and talked of character of our history and has been studied in varied details by several learned historians, none of whom can profess to having known the poweress and the enigma of him.
Various books, papers and biographies have been written of the Mastermind but none tell us of the early years;
Every history books talks of his tales with Bindusara and Chandragupta Maurya, none tell us about the 7 year old Vishnu Gupta who saw what many his quadruple age couldn't and rose against the oppression of Rakshasha or better known as Maha-amatya Kartikeya, calling out to his wrongdoing, his worse actions and his cruelty; rather seeing through his iron clad mockery display depicting pseudo well being of people.
And mind you he was 7 when he did this, he recited Shlokas like he was meant to do that from birth and asked questions beyond the understanding of many years ahead of him.
The writing is crisp, compact and succinct but at the same time the entire story is too short to be put as a single novel, let alone part one of three. All the three parts would rather make be better as a single book rather than dividing into three different.
I know a many reviews state the same thing but this is the one that cannot be overlooked, some may say that being put into three different was because he wanted to divide the book properly according to age timelines, but it'd still have been better had we set it into one not three.
I found no grammatical errors which is always a good point in any read but there was use of a far too simple language and connotations which are never a plus point for me.
The writer has done a okay job with the book, I just needed more details or a rather longer read if it was going to be part one of a trilogy, it just wasn't up to the mark considering that it was not even the first book by him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ashok K. Banker is the internationally acclaimed author of over 60 books that have sold over 3 million copies in 21 languages and 61 countries. His hugely successful Ramayana Series is credited with having launched the genre of English-language mythological retellings and influenced an entire generation of authors. As a journalist, he broke front-page news stories for the Times of India and Outlook. As a screenwriter, he created and wrote India’s First TV Series in English, and co-created and co-wrote Malaysia’s First TV Series in English, as well as several other hit shows. Born in Mumbai, Ashok is of Irish-Portuguese-Sri Lankan-Indian parentage, and lived in India for over 51 years before migrating with his family to the United States, where he now lives. Ashok can be found online at
www.ashokkbanker.com.
Cover: 4/5
Title: 3.5/5 (very obvious)
Characters: 4/5
Language: 2/5
Story: 3/5 (detailing wasn't sufficient)
Writing and Presentation: 3/5
Overall: 3.25/5
Disclaimer: I was sent this book by writersmelon for an honest review. The review is absolutely my own and hasn’t been influenced by anyone. -
"A man is great by deeds, not by birth." - Chanakya
Blurb:
Jurist, war strategist, kingmaker. Master administrator. Author of the Arthashastra. But before the legend, there was the boy: Vishnu Gupta.
Pataliputra, capital of the great Nanda empire, is teeming with crime and corruption. Granted unlimited authority by the hedonistic emperor Mahapadma Nanda, evil mastermind Maha-amatya Kartikeya has the city in a vice-like grip.
But when seven years old Vishnu Gupta comes to the capital along with his scholar father, mother and elder sisters Maha-amatya immediately finds a future rival in him. Vishnu's sharpness, intelligence, knowledge, state of mind and everything made him astounded to a great extent. After much brainstorming he comes up with a sinister plan which can make Vishnu Gupta stay in the capital forever so that he cannot rise to power in front of Maha-amatya's eyes.
Now Vishnu Gupta has to save everything he holds dear. Only his knowledge in Vedas and other scriptures and his mind can help him fight against the most powerful as well as vicious man in the empire.
Can Vishnu Gupta save the kingdom from the dirty politics and games of Maha-amatya Kartikeya's hands? Can he save his loved ones? What much can a seven year old do? Read the book to get the answers.
Views:
I have already mentioned in my last to last post that writing a historical fiction is one of the most difficult genres to write on. And this time the protagonist is none other than the greatest jurist, war strategist, kingmaker, master administrator, author of Arthashastra Chanakya.
We have obviously read bits and pieces of Chanakya in our school but reading a fiction where Chanakya is the lead is very exciting. I was quite intrigued when I received the book. This is the first installment of The Chanakya Trilogy. And after finishing this book I can gladly say that I just cannot wait to read the other two books.
The book began in a village and ended in the capital. The change in scenes are so convincing that I could imagine everything that is written happening in front of my eyes.
Chanakya's courage to Maha-amatya's viciousness, everything is written with so much conviction that one can absolutely get lost in the world of this book. The pace of the book again does justice to the storyline. Though sometimes it tends to get a bit slow but it doesn't affect the book at all. The narration is brilliant. The language is also simple yet has a certain depth in it. Overall it makes a very engaging read.
Thankyou so much @westland_books and @weitersmelon for providing the review copy.
Rating and Recommendations:
4/5. It's a great read, so make sure you pick this up. -
'Chanakya- the Legend Begins' is the first book of the Chanakya Trilogy written by Ashok K. Banker. This book covers the childhood and young age of Vishnu Gupta. This seven-year-old pigtailed genius hails from a small village called Chanak. He shows conspicuous intellect and stands out among the students of his Gurukul.
Vishnu Gupta's father is a learned scholar and gets an opportunity to attend a conference in Pataliputra, the capital city of Magadha. Vishnu Gupta is excited and he journeys with his family, consisting of his father, mother, and three sisters. But, alas! Little did he know that he would fall in the hands of the evil Prime Minister of Nanda Kings, Maha-amatya Karthikeya, secretly known as 'Rakshasa'. Maha-amatya is amused by Vishnu Gupta's intellect and believes that the latter can pose a threat to him and the empire at a later stage.
The book started off with a bang. As mentioned before, I was intrigued by the storyline and was glad to pick up this historical novel. Being the first book of the trilogy, it focuses on the childhood of Chanakya. I haven't read of Chanakya's childhood before. Of course, I get it, that the book is fiction. Nevertheless, this part was definitely interesting.
The author's thoughts, creativity, and imagination are worth an applause and the portrayal of Chanakya is astounding. Chandra makes an appearance in the book and I believe, he will have a more prominent role in the upcoming books. Reading about 'Rakshasa', the Emperor and his son gave a chill down my spine.
The story is short and crisp with only 154 pages. The writing is simple and lucid and therefore, the book can be picked up by children as well. There are many anecdotes and quotes that are brilliant in the book. Few mentions about trafficking and corruption are included which acts as a great subplot.
My only concern was that the book ended abruptly. I don't know, it just ended. Just like that. Maybe, if the author didn't give so much importance in making this series a trilogy and thereby cutting short the book, it would've been received without dispute. There weren't any 'major' incidents in the book. Nevertheless, it is an easy read and I would love to read the next books of the series. -
Ashok K Banker has beautifully narrated the story of one of the India's wittiest legend- Chanakya. The author in the first book of The Itihasa series, introduces us to the prodigy as a 7 year old child who is brilliant and outshines his seniors in knowledge. This book narrates the story of young Vishnu Gupta, his childhood days and his connection with Chandragupta.
The book starts with Vishnu Gupta being scolded by his Guru because he came late for his class but Vishnu with his knowledge and wit leaves the teacher shocked and speechless. Vishnu at the tender age of 7, has read and learnt The Rig Veda by heart. His knowledge was often seen as showoff which made Vishnu look like a rude and arrogant child. But his father always told him to never showoff his knowledge but to blend in with the people.
Vishnu and his family were living happily in their village, when one day his father announced that they need to go to the Capital city of Patliputra for conference of the Brahmins. The city of Patliputra, as described by the author was corrupted and the city's minister was the one who was hell bent on obtaining power ignoring all the harm caused to the citizens. During one of the conferences , Vishnu started questioning the Gurus and left them speechless and this was when the minister first noticed Vishnu.
" Power is not a dog that comes wagging his tail when you whistle. It is a wolf that snarls and is powerful enough to rip your throat out with a single action. It cannot be domesticated; it must be conquered. And to conquer the wolf of power, one must use hard steel and even harder resolve."
The minister lured Vishnu's family to stay in Patliputra by offering them security and successful career but hid the real motive of making Vishnu stay. When Vishnu got to know the evil plan of the minister, he had no choice but to stay quiet for the sake of his family. What does the minister want from Vishnu? Will Vishnu leave the path of Justice and truth and keep quiet for the rest of his life?
You need to read the book, to get your answers.
I loved the book so much. It's such an amazing read with crisp narrative. I loved Vishnu Gupta's character and seriously I was dumbstruck while reading about him - how intelligent he was. The character of Chandra played a small part in this book yet it was powerful. The language is easy and understandable and the book is fast paced. I loved reading this very first installment of the Itihasa series by the author and very much eager to read the next book.
Definitely Recommended! -
Review of “Chanakya” – Ashok K. Banker
Chanakya as we all know was a great economist and the pioneer of Chanakya Neeti. But, what was he like as a kid? This book, the first in a trilogy, tells the story of a seven year old, who is exceptionally intelligent and who sometime in his life would go on to become the Guru of the founder of the Mauryan Empire.
Vishnu Gupta is just an average seven year old, who is blessed with photographic memory and immense intellect. He is brainier than his own Guru and challenges even the brightest minds he meets. Vishnu, along with his parents and sisters goes to Nanda Empire to attend a conclave of the most learned minds in the region. Bound to attend and bored in the children’s conclave, he intends to attend the conclave of the more scholarly ones. One day, he gets his chance. While in the conference of the Gurus, he speaks up and challenges the ideology of one of the Guru. Although admonished by the Gurus on the panel, he caches the eye of Maha Amatya, better known as Rakshasa, the Prime Minister of the king Mahapadma Nanda. Rakshasa, the ruthless, with the devious mind, deceitfully advises the king and tortures the common folk. Now, the Rakshasa has his eyes on acquiring Vishnu’s young genius for himself and devises and evil plan to keep him there.
The book provides a very refreshing take towards the well-known story of Chanakya, what made him interested in the politics and economics of the time. The story is an easy read and it is enticing to read about the clever antics of young Chanakya. The book ends at a cliff-hanger leaving the readers craving and eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.
My take: Grab this one and keep a watch out for Book 2 and 3 in this series.
Book Courtesy: Westland and WritersMelon -
Just Before The Thrill Begins
Chanakya – The Legend Beings by Ashok K. Banker is the first of the trilogy. Chanakya, the pig-tailed genius, we all know him as a brahman with unmatchable brilliance. However, the author in the first installment of this historical fiction portrays the 7-year boy who is unaware of the working and operations of this cruel world. This 7-year old Chanakya struggles with the people around who can simple not match up to his level of intelligence.
This book introduces us to a Chanakya who is clever and intelligent and yet to get wise.
We know of Chanakya as a patriot and shrewd man, here, the author sketches the childhood of this enigmatic man. Come to think of it, it is quite thought-provoking of what Chanakya would have been in his younger days. Refreshing idea!
Talk about the story in the book, there’s nothing much to it, at least in this book. It is of a lot before the interval. Certainly, we know there are two more books coming up. Hoping the story will get more thrilling in 2nd installment and continue to the 3rd.
With an internationally acclaimed author, one can be sure that the plot, flow of the story, narration, and such elements... flawless. Though, at some places, I felt the description was too large and perhaps not required.
The cover though looks interesting, doesn’t really give you the real picture about the book; he doesn’t look like a 7-year old to me.
My Rating: 3 stars
I received a review copy of the book from Writers Melon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. -
'It's one thing to stand out in a certain situation where he has to use his intellect for some purpose, and quite another thing to simply show off just to get his own way.'
'If he can't use his great intelligence to get what he wants from life, then what good is it being so intelligent?'
From this book.
I remember, many years ago, it was a day when I had nothing to read so I picked a non fiction based on Chanakya. Unexpectedly, I liked it.
'If I liked Chanakya's thought, I'm going to like this historical fiction based on Chanakya.' I thought
when I heard about this book.
Vishnu Gupta, a seven years old, extra-ordinarily intelligent boy. He lives in a small village and knows all the scriptures {Knows more than his Gurus}. His only friend in the village is Vaishali.
This is the first book in the Itihasa series, so it is basically about little Chanakya. And his journey --- from Chanak village to Patliputra to Magadh Rajmahal. How he impresses, rather surprises everyone; and how he meets 'Chandra' and when he realizes that Magadh is a corrupt/unjust state, he decides to fight for justice, secretly.
The writing is neat and simple. There are so many thought-provoking one liners. Overall, it was nice read and I'm definitely going read the second part to know about the grown-up, Vishnu Gupta aka Chanakya. Pick it if you like Historical fiction. -
More like a 2.5 star rating for this one. I was expecting the world when I recently began reading this title. Ashok Banker doing a series on Chanakya seemed exciting beyond belief. I am a bit disappointed after finishing the book though. It seems over-edited, and as if the writer is in extreme hurry to finish writing the book. There is no stay or "thehraav", and everything is over simplified and sometimes spoon fed. To me it seems that this book is for children, and not even young adults. I am definitely going to give the franchise a shot though and surely purchase the next instalment. I am hoping that because the protagonist is still very young in the first book, the material is therefore from that perspective and will only get better, craftier and more intense as the books follow and as Vishnu blooms into the great Chanakya. The book also seems like it has ended very abruptly, like the writer just ran out of battery on his laptop before actually finishing the manuscript and it somehow just went into print. It is too quick a read, devoid of any great incidents and even the "big" incident that the book ends with is not resonant of the wit or charm of Chanakya, even a young one. Hopefully the laziness will recede in the forthcoming stories.
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We all have heard about the tales of Chanakya and it fascinates each and every one of us, but we don't know the story of Vishnu Gupta. Vishnu, a innocent child, a single pigtail on bald head, wore a white dhoti was destined to change the history. His family goes to other city Patliputra for a good livelihood. There begins the story of this young child.
This book is a triology of Chanakya and this one is the first installment. I am pretty new to this genre and maybe that's why it didn't click to me a lot. I felt the story dragging in some parts. Few parts were good but mostly average. I'll give it a pass but only because this genre is not of my liking. -
Video review:
https://youtu.be/HBp_0-BOvHc
“Chanakya” was good and fast read! Firstly, I enjoyed the author’s style of writing and thought he did a wonderful job in this novel. Furthermore, the characters are dynamic and the plot is gripping. Moreover, I liked the dynamic between seven year old Chanakya and the evil Maha amatya. However, the only thing I didn’t like was how short the book was. The story ended just when it was getting juicy! Overall, I can’t wait for the next one in the series to be released.
