Book Review #20: Chanakya's Chant By Ashwin Sanghi

It is always difficult for any author to go for a historical fiction novel. More than this, if the subject/characters chosen for the book does exist in reality in the past, it becomes even more difficult to give a fictional angle for it. I had sensed the same thing, when I read this book Chanakya's Chant penned by the author Ashwin Sanghi.

Chanakya's Chant is a fantastic attempt by the author to help his readers to learn about the life story of a great master, learned guru and a super strategist Chanakya in a fictional manner. Though this is a fictional novel, but, as far as the Chanakya's character is concerned, it appears so real for the readers.

As far as the plot of the novel goes, the entire novel runs in two tracks. One track was about Chanakya and his master strategies to bring entire Bharat united under the leader and his protege Chandragupta Maurya. Whereas, the other track of the novel, is about a person called Pandit Gangasagar Mishra, who was depicted as a modern political strategist and a devotee of Chanakya, who masterminds several coups to bring his own people to be bethroned at the helm of Indian political system.

The imagination of the author is brilliant as far as the story is concerned. The book itself is arranged in such a manner that, each chapter is an alternate story. In First chapter it was about modern day Gangasagar Mishra, while the Second Chapter is about the Historical Chanakya.

The story of Historical Chanakya reveals that, he was plotting the revenge to kill a king called Dhanananda, who had killed Chanakya's father, Chanak. Here, author introduces us to the younger days of Vishnugupta a.k.a Kautilya alias Chanakya. This King Dhanananda is a bad ruler of his kingdom, and always found with women who accompanied him. This has sent wrong message to the people of that Kingdom. Sensing this, Chanak father of Chanakya advised Dhanananda to stop all this and concentrate on the good governance. Outraged king Dhanananda orders to behead Chanak. This event made Chanakya to take a vow to kill Dhanananda and unite all the Bharat under his protege, the king, the son of senapati Maurya, the Chandragupta Maurya. 

In the other side of the novel, a person called Gangasagar Mishra, a fairly educated man, who found out the secret verse of chants of Chanakya, goes on to become a successful kingmaker in Indian politics. Here, Gangasagar Mishra follows the same strategy and coup of what Chanakya followed 2300 years back. Gangasagar Mishra befriends a local thug and don Ikram Bhai and persuades him to become a local mayor. He helps a local shop owner to send his daughter Chandini Gupta to school. He plays some of his master strategy with Ikram to adopt Chandini Gupta as Ikram's daughter. From here on, Chandini Gupta becomes the political heir apparent of Gangasagar Mishra. He plays his cards tactically in every stage of Chandini's political life and helps her to become chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Gangasagar Mishra never stops here, he plays his mastery mind games and helps his protege Chandini Gupta to become the Prime Minister of India for 3 times in a row.

How he plays his tricks, strategies and his plans must be read in the book. That's the actual take away from the book. In both of the stories, Chanakya and Gangasagar Mishra constantly chants a special verse before doing anything and constantly chants throughout the novel. So, here is that mantra:

"Adi Shakti; Namo Namaha"
"Sarab Shakti; Namo Namaha"
"Prithum Bhagavati; Namo Namaha"
"Kundalini Mata Shakti; Mata Shakti; Namo Namaha"

As per this novel, chant the above mantra 400 times every day and for next 4000 days to receive the powers of Chanakya. Author had used lot of great quotes of Chanakya along with several yester year's politicians and great thinkers, philosophers and influential people's quotes. These quotes you can read it at the end of the book.

Overall a must read book for everyone. It lets you to bask in the glorious days of Chanakya.!!

My Rating: 5/5