Title : Chanakya’s Chant

Author : Ashwin Sanghi

Genre : Thriller

Publisher: Harper Collins 

Chanakya – a name synonymous with economics and finance. What was his chant? Why this title? With these questions in mind, I started reading this book. Two narratives run in parallel and the author Ashwin Sanghi has left no stone unturned to make it mesmerizing.

The past that occurs 2300 years ago takes us back to the Brahmin whose untied shikha (tuft of hair) and vow to erase the people who killed his father is familiar to us. Ashwin Sanghi takes us through the life of Vishnugupta aka Chanakya (Chanak’s son). In each chapter, we get to see how Chanakya plots against Dhanananda, Alexander, and Paurus.

The present talks about the modern Chanakya – Pandit Gangasagar Mishra, his childhood and his rise as a political mastermind. The way Gangasagar brings up Chandini, and his tactics to make a mark for ABNS in the political arena is just mind blowing. Ikram Bhai, Guptaji, Agarwalji, they all play their part well or should I say, Gangasagar makes them play!

Ashwin Sanghi has drawn sharp comparisons between Chanakya and Pandit Gangasagar. Their protegees Chandragupta and Chandini Gupta, well don’t they share similarities in their names too? His words help us sail easily through the lives of the political masterminds. Their shrewd tactics and reasoning is something that will for sure leave the reader spellbound. His research on the Magadha kingdom to talk about Chanakya is noteworthy. 

Coming to the chant – ‘Adi Shakti, Namo Namah; Sarab Shakti, Namo Namah; Prithum Bhagvati, Namo Namah; Kundalini Mata Shakti; Mata Shakti, Namo Namah.’