Taxila was the capital of Gandhar kingdom situated between Indus and Jhelum rivers. It was a happy kingdom with Taxila University its pride as everyone knew.
The king Puru of the neighbouring kingdom was very jealous of the fame of Taxila. Puru was an ambitious king. His kingdom was known as Kaikya. He already had annexed several small kingdoms by force or blackmail or through conspiracies. He had a very cunning set out of ministers and army commanders who knew all the tricks of expansion business. The group had resolved a very efficient set out spie who could infiltrate into any enemy camp. The minister Acharya Inderdutt was the brain of his group.
It was no secret that king Puru had his greedy eyes on an Gandhar. But Gandhar was not small fry. A meticulous plan was required to conquer Gandhar. Inderdutt learnt that the chief of the Gandhar army Singnad was living a lonely life. His beloved wife had passed away some years back making his life empty. Cunning Inderdutt saw a chance there.
An extremely beautiful girl used to do dirty jobs for Inderdutt. She was an expert spy. So, Inderdutt gave her the mission of winning the heart of lonely commander of the enemy army. She successfully exticed the commander and brought him under her thumb. Singnad fell madly in love with the spy. He could do anything for her. She introduced more spies to the Gandhar big wigs. Other female spies trapped them in their love and debauchary. Thus, Gandhar was now completely enmeshed in the spy web of Kaikya.
At an opportune moment Inderdutt ordered his army to invade Gandhar. His army had no difficulty in vanquishing the enemy whose commanders had already been made ineffective by spies. When the Kaikya army was marching in the Gandhar army chief was playing with the lustrous hair locks of the beauty who in fact was an enemy spy. The other high placed persons of Gandhar were in the similar compromising situation.
Gandhar king was caught by surprise. He never expected such treachery from the neighbourhood king. He had to accept the defeat without any worthwhile resistence. The enemy king showed magnanimity to the vanquished. He did not dethrone Gandhar king. He was only appointed representative governor of Gandharva for Puru. The victor had in way offered a friendship deal. The defeated king gladly accepted the offer. When Puru visited Taxila he was given a grand welcome. His officials were treated as masters.
But Prince Ambi was not happy. His father’s mock surrender to Puru angered him. The welcome extended to Puru anguished him. The prince could not accept the defeat of his army which was engineered through dubious methods. For him Puru was not a person to be trusted. He had taken a resolve to take revenge on Puru when the time came. On the contrary, his father had become administer of the enemy and held Puru in high esteem. The time went by. The defeat of Gandhar and its becoming subordinate kingdom to Kaikya made no difference to Taxila University. The academic activities of the institution continued without any disturbance and ripples. The teachers stayed on and students carried on with their courses without letting outside political events affects them. Infact, the life of the people also remained unaffected. So, was in the case of the administration. The only visible difference was that the king of Gandhar was now ruling the kingdom on behalf of Puru, the king of Kaikya.
The only person to be deeply affected was Prince Ambi. The defeat was great humiliation to him which asked to be avenged.
At that time Ambi was studying in Taxila. The defeat of his father and his acceptance of subordinate position to the victor king upset him and hurt deep down. His mind was so distrubed that he lost all interest in the studies. He would brood all the time that had happened to his state. The proud face of Puru and his father seeking his mercy haunted him.
He would dream of plans to destroy Puru and his kingdom. His dreams faithfully implemen this plans. It was becoming obsession with him. That was also the period when Chanakya and Shaktar were also studying in Taxila in higher classes. Shaktar took no notice of Ambi but Chanakya did becuase he was making his own analytical study of political situations around.
Ambi was praying for some God sent chance to show itself to enable him to execute his revenge act. His father and his ministers were completely sold out to Puru to lend him any help or listen to his plans. He could only pray to God. And God was perhaps going to answer his prayers.
Prince Ambi learnt that a great warrior king of west named Alexander was marching towards his kingdom on a world conquest mission with an invincible army. No king was able to face his marauding army. He was raging like a storm sweeping through lands blowing away kingdoms in his wake.
More details revealed Alexander treated those kings in a friendly way who accepted his domination without fight. But those who did not yield were dealt with without any mercy. Such countries faced loot, plunder and destruction. The citizens got butchered like lambs at the hands of the Greek soldiers who always more shinking armour. The citizens of such countries were fleeing eastwards looking for safe heavens. Many such refugees had arrived in the city of Taxila.
As we revealed how such reduges were given shelter in Taxila which student Chanakya had witnessed himself and learnt how the problem of refugees ini handled. For Indian it was a new development. Chanakya was then in final years of his graduation.
When the king was grappling with the refugee problem and consulting his ministers for their course of action if Alexander invaded their land.
Prince Ambi was thinking on opposite lines. What he liked about Alexander was that the Greek conqueror was very friendly to those who joined his camp voluntarily. The idea befriending Alexander to take revenge on Puru flashed through his mind.
Lately the minister and officials of Gandhar were coming under the influence of Prince Ambi and he was getting more respect from them. The reason was clear. The king had grown too old to continue for long. Ambi’s becomig new king was just a matter of time. Hence the Gandhar courtiers wanted to be on the right side of the history. The officials had begun to ingreatiate themselves to the rising sun and would not hesitate taking order from directly from him if it was safe.
Ambi now had a group of cronies as well who surrounded him most of the time. Would-be-sycophants were waiting to walk in. The cronies knew the mind of the prince about aligning with Alexender. They were always in search of new arguements in favour of the Greek invader.
“We can see in our city how refugees are pouring in from the kingdoms who were stupid enough to challenge Alexander and bring the disaster to their citizens. It use align with Alexander our people wont suffer the same fate at least.” They would often say.
Someone would chip in, “The support of Greek army would make us very powerful. You can make neighbouring kingdoms bow before you.”
Ambi would nod his head and blurt a poser, “That is right. I know. But how exactly do we proceed? We need guidance of an experienced minister.”
“That can be arranged. We will seek advice,” a cunning crony assured. And you will be able to take revenge on king Puru for the defeat he heaped upon us.”
“Would Alexander attack Kaikya for my sake?” Ambi wondered.
The crony explained, “He will attack for his own sake. Our army will assist Greeks and deal the death blow. Prince, it is no secret that Alexander in on the world conquest mission. He has reached Hindukush mountain range and is about to cross it to reach our lands. To proceed eastwards he will have to march through our kingdom, Kaikya, Malva, Kathgana, Shudram etc. Alexander will attack Kaikya anyway to further his campaign. As an ally we can offer help in battle against Puru. They will glady accept our proposal to cut down their own losses as they would prefer to preserve their soldiers for wars younder. It will be in their own interest. At the same time we can easily deal with Puru with Greek army fighting alongside. I have no doubt about.”
Ambi looked very pleased. He nodded his head at his crony who was no idiot after all.
A minister tipped them how the diplomatic work is done. According who was beyond Pushkarvali the capital of the kingdom on the western side of the river Indus which was called ‘West Gandhar’. It was ruled by Hasti, Ambi’s envoy made it to Alexander. The message of the prince pleased Alexander. He had won yet another kingdom witout risking the lives of his soldiers.
He sent two of his representatives with the envoy to work out the formal treaty. They envoy introduced the Greek soldiers to Ambi. The Greek were welcomed and put up in the guest house.
The Greeks and Ambi held a meeting at night in the secret meeting room. Many important officials, ministers and commnaders were also there who had been won over by Ambi. The details of the treaty was being worked out.
Meanwhile, loyal soldiers informed the king that a couple of Greek soldiers had been sighted in the palace in the company of the favourities of the prince. The king could not believe it. The old man was a tradiional and orthodox person. For him the persons of foreign original were bad news. They only brought trouble, he believed. He had himself been for long preparing to face the foreign invaders. The presence of alience in his palace was greatly disturbing. Something was going on around his surruptiously that was confusing and beyond his comprehension.
The old king went to the side of the palace which was the domain of the prince Ambi. The Greeks soldiers were sighted there. The princes was not present in his chamber. He was in no other room. It meant he could only be in the secret meeting room. Why was he there of it was truth? The king was confused.
He opened the door of the meeting room. The scene inside shocked him. There inside indeed were two Greek soldiers, the prince and the big ones of his kingdom. It was apparent that some conspiracy was being hatched.
The king sopke, “What is going on here? Why this meeting with two aliens? Why no one told me against it?”
The sudden arrival of the king had stunned everyone there. The king’s officials were red faced as if caught in an obscene act. No one spoke. The prince gathered himself and went to the king and informed, “Father, nothing wrong is going on here. Do not worry. We are working out a treaty with great Alexander to see to it that he does not attack our peaceful kingdom. We don’t need any war. I did not inform you because you are not keeping well and are too old to understand the modern day developments.”
The king announced, “I may be old but I know what is good for my land. We don’t need any treaty with aliens. They are infidels. Expel the aliens form here. Let them come in force and we will meet them. Break up this meeting.”
The Greeks looked very embarrassed, the meeting was called off. But the Greeks were not expelled as the king had wished. The prince and the cronies held a conclave after the departure of the king. No one knows what exactly happened but the old king was found dead in the morning. He had some wounds on his body. But there was not are who dared to ask the cause of the wounds. The king was cremated.
Ambi descended on the throne. The reprsentatives of Alexander at once gave recognition to the new king and declared him an ally. The alliance treaty was given final shape and sent to Alexander for the formal approval.
When these developments were taking place Chanakya had graduated and served at Taxila as a teacher. He was making up his mind to depart from Taxila and go to Patliputra. The alliance between Ambi and Alexander decided the matter.
He confided to his friends, “Alexender is alien invader, a propagator of alien culture and life. He is powerful, good administrator and very cunning. Befriending kings of our land is his way of winning war without fighting. Our king sare so quarrelsome, jealous and petty minded, that they cannot unite against the common enemy, Alexander. All they will do is fall at his feet or face him indivisdualy to get defeated. There is no hope.”
It is intolerable for me to see our vedic culture getting destroyed. I have talked to some of the refugees camping outside this city. They told me how Greek soldiers destroy everything in the lands conquered by them. There is no time to make the king’s around here to understand the situation and put up united front against Alexander. They are incapable of seeing the realities of Alexander being a calamitous disaster for our lands. Many of them like king Ambi infact are seeing great opportunity in the Greek invader to settle personal score against one another. These things pain me. I want to go away from this hopeless darkness. I must move.”
“Where would you go?” a friend asked.
Chanakya disclosed, “I have decided to to Patliputra, the capital of Magadha kingdom although the king, Dhanananda of that land is said to be arrogant and greedy. I can try to rally the kings of the eastern lands to face Alexander unitedly in alliance with the great army of Magadha. The kings might the point after hearing the destruction wrought by Alexander in wester parts. It will take time for Alexander to reach those parts allowing me time to organise the resistence if possible.”
Thus, Chanakya had departed before Greeks arrived in Taxila. From Taxila he went to the kingdom of Kaikya where he was met by the minister Inderdutt who also had been educated in Taxila. Chanakya informed him how Ambi had joined forces with Alexander and the king Puru of Kaikya was in danger of the Greek invasion. He advised Inderdutt to rally the neighbourhood kings and fight againt the Greek invader as united force if they wanted to avoid being crushed by Greek army.
Inderdutt assured Chanakya that he would put forward his views to king Puru and see what happened although time was running out for them. To bring the kings together would requires years of efforts. The antagonisms of the kings against one another would not go away easily.
Chanakya moved eastwards warning the kingdoms against the invasion of Alexander.
Meanwhile, the king of West Gandhar refused to bow to Alexander who was now in a hurry to push on after striking alliance with Ambi of East Gandhar. The Greek army launched an attack on Pushkarvli, the capital.
The king Hasti of West Gandhar faced the Greek army in the battlefield. Hasti was a man of honour and courage. He would not accept subordination of anyone. Hasti’s army fought bravely but it was outnumbered and outgunned by will organised Greek soldiers who battled in compact formations not seen before by the W. Gandhar soldiers.
The Greek tried to capture Hasti but he preferred to die fighting. His soldiers capitulated. Alexander celebrated the victory with great pomp and show. Ambi was given a grand reception as the chief invited guest. Alexander treated him like an equal and gave him treatment befitting a great king. Ambi was overwhelmed by the honour bestowed to him by the Greek conqueror.
Alexander was playing a clever game. By honouring Ambi he was sending a message to other kings that bowing to him would gain them great rewards and honour instead of destruction.
An uncle of Ambi was appointed as ‘Satrap’ (Governor) of W. Gandhar to rule the kingdom on behalf of the Greek Emperor, Alexander. It was another clever move to impress the locals. Ambi was overwhelmed at this gesture. He even began to hope the before returning Alexander might appoint him ‘Chief Satrap’ of the vanquished lands of Bharat.
Ambi brought Alexander and his army in grand procession to Taxila. A grand reception was held in the court to royally welcome the Greek Emperor. All the game houses (Brothels) and drinking homes (Bars) were thrown open to Greek soldiers. Entire Taxila had become a recreation centre for Greek soldiers.
While the soldiers beside in marry making Alexander and his aides got busy in studying the local culture, ways of life and literature. Accompanying Alexander were Greek scholars who were asked to explore ways to influence the local cultures with Greek culture.
Alexander met scholars of Taxila University and changed thoughts. He expressed his wish to meet Chanakya, the famed scholar of the university he had heard so much about. The emperor was informed that Chanakya had left Taxila for some reason. Infact as we all know the prospect of Alexander’s arrival was the reason of his departure.
