Who is the greatest man of Indian history?

I vote for Vishnu sharma Chankya of ancient times.

Who was Chankya? What he was not?

He vowed to dethrone the haughty king who was harassing the people of the land. After fulfilling that vow, he made Chandragupta, the Emperor. He brought Amatya

Rakshasa from the enemy camp to serve as Chandragupta's Prime minister. His 'Arthashastra' is a classic of statecraft and is reverently studied even in Europe and elsewhere. Chankya is the personification of statesmanship, political craft, spirit of adventure and unyielding perseverance.

On the banks of the river Ganga stood the city of Pataliputra, also calledKusumapura. In front of a choultry in the city, a man walked as if in haste, on a hot afternoon. He was a brahmin, with bright and shining eyes.

The Grass Uprooted

In his hurried walk, he stumbled on a stump of grass and was about to fall. He became very angry. The roots of that type of grass go deep into the earth. But he was undeterred. He wrath would brook no opposition. He sat down right there in that burning sun, removed that grass to its root from the earth, and then resumed his journey.

His name was Chanakya. Seeing all this stood another man, at the door of the choultry. He was young but looked bright. He was Chandragupta, and was the officer in charge of the choultry. And he thought, "What a determined man! Such a person's help is worth having."

He went to Chanakya, addressed him very respectfully, and took him into the choultry with all courtesy.

Chanakya made inquiries about him and asked, "Who are you? You seem to be worried."

"The Kingdom is yours"

The officer with great reverence said, "Sir, my name is Chandraguta."

"You look as if you have gone through a lot of suffering and have great worries. You can tell me why."

"I am in dire trouble, Sir," said Chandraguta. "But should I worry you with my troubles?"

"Still you can tell me. I shall see if I help you," said Chanakya, with a degree of assurance.

I am the grandson of kingSarvarthasiddhi," Chandragupta, began his tale of woe. "He had two wives, Sunandadevi and Muradevi. Sunanda got nine sons called the

Navanandas. Mura had only one called Maurya and he was my father. We were a hundred brothers. The Nandas, out of jealousy, tried to kill all of us. All others were killed and somehow I have survived. I am really disgusted with all that has happened. This is my painful story. I have suffered much because of the Nandas. Would you help me to come out of my agony?"

Chanakya was greatly moved by this tale of woe. He thought that somehow he must help Chandragupta. I will get you the Kingship Chandragupta," he consoled him. "But look, these Nandas have not directly, offended me in any way. With some ruse, I will first see that they ill-treat me. And then, you may feel sure, your work is done."

"Till I Destroy Your Family"

It was a hot and sultry afternoon. It was lunchtime in the choultry. Banana leaves and been spread in many rows. Hundreds of persons were sitting there for their lunch.

Just nearby was also a throne. Chanakya had his bath and going straight to the throne, sat on it. Just then the Navandas also came there. They were very angry that on the throne where- kings should be seated, an ordinary man was sitting. They had Chanakya pushed out. Chanakya's tuft became untied and the hairs were loosened. He was in a fury. Hissing like a cobra he said, "You wicked fellows, I will not tie up my hair until I destroy your whole family. This is my oath. Remember it!" Thundering like that, he walked off with resounding steps. The Nandas were not afraid. "What nonsense from a begging Brahmin! It is prattle to be ignored," they said contemptuously, and went back to the palace.

The Nandas had a very intelligent minister. He was Amatya Rakshasa. He was brave and capable. In statecraft he was highly experienced. He protected the Nandas as eyelids do an eye. But Chanakya was not discouraged. He singly stood opposed to the might of the Nandas and the brain of Amatya Rakshasa. He dethroned the Nandas, put Chandragupta on the throne, and also installed Amatya Rakshasa, who was trying his utmost to destroy Chandragupta, as the minister. This is the story about Chanakya, popular in our country for hundreds of years. However, according to historians, this is not completely true.

Whether all the events took place as this story mentions them or not, the one thing that has to be accepted is that it truly reflects the nature of Chanakya.

Chanakya was a very brilliant person. He was full of determination in achieving any objective. He was well versed in all 'Shastras' or branches of knowledge, an expert economist; a statesman par excellence. He was a master in the four methods - of persuasion, enticement, sowing dissension, and punishment or war. He was mature in the strategy of war, and very intelligent. None could makeup what was going on his mind. So secretive was he in his method, and far-sighted. In any endeavor, his calculations never went wrong and he never missed his aim. He was at the same time very religious and given to strict renunciation. Apparently of a harsh nature, he could employ various methods carefully at the right time to destroy enemies. There was no branch of knowledge, which he had not mastered. He was widely experienced in the world. There seemed to be nothing, which he did not know. He was, in other words, a conglomeration of all things that make a genius. Considered in any way, persons equal to Chanakya are very rare in the world. An expression "like the strategy of Chanakya" has become proverbial. He is the memorable man who destroyed the despotic Nanda kings, put Chandragupta on the throne and brought into being the great Maurya dynasty of rules.

Chanakya had the other name of Kautilya also. Some say that he got the name Chanakya because he was born in China. A great book which clearly shows his genius is still extant. It is called the "Artha-shastra." It has been translated into many other languages including English, French and German.

Unfortunately, what is authentically known about him is not much. We can only add various points and scattered material available in several books.

Later Chanakya met Chandragupta.

Even of Chandragupta, very little is known. Several things are said about his family. Probably he belonged to the Moria community. (He got the name of Chandragupta Maurya afterwards and his royal lineage came to be known as the Maurya dynasty). His mother was perhaps a daughter of a village headman. His father, king of a forest area called Pippatavana, died in a war. The mother came to Pataliputra with her son.

The boy grew up as a village lad among other village boys. But he was a leader by birth. Even as a boy he was accepted as a leader by all other boys. His word was law to them.

Chandragupta and other boys used to play in a field. There was a tall boulder. The boy Chandragupta would be seated on the rock. In there games hewas always the king.

The other boys were all his * subjects. They would bring up their quarrels and disputes before him. He would hear the arguments on both sides and pronounce his degree.

Once Chanakya was passing that way. He was attracted by the dignity with which the boy was seated and the radiance of his face. He stood watching the play.

Chanakya was astonished by the sharp intellect and the style of the boy's speaking while judging the disputes.

'If king Nanda were dethroned, the realm would need an able king. Chanakya thought this boy would make a good king.

He stood there until game was over. Then he talked to the boy. Chanakya's physical features were ugly. That was why king Nanda had treated him with contempt. But the boy Chandragupta became aware of the intellect behind that face, and developed great respect for Chanakya.

Chanakya talked to him affectionately. He came to know who he was and his circumstances. He went with the boy to his house and spoke to his mother and other elders.

He said, "Send the boy with me. He will have his education at Takshashila."

Chandragupta's mother was at first unwilling to send the boy with a stranger. But what future did the boy have in a village? And how to educate this fatherless boy?

Schooling in Takshashila would be a boon, a divine gift. This chance might not come again.

She was highly impressed by the brilliance of the stranger's face and also by his good words. Chandragupta left for Takshashila with Chanakya.

For seven or eight years Chandragupta had his education there, and that, with teachers selected by Chanakya. The art of warfare and the art of government were mastered by him equally well.

By then, significant events in the history of Bharat were taking place under the very eyes of Chanakya and Chandragupta.

A young prince came from Greece with a big army. He had already conquered many realms. He was Alexander.

Even as Chanakya and Chandragupta were looking on, the soil of Bharat was going under foreign yoke. The people of Bharat did fight bravely. It looks as if even women took part in the fight. But not being united, they were defeated.

In Chanakya's eyes, foreign rule was poison. It was his belief that alien rulers would exploit, loot and impoverishes the country.

It is said that Chandragupta metAlexander. As he talked boldly and defiantlyAlexander was enraged and ordered his arrest. But Chandragupta somehow escaped.

Chandragupta's education was over, and Chanakya thought that their first task should, be to drive out the Greeks

Details are not available as to how exactly Chanakya and Chandragupta fought against the Greeks. Chandragupta was not a king, nor had he any position. It would by no means be easy for such an one to gather a big army. But even this seemingly impossible work was made possible because of Chanakya's expertise. Both of them toured in different areas. They gathered soldiers mainly from the mercenary communities.

Chanakya felt that this was not enough. He befriended a king by name Parvataka, or Parvetesha of the Himalayan region and secured his help for Chandragupta. Thus Chandragupta could get the support of the strong Himalayan soldiers.

Alexander had settled some Greeks wherever he went. But they did not wish to stay there and wanted to return to Greece. Alexander had divided the realms he conquered in India into some regions and had appointed 'Satrraps' to rule them. Some of them were Greeks and some were Indians. The Greeks always lived in the fear of mutinies and murders. As soon as Alexander left a Satrap in charge of a province, there would be rebellion and sometimes the Satraps would be murdered. Philip, who was very able and experienced, was thus killed. Alexander who was at a distant place could not do anything. Satraps who were Indians were burning with frustration. They were only waiting for the proper time to rebel and become free. After Alexander went out of India and died suddenly in distant Babylon in 323 B.C., all his Satraps declared themselves independent

The great book 'Artha-shastra' written by Chanakya is world famous. Even European politicians, sociologists and economists study this book with interest.

It begins with a narration of how to bring up royal princes and how their education should be. How to choose ambassadors and how to use spies is then explained. How to protect a king against dangers and risks is also dealt with. Law and order, the duties of the police, how to control the wealthy citizens and motivate them to make gifts for charitable purposes, methods of preventing wars, duties of the astrologer, the priest and others, tricks to be employed to eliminate enemy kings, ways of inducing sleep in human beings and animals-these and numerous other subjects are discussed by Chanakya in the treatise. The wide range and variety of the subjects is itself surprising.

His sharp intellect is astonishing. According to Chanakya, the primary duty of a king is to protect "Dharma" or righteousness in society. That king who upholds righteousness and virtue will have happiness in this world and also in the next. Another significant statement made by Chanakya is that a king who uses his power improperly and unjustly also deserves to be punished.

"The sacred task of a king is to strive for the welfare of his people incessantly. The administration of the kingdom is his religious duty. His greatest gift would be to treat all as equals."

"The happiness of the commoners is the happiness of the king. Their welfare is his welfare. A king should never think of his personal interest or welfare, but should every try to find his joy in the joy of his subjects."

"These words were written two thousand and three hundred years ago by Chanakya, the expert statesman and wise sage. And Chanakya is also another name forcourage and perseverance

I would vote for Lord Mahavir of the Jains. He is the first person to have raised our consciousness on Karma Sarvashrestha hai and also that there is no being superior to one self ie there is no god. The more i think about it the more i come to believe that everything is a matter of evolution and not creation by GOD..

Remember Homo Naleda discovered a few months ago and the similarity between the ape and the man

He also laid down ground rules for person s living including eating times and fasting which is good for health

He used to sit in a Padma asana which is the most scientific way to sit on the ground and avoid a backache.

In my opinion, there cannot be a greater personality in Indian history than Gautam Buddha. He was a mortal, but amongst the highest of them! And also has spread perhaps what is the greatest yet least recognized(ironically) contribution of Indian subcontinent to the world-at large.

I would Say Of Them 1 Bhagat Singh Who Fight For Freedom & 2 Abdul Kalam Who Is Still Fighting For Some Good Things In India.

I think Swami Vivekananda is the greatest man of Indian history. I lose track of time when I read his teachings. I am encouraged to think and believe in my powers and strengths. A student of Philosophy himself, all his teachings could be easily understood in modern philosophical terminologies.

History may have witnessed great warriors who won battles but it requires higher minds to help decide which battles are really worth fighting for! To quote an example from the mythology-Arjuna was a great warrior but it required a Krishna to mentor him to fight and understand the purpose of the battle!

I would not consider MK Gandhi as greatest in Indian history. My choice would be:

1. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

2. Bhagath Singh

Though I respect Mr. Gandhi for non-volience, he cannot match the sacrifices of the Netaji, or Bhagathji, or even Chandrashekar Azadji.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi

Even though there are log of Legends in our history, the one who u cannot see in the past neither in the future is

" Mahatma Gandhi the Great"

It is his confidence, he follow his own rules and respect others from within his circles.

In every era of our history, India is replete with great men in all walks of life. To segregate a few is an impossible task.

the only great Indian i know is Gandhi, "land of great personalities" that's not a fair statement. there are many great personalities in history that have never seen India. in fact there is only one in my opinion and it is that guy. he isn't the greatest in the world though, just the best of India.