CHATUR CHANAKYA

                      & THE HIMALAYAN PROBLEM

                     By: Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai | Illustrations by: Vishnu M Nair

Summer vacations are over. As a new academic year begins at Vani Vidyalaya, Arjun’s search for a close friend and bench partner goes on, Lakshmi hopes to display her leadership skills, and all the teachers and students seem to be getting fed up of Himalaya’s bullying and hurtful pranks.

In walks Chanakya, pale and thin, a choti shooting out of his big head, and soon it is clear that Vani Vidyalaya will never be the same again.

Chanakya is witty. Chanakya is smart. He always has a trick up his sleeve.

“So how did you get the name Chanakya and the choti on your head?”

With a smile Chanakya said, “My father teaches Kautilya’s Arthashastra. And his fav philosopher is Chanakya. So he named me Chanakya after the great teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, and, since Chanakya had a choti on his head, I too have one.”

Arjun said, “So you must have learnt Arthashastra too, I guess.”

“Yes, I did. That is why I apply Aanvikshiki all the time and everywhere I go.”

“Aanvikshiki? What is that?”

Before they could stop Chanakya, he started running towards his house and shouted back at them, “I will tell you more next time ……”