Alexander and Chandragupta the Great: An Original Historical Play About India in 327 Bce

By Ashok Sinha

This historical play on Chandragupta, who ushered a new Golden Period in the history of India in the modern era (after a sequence of glorious eras including those of Rama in the Treta-Yuga (cosmic era) and Krishna (Dwapar-Yuga), millennia ago, who are now venerated as Avatars (Incarnations of God) by virtue of their exemplary characters and deeds.) It draws from information contained in history books, a play in Hindi by the famed poet and playwright, Jaya Shankar Prasad, the recent television series called Chanakya, and other available sources; and is written in a fashion to facilitate stage-production by youngsters and adults, particularly those of Indian descent in the USA, Europe, and other parts of the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462879137

Ashok Sinha

Ashok Sinha holds a Ph.D. degree in Physics, and is also interested in literature and spirituality. He has written 20 books in English and in Hindi, including in physics, satellite and Mobile Telecommunications theory, poetry, fiction, plays, religion, and translations of certain classics. He worked at NASA and INTELSAT (International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, Washington, D.C., USA), contributing in Elementary Particle Physics Theory (including mathematical modeling of the so-called ‘GOD’s Particles’), Cosmology, Space Physics research, and satellite telecommunications technology. Currently he lives in Santa Clara, California (USA) with his wife. [ [e-mail] ]

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Copyright © 2011 by Ashok Sinha.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011908672

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4628-7912-0

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4628-7911-3

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4628-7913-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a historical Play. Names, characters, places and incidents are based on events that took place in Bharat (India) when Alexander the Great attacked Bharat in 327 BCE.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

ABOUT THIS BOOK

CHARACTERS

ALEXANDERANDCHANDRAGUPTA THE GREAT

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 3

ACT 4

ACT 5

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Alexander the Great, the famed military genius of Greece who conquered much of the world, invaded India in 327 BCE. India (originally called Bharat, which, at that point in time, included present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan in the west and Bangladesh and parts of Burma in the east), inspite of cultural and religious (Hindu) unity, was politically divided into a number of small independent kingdoms. The king of the north-west province, Parvateshvar (called ‘Porus’ by the Greeks) fought with Alexander, but lost the battle due an unanticipated retreat, instigated by a trick by the Greek army, of the elephants used to carry weapons; despite brave cavalry and regiments of foot-soldiers. The cause of Bharat as a sovereign nation was then taken up by an Acharya (Professor), Chanakya, of the Takshshila Vishwa-Vidyalay (University) located in the north-west, and his illustrious and valorous disciple, Chandragupta. They succeeded in uniting many of the kings of the region, and in finally repulsing the Greek attack. Under a treaty that ensued, Karnelia, the daughter of Alexander’s General, Sellucus, was married to Chandragupta. Alexander, heart-broken at his unprecedented defeat, turned back to come to his homeland, but died on his way back.

Chandragupta, who came from a rural and poor family of Pataliputra (a north-eastern city in the State of Bihar of Bharat, now called Patna, which was the capital of the-then Magadh empire, later also called the Maurya empire after Chandragupta’s dynastic name), rose to become the emperor of the Magadh empire, extending the boundary of the empire to most of Bharat, unifying the nation as a whole. His grandson, Emperor Ashok, adopted Buddhism and sent spiritual masters to Ceylone (Sri Lanka), China, and many other regions of the world upon their request; and was thus instrumental in the spread of Buddhism outside Bharat (India.) The country achieved pinnacle of glory in all fields—literature, science and mathematics, art and architecture, politics and administration, religion and spirituality—under the Gupta-Empire that lasted over a millennium.

This historical play on Chandragupta, who ushered a new ‘Golden Period’ in the history of India in the modern era (after a sequence of glorious eras including those of Rama in the Treta-Yuga (cosmic era) and Krishna (Dwapar-Yuga), millennia ago, who are now venerated as Avatars (Incarnations of God) by virtue of their exemplary characters and deeds.) It draws from information contained in history books, a play in Hindi by the famed poet and playwright, Jaya Shankar ‘Prasad,’ the recent television series called ‘Chanakya,’ and other available sources; and is written in a fashion to facilitate stage-production by youngsters and adults, particularly those of Indian descent in the USA, Europe, and other parts of the world.

CHARACTERS

(In order of appearance)

Act 1: Scene 1

Vishnugupta—Acharya (Professor) of the Vishwa-Vidyalaya (World-

University) in Takshila, Gandhar, a north-west province of Bharat* (327 BCE). He is also known by his more familiar name Chanakya.

Chandragupta—A disciple of Vishnugupta. A rural boy of Magadh, a province of north-east Bharat, later to become the emperor of the Magadh empire comprising most of north Bharat.

Hariharan—A disciple of Vishnugupta from the kingdom of Gandhar

Shashank—A disciple of Vishnugupta from the kingdom of Kaikey

Vijay Varman—A disciple of Vishnugupta from the kingdom of Malway

Aditya—A disciple of Vishnugupta from the kingdom of Lichhawi

Boy 1 }

Boy 2 }

Boy 3 } Friends of Chandragupta, about eight-nine-year old rural shepherds in Magadh

Boy 4 }

Boy 5 }

Uncle—Maternal uncle of boy Chandragupta, a selfish villager

Saudamini—Chandragupta’s mother, a destitute woman

Chakrapani—A Swami (monk) from Takshila, doubling as Vishnugupta’s patriot spy

Act 2: Scene 1

Ambhiraj—King of Gandhar, a good but aging monarch

Ambhik—Son of Ambhiraj, the opportunistic, power-hungry, self-centered, ambitious prince of Gandhar

Alaka—Daughter of Ambhiraj, a patriotic princess of Gandhar

Sinharan—Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) of Gandhar, a conniving friend of Ambhik, later reformed into a patriotic militia leader

Attendant—A low-level court-attendant of Gandhar

Amatya—The Prime Minister of Gandhar

Anthony Brutus (aka Mitram Dev)—Greek military envoy in Gandhar court

Act 2: Scene 2

Alexander—The Greek empire-builder, invader of India (327 BCE)

Sellukus—The commander-in-chief of Alexander

Pililipus—A senior General of Alexander, appointed by him the Chhatrap (administrative head) of the regions of Bharat conquered by the Greek Army

Parvateshwar or Porus—King of the north-west kingdom of Bharat, attacked and defeated by Alexander

Old Man (Surya Prakash)—A spy of Chanakya

Act 2: Scene 3

Head Acharya—The Principle Acharya of Takshila Vishwa Vidyalaya.

Other Acharyas—About 5 Acharyas of Takshila

Graduates—About 15 graduating students of Takshila

Act 3: Scene 1

Indradatta—Prime Minister (‘Amatya’) of King Porus

Aide—Indradatta’s Assistant

Soldiers—Participants in the marching song

Nurses—Participants in the marching song

Act 4: Scene 1

Ghananand—King of Magadh, a self-indulgent, foolish monarch

Queen—Queen of Magadh

Attendants—King’s servants

Musicians—King’s entertainers

Dancers—Kign’s entertainers

Varuruchi—Prime Minister (‘Mahamatya’) of Magadh

Ministers—Four Ministers in the Cabinet of Magadh (Education Minister, Finance Minister, etc.)

Act 4: Scene 2

Carnelia—Daughter of Sellucus

Messenger

Rishi Dandyayan—A revered sage of Bharat

Royal Priest

Act 5: Scene 1

Shriyak—A close friend of Vishnugupta in Pataliputra, son of ex-Amatya of Magadh, Shakatar

Rakshas—Prime Minister (‘Mahamatya’) of Magadh, first loyally serving king Ghanananda, later working in the interest of the state and converting to Buddhism

Act 5: Scene 2

Dharini—King Ghanananda’s daughter, later Chandragupta’s queen

Act 5: Scene 3

Balgupta—Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) of Magadh, after Chandragupta’s victory over Magadh

Act 5: Scene 4

Hindu Priest

Buddhist Monk

ALEXANDER

AND

CHANDRAGUPTA

THE GREAT

ACT 1

Scene 1

327 BCE Takshila University (TU) at Takshila, North-West India. The hour of dawn. The renowned Acharya Vishnugupta (Chanakya), in his mid-forties, with dhoti and yagyopaveet his only attire, is paying homage to the Sun deity with the Gayarti Mantra and other Mantras from the Rg-Veda.

VISHNUGUPTA:

Om bhurbhurvah swah. Tatsaviturvarenyam.

Bhargodevasya dhimahi. Dhiyo yo nah prachodyat.

OM! Felicitations to THAT, the Sun-god, our Surya Dev, the ultimate Origin, Source and Support of the Earth, the Space unbound, the Heavens above; the fountain-head of the intellect of the gods. May THAT also inspire our intellect.

The Dawn emerged in the sky, spreading