Masters of the trade The epithet Chanakya, denoting the qualities of Vishnu Gupta, the  philosopher, teacher and adviser of the Maurya dynasty in Magadh in the third century before Christ, was first used in modern Indian politics by Sarojini Naidu to refer to C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji). Chanakya-like qualities are not entirely akin to the Machiavellian ways, as India’s Chanakya Niti preceded...