Inside Chanakya's mind: Aanvikshiki and the art of thinking by Radhakrishnan Pillai

"Inside Chanakya's mind: Aanvikshiki and the art of thinking" by Radhakrishnan Pillai - Aanvikshiki - from Chanakya to you.

This book is published by Penguin Random House India in 2017 and has 288 pages. This book was winner of Raymond Crossword Book Award 2016.

Book summary

All our life we are told by others to think, but no one actually taught us 'how to think' (analysis, decision making, prioritizing, planning, structuring, critical evaluation, logic). This book tries to get into the mind of Chanakya, the master. Author calls aanvikshiki, science of strategic thinking or critical thinking. Some call it philosophy, logical thinking, scientific thinking, inquiry, research, self- knowledge, enlightenment and a path leading to moksha, nirvana, mukti.

Kautilya says aanvikshiki is a way of thinking which includes numbers, the right connection to divine and material success. Practicing aanvikshiki is investigating what is spiritually good and evil in Vedic lore, material gain and loss in economics, good policy and bad policy in politics as well as relative strength and weakness of these three sciences. Aanvikshiki is the guiding principle for everything in life.

Types of thinking: Both side thinking, alternative thinking (Sama, Dana, Bhed, Danda), leadership thinking (thinking for good of team, out of the box thinking, all inclusive thinking, creative thinking (right time, right timing), lateral thinking (leadership and strategy - our and other's), spiritual thinking (balance dharma, artha, kama within laws of nature to get moksha). We should have solution focused mindset rather than problem focused.

Leadership is all about taking decisions in complex situations. Leadership model (get rid of lust, anger, greed, pride, arrogance, foolhardiness. Keep good company, be vigilant, engage the team, take personal responsibilities, seek expert opinion and walk the talk) and Administrative model (select good administrators - give responsibility and set goals, test their integrity - loyalty, material gain, lust & fear, supervise them - monitoring, appraisals & audits) are two thinking models.

Seven dimensions of thinking (saptang) are: swami (king - leader or CEO), amatya (ministers - management), janapad (country- employees), durga (fortified city- infrastructure, assets, share holding, business moat, specializations), kosha (treasury - finances, compliance, market capitalisation and remuneration), danda (army - rules, regulations, procedures, policies, training,  loyalty), mitra (ally - partners, suppliers, clients).

Eighth dimension of thinking is 'The enemy'. SWOT analyse the enemy. Build on the weakness of enemy. Chanakya employed an army of Vishkanya (modern day honey trap). Having an enemy (competition) keeps you alert. Shatru (enemy) brings out the best in you, the sleeping giant awakens, challenges make you strong, it acts as a push (tipping point). He united armies of various kingdoms to fight Alexander (JV or consortium), used his spies to understand the homesickness of his army and capitalized on it. He invented the game of chess to mentally prepare and practice war strategies during peace time (pilot project, simulation). If it comes to it, chose your life over your wealth (cut your losses, live another day).

When asked why he is considered shrewd, cunning and cold hearted he says I am not in popularity game. The purpose of my life (nation building) is greater than perception about me. The softer side of Chanakya taught that relations matter (Build and maintain relations internally and externally), take care of old (benefit from experience), empower women (gender diversity), respect teachers (coaches,  mentors and experience), let go of the enemy.

Chanakya on management: Emphasis on practical training and mentorship. Conquer internal enemies before external. All management starts with self management. Seeking opinion of SME's is important but then leader should make his own decision based on feedback. Manager should lead by example. Time management is essential for a manager. Basic traits of good economy are: acquisition of things not possessed, preservation of things possessed, increase of things owned. Management is all about managing the minds of people.

Chanakya divides kings time into 16 nalikas of 90 min each and tells what the king should do in each of them. He recommends listening music before sleeping. He recommends to plan the work mentally daily.

In the section how to use human thinking author emphasizes on brainstorming, expert opinion, opinion of advisors, follow financial model (wealth identification, creation, management, distribution), advise from friends and allies. In the section how to use divine thinking author emphasizes on use of mantras, medicines and illusions. He defines effective deliberation as the means of starting undertakings, the excellence of men and material, apportionment of space and time, provision against failure and accomplishment of work.

End of book summary

Author has given Chanakya's list of weaknesses of best enemies and qualifications of best female spies. He also gives principles of town planning. At the end of the book he gives a questionnaire that summarizes the essence of this Book.

It's interesting to note that Chanakya recommends only 4.5 hours sleep for the king with another 1.5 hours during the day as optional or power nap. Is PM Modi following Chanakya?

Author has set a few objectives at the beginning of the book. I asked myself if author's intentions were met. Was the journey fun? Did I enjoy? Did it help me discover myself again? Answer to first two was yes. Third was a no. Probably it will turn to yes with application of this knowledge in daily life.

Nicolo Machiavelli states three ways to treat subjects of a conquered territory in his famous book 'The Prince'. Chanakya recommends only one. For him this is the best way.

I heard the word Aanvikshiki for the first time when i read the sub-title of this book. A little research tells us that there are many meanings of the word aanvikshiki (अन्वीक्षिकी) in Sanskrit (संस्कृत). For this book, it's strategic or critical thinking, the science of thinking.

Chanakya wrote Arthashastra in 400 BCE. This book is an extract of Chanakya's teachings regarding aanvikshiki. 400 BCE was the time of kings. So, what he writes for kings is applicable for today's leaders and what he writes for kingdom is applicable for today's organizations.

This book is a trove of information from Arthashastra. I could not help creating mind map of what I read, as I read. Credit to author for choosing the subject and bringing the ancient knowledge to those who don't understand Sanskrit.

Chapter on Chanakya's thoughts on management is brief. It's relevance in today's corporate culture could have been elaborated more. But I suppose author deliberately avoided it because he has written a separate book, Corporate Chanakya, for that.

Author applies the knowledge of Chanakya to today's governance or government rather than the corporate world while explaining the concepts. Again, this may be by design as stated above. 

This book has an eye catching cover of outline of Chanakya head in red colour without features. This cover is apt for the book subject. The cover is bound to attract potential buyers in a book shop. 

Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was a phenomenon, a legend, master strategist, teacher and philosopher. He  loved in 4th century BCE and was master of all subjects He authored political treatise 'Arthashastra'.

Radhakrishnan Pillai is a management speaker and strategy consultant. He has PhD in Arthashastra. He is a management Guru and has authored several books.

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about Aanvikshiki.

What did I like?  Bringing ancient knowledge to modern readers.

What I didn't like?  Some things are repeated.

Recommend reading.