Chanakya

Chanakya was a teacher, an advisor and a minister of the first ruler of the Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta Maurya. He is credited with helping to establish the Mauryan Empire by defeating the mighty Nanda Empire. He is also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta and is the author of the Arthashastra, a treatise on the rules of governing a kingdom and on managing the economy of a state.
It is believed that Chanakya was insulted by Dhana Nanda, the King of Magadh. Chanakya had proposed to Dhana Nanda that if he formed an alliance with Porus and marched his armies to the frontiers of India to battle against the Greek Invaders under Alexander, they would have defeated his mighty army. But Dhana Nanda laughed at this and ordered Chanakya to be dragged out of his assembly. Chanakya swore revenge. Someday he would return with an army to defeat Dhana Nanda. Only then would he tie his Shikha. He wandered throughout India searching for a capable person to become the king of India. He found Chandragupta Maurya and realized the boy's true potential. Together they mobilized armies and started attacking the Mauryan heartlands. They were unsuccessful in the beginning. One day, Chanakya came across a farmer's wife who was telling her son to start eating from the sides of the plate as it is hot in the centre. Chanakya realized his folly and started attacking the frontiers. Soon Chandragupta Maurya conquered Magadh and started the Mauryan Empire.
Chanakya served two generations of Chandragupta's family as the Royal Advisor. He is credited with performing the first Caesarian delivery. Legend says that Chanakya used to mix small amounts of Poison in the King's food to make him immune to poisoning. No one was allowed to eat that food. One day when Chanakya was on a mission to observe the frontier defences, Chandragupta's pregnant wife, Queen Durdhara ate from Chandragupta's plate. The Poison affected her and would have killed her as well as her child. Chanakya rushed back to the capital and brought out the child by cutting the belly of the Queen. The Queen died but the child survived. The child was born with a drop of Poison on his head and was hence named Bindusara.
Bindusara was a man easily influenced by others. He came under the influence of some courtiers who filled his ears with lies and made him believe that Chanakya was responsible for the previous Queen's death. Bindusara grew furious and banished Chanakya. Chanakya started meditating inside a hut. His enemies in the court burned it down with Chanakya inside it leading to the death of India's Greatest Statesman.