Why is Chanakya called the Machiavelli of India? Who was Machiavelli?

India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru compared Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, to Niccolo Machiavelli's 'The Prince.'

Like Machiavelli, Chanakya emphasized the importance of political realism over idealism, advocating for pragmatic approaches to governance and power.
 

Both figures were known for their strategic thinking. Chanakya’s work, the ‘Arthashastra’, provides detailed strategies on statecraft, much like Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’.
 

Chanakya and Machiavelli both viewed power as a central element of political life. Chanakya believed in the necessity of using cunning and shrewdness to achieve and maintain power.
 

Chanakya served as an advisor to Chandragupta Maurya, much like Machiavelli’s role in advising princes. 
 

Chanakya believed in the power of intelligence and espionage, similar to Machiavelli’s advice on using deception and manipulation in politics.
 

Both Chanakya and Machiavelli have had a lasting influence on political theory and practice, shaping how leaders approach governance and statecraft in their respective cultures.
 

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was an Italian diplomat, philosopher, and writer, best known for his political treatise, ‘The Prince’. 
 

He is often regarded as the father of modern political science due to his advocacy for realistic and pragmatic approaches to governance.