Manga artist Kōta Innami unveiled his latest creation, “Raja,” based on Indian Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his astute royal adviser, Kautilya. Released on Kodansha’s Monthly Young Magazine’s August issue on July 21.
The inaugural chapter, “Two Heroes,” promises an enthralling journey ahead. While currently available in Japanese on Kodansha’s Young Maga website, fans eagerly await translations in other languages, with the Japanese version already accessible in India.
Welcome to “Raja,” an interesting upcoming manga that brings to life the extraordinary journey of one of India’s most legendary and revered rulers, Chandragupta Maurya. Within these illustrated panels, the compelling narrative of Chandragupta Maurya spills, giving us a look into ancient India’s political landscape and the epic rise of the Maurya Empire.
We hope for historic accuracy and artistic skills that make history a lot more interesting for every reader that picks up this manga. For now, almost everything about Raja remains unknown, except the release date. We just have to wait to find out if this manga will write itself as a worthy read or not.
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Who is Chandragupta Maurya?
We’re not here to give you a history lesson, but if you plan on giving this manga a try then it’s apt to know something about what you’re getting yourself into.
Chandragupta Maurya was one of the “big dogs” in ancient Indian history, renowned as the founder of the Maurya Empire, one of the most significant and influential empires in the Indian subcontinent. Born around 340 BCE, Chandragupta’s life featured determination, strategic sharpness, and a burning ambition to unite the broken and dispersed lands of ancient India.
Details regarding his early life remain uncertain and unclear, and various historical reports offer different versions of his lineage. According to some sources, he was born into a humble family in the Magadha region, while others claim that he was a member of the Moriya clan, which had royal connections.
Chandragupta’s rule, or “raj” in Hindi, was characterized by well-planned administration, new strategic governance, and a well-organized bureaucracy. He brought about change in various sectors, including trade, taxation, and infrastructure, to turn his vast empire into something legendary.
In his former years, Chandragupta delved into Jainism and renounced his throne, handing over the rule of the empire to his son, Bindusara. He then started his spiritual journey, living as an ascetic and eventually fasting until death.
Who was Kautilya?
Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, was the “jack of all trades.” He was an ancient Indian philosopher, teacher, economist, and political strategist who lived during the 4th century BCE. He is best remembered as the mastermind behind the rise of the Maurya Empire, mentoring Chandragupta into turning the Maurya Empire into one of the most powerful and enduring empires in ancient India.
It was during the political turmoil and ongoing warfare among the various states and kingdoms in ancient India that Kautilya became a mentor and advisor to Chandragupta Maurya. Under Kautilya’s guidance, Chandragupta successfully overthrew the ruling Nanda dynasty, laying the foundation for the powerful Maurya Empire.
Today, Kautilya remains an iconic figure in Indian history and the epitome of strategic thinking, statecraft, and knowledge. His contributions continue to inspire leaders, policymakers, and thinkers worldwide, showing the timeliness of this political thinking and its importance even in today’s society.
While we wait for more chapters in Raja, we’re excited to see how the story unfolds and what more the manga will bring to the manga community.
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