Chanakya, also known as Vishnu Gupta or Kautilya, was an Indian professor of political science and economics at Takshashila University in the ancient times. He was a chief advisor to the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta, and later to his son Bindusara. He played a prominent role in the establishment of the Mauryan Empire. He has authored the ancient Indian political dissertation called Arthasastra (Economics). His works were rediscovered in 1915.