章節 15: The New Tutor

Time Stamp: Vikram Era: 21 Kartika 1631 (November 1573), Prayagraj Palace

It has been four years since Prince Siddharth was born. He was now a vivacious and inquisitive child, full of energy and interest in the world around him. His intelligence and unquenchable quest for information had not gone overlooked, and a good education was deemed necessary. As a result, a new tutor was appointed to help him through his early years.

The sun was high in the sky as Siddharth waited in the palace's courtyard, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his new tutor. He fidgeted with a tiny wooden toy, his mind racing with thoughts of the world beyond the castle gates.

A tall, intelligent guy arrived, bearing a kind yet serious gaze. He wore simple yet elegant robes, and his eyes were full of knowledge and experience. Siddharth looked up, his eyes wide and curious.

"Good morning, Prince Siddharth," the tutor said with a bright smile. "I'm Acharya Vishnugupta, and I'll be your tutor starting today. I hope you're ready to start a voyage of learning and exploration."

Siddharth nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Acharya." "I want to learn everything!"

Vishnugupta chuckled quietly. "All right, let us begin. Today, I will tell you about our country's topography, the vast Gangetic plains, and our empire's rich history.

They sat down on a mat stretched out in the courtyard. Vishnugupta unfurled a massive, finely detailed map of the Gupta-Pala Empire.

"This," he said, pointing to the map, "is our homeland: the Gangetic plains. It is a fertile region fed by the Ganges and its numerous tributaries. This country has been the cradle of civilization, with various cities, villages, and majestic palaces.

Siddharth listened carefully, his gaze drawn to Vishnugupta's finger as it followed the route of the river. "Why is the river so important?" he inquired.

"The river Ganga is the lifeblood of our empire," Vishnugupta remarked. "It provides water for our crops, transit for our commerce, and a spiritual connection for our community. It is considered sacred and is essential to our way of life."

They proceeded to look at the map, discussing the various cities and regions of the empire. As they progressed, Vishnugupta began to discuss the Gupta-Pala Empire's sociopolitical system.

"Our empire is vast and diverse," he explained. "It is governed by a complex system of administration, with guilds playing a crucial role in maintaining order and prosperity."

Siddharth furrowed his brow. "Guilds? "What are these?"

"Guilds are associations of craftsmen, merchants, and workers," Vishnugupta stated. "They control commerce, maintain quality, and promote their members. Each guild represents a distinct trade or profession, and they are critical to the operation of our economy."

The young prince nodded, taking in the information. "And what about the language we speak?" inquired the man.

"Our language, Sanskrit, is the language of the learned and the administration," Vishnugupta explained. "It's a rich and old language that appears in our scriptures, literature, and administration. However, the ordinary people speak a variety of regional dialects.

As the class progressed, the discussion turned to the empire's name and history. Siddharth has always considered the moniker "Gupta-Pala Empire" intriguing and unusual.

"Acharya, why is our empire called the Gupta-Pala Empire?" he inquired .

Vishnugupta grinned, seemingly anticipating the inquiry. "That's a great story, Prince Siddharth. Our empire's name refers to its distinct history and the union of two mighty dynasties.

He began to tell the story, his voice heavy with the weight of history. "Many years ago, the daughter of Krishnagupta, the founder of the Gupta dynasty, married Prince Adityavarman of the emerging Pala dynasty." The alliance was intended to improve links between the two dynasties. However, in a sad twist of destiny, a rebellion organized by then-minister Vaidyadeva wiped off most of the royal bloodlines. The couple from this bloodline were among the few who survived."

Siddharth listened, engrossed by the story. "What happened next?" he inquired hopefully.

"The survivors, determined to restore order and unity, decided to rule together in a diarchy over the newly formed Gupta-Pala Empire," Vishnugupta went on. "However, infighting quickly erupted between the two factions, resulting in widespread bloodshed and anarchy. In the ensuing wars, many lives were lost, and the empire was on the verge of collapse."

"But peace was eventually restored," Vishnugupta explained, his tone softening. "A peace was established, and the two sub-empires were combined into one. A single, unified lineage was developed to lead the Gupta-Pala Empire. "This history demonstrates our people's resilience and strength."

Siddharth nodded attentively, trying to comprehend the complexities of the empire's past. "So, our empire's name is a reminder of that unity and struggle," he continued slowly.

"Exactly," Vishnugupta stated. "It reminds us of our past, the challenges we have overcome, and the importance of unity and cooperation."

As the class came to a close, Siddharth felt awed and proud of his background. The history, geography, language, and sociopolitical structures all formed a picture of a prosperous and thriving empire.

Vishnugupta glanced at the little prince with pride and optimism. "You have a bright future, Prince Siddharth. The knowledge you receive today will enable you to lead our people with wisdom and strength."

"Prince Siddharth," Vishnugupta started, his tone calm but firm, "our kingdom is vast and complex, and the judgments we make reflect that complexity. While the emperor has ultimate authority, we have a system in place to allow the regular people to express themselves."

Siddharth's eyes expanded. "How do the common people get to have a say?"

Vishnugupta grinned, pleased by the prince's curiosity. "Every five years, elections are held throughout the empire. Each community elects delegates from its guilds. Guilds, as previously discussed, are groups of craftsmen, merchants, and workers who control their trades.

Siddharth nodded, recalling their previous discussion about guilds. "So, these representatives gather in cities?"

"Yes," Vishnugupta added. "Once elected, these representatives head to the neighboring city. There are arguments and discussions. It's an exciting and dynamic process in which they offer their ideas and dreams for the future. Following the arguments, votes are cast again to select a smaller group from among them."

The tutor pointed to a detailed diagram depicting the process. "This process is repeated multiple times, reducing the number of delegates to approximately 500. This group constitutes the lower house of our government, representing the common people."

Siddharth appeared thoughtful. "And the upper house?"

"The upper house," Vishnugupta stated, "is made up of members of the nobility, landed vaishya households, Kshatriya families, and numerous priests and academics from our empire's faiths. Additionally, some of the lower house's wealthier representatives are featured. They strike a balance, ensuring that the voices of many sections of society are heard."

Siddharth furrowed his brow, evidently thinking over the facts. "But how did we come up with this system?"

"Ah, that is a tale lost to the mists of time," Vishnugupta remarked, his voice becoming slightly strange. "It is stated that this wisdom was handed to us by a group known as the Yavanas. Unfortunately, many details concerning them have been lost. We know very little about who they were, where they came from, and where they went.

The young prince's eyes expanded in awe. "The Yavanas?"

"Indeed," Vishnugupta nodded. "Some archaic texts mention them, implying an advanced understanding of governance and trade. They shared their wisdom with our forefathers, and while much has been forgotten, the system they established has survived until this day."

Siddharth sat back, obviously fascinated. "So, even though we don't know much about the Yavanas, their legacy lives on in our governance?"

"Exactly," Vishnugupta agreed. "Their influence formed our empire in ways that we continue to profit from. It is a monument to our people's strength and perseverance as they adapt and evolve over time.

The tutor leaned forward and looked Siddharth in the eyes. "Remember, Prince Siddharth, that understanding our history and the systems that govern us is essential. It enables us to make sound decisions and leads us to a prosperous future."

Vishnugupta grinned heartily. "And learn, my prince. Together, we will discover the immense knowledge of our empire and beyond.

As the class went on, Siddharth's youthful mind avidly absorbed the information, each new piece of knowledge laying the groundwork for the leader he would one day become.