Ancient Indian scholar and political thinker Chanakya was also known by which other name?

Introduction / Context:
Chanakya is a legendary figure in ancient Indian history, remembered as a master strategist, economist, and political adviser who played a central role in the rise of the Maurya Empire. Many historical and literary texts refer to him by more than one name. This question checks whether you know the alternate name used for Chanakya in classical literature, especially in connection with his work on statecraft.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The personality in question is Chanakya.
• He is described as an ancient scholar and political thinker.
• Options include Rajasekhara, Tejasvi, Kautilya, Vatsyayana, and Bhaskaracharya.
• You need to choose the name that is historically associated with Chanakya.

Concept / Approach:
Chanakya is traditionally identified with the author of the Arthashastra, a classical treatise on political economy and governance. In many manuscripts, the author name appears as Kautilya or sometimes Vishnugupta, and both names are linked to Chanakya. Among the given options, only Kautilya is one of these accepted alternate names. The other names belong to different authors and scholars, such as Vatsyayana, who wrote the Kamasutra, and Bhaskaracharya, a mathematician and astronomer, so they cannot be correct here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is about an alternate name for Chanakya, not about his titles or works. Step 2: Recall that Chanakya is traditionally associated with the names Kautilya and Vishnugupta. Step 3: Examine the options and locate Kautilya among them. Step 4: Identify that Rajasekhara, Vatsyayana, and Bhaskaracharya are separate historical authors, not other names of Chanakya. Step 5: Select Kautilya as the correct answer because it accurately represents another name of Chanakya.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that many history textbooks mention Arthashastra by Kautilya and then explain that Kautilya is another name for Chanakya. Similarly, stories about the Maurya Empire often refer to the same person by both names. In contrast, Vatsyayana is commonly identified with the Kamasutra, and Bhaskaracharya with works on arithmetic and astronomy. These consistent associations confirm that Kautilya is the only option that correctly answers the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajasekhara was a medieval Sanskrit poet and dramatist, not another name for Chanakya. Tejasvi does not refer to a specific classical author linked with the Maurya period in standard exam material. Vatsyayana is known for the Kamasutra and belongs to a different genre of literature. Bhaskaracharya, also called Bhaskara II, was a mathematician and astronomer who lived centuries later. None of these names is used as an alternate identity for Chanakya in recognised historical texts.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse Kautilya and Vatsyayana because both names appear in discussions of Sanskrit literature, leading to misselection. Others might not recognise Rajasekhara or Bhaskaracharya and be tempted to guess randomly. A helpful strategy is to connect each important ancient author with a key work and period: Kautilya with Arthashastra and the Mauryas, Vatsyayana with Kamasutra, and Bhaskaracharya with Lilavati and Siddhanta Shiromani. Clear mental links like these reduce confusion in multi option questions.

Final Answer:
Chanakya was also known by the name Kautilya.