The novel relates two parallel stories, the first of Chanakya and his machinations to bring Chandragupta Maurya to the throne of Magadha; the second, that of a modern-day character called Gangasagar Mishra who makes it his ambition to position a slum child as Prime Minister of India.
A novela relata dúas historias paralelas: a primeira de Chanakya e as súas maquinacións para levar a Chandragupta Maurya ao trono de Magadha, e a segunda, a dun personaxe actual chamado Gangasagar Mishra, que ambiciona situar un neno dos barrios marxinais como Primeiro Ministro da India.