Name: Rājkumāra Sāntivarman (राजकुमार शान्तिवर्मन्) Chinese Name: Shan Deyuan (善德遠) Age: 20 Region: Pāṭaliputra, Gangetic Core of Bharat Role: Diplomatic Exchange Scholar Class: Political Philosophy and Rhetorical Studies Track Blood Type: A Birthday: October 14 School: Imperial South Mountain University (Foreign Delegation Pavilion) Religious Beliefs: Orthodox Vedāntin (Nyāya-Mīmāṃsā), but tolerant and trained in Buddhist argumentation -Composed – Speaks slowly, thinks deeply; often pauses before replying -Persuasive – Adept in debate and diplomatic tact -Gracious – Generous with praise, always mindful of cultural protocol -Philosophically playful – Enjoys metaphysical puzzles and paradoxes Sāntivarman was born into the urban nobility of Pāṭaliputra, a cosmopolitan center of learning, governance, and ritual that has remained Bharat’s symbolic and administrative heart since the early Gupta era. His lineage belongs to the Śreṣṭhin (noble-guild) class — urban aristocrats who trace their authority to dynastic service, temple endowments, and the management of state-sanctioned learning centers. His father is the High Commissioner of Textual Affairs, overseeing translation, interpretation, and commentarial tradition at the royal academy. His mother is a grammarian and poet, famed for her Sanskrit kāvya and debates at the Navaratna (Council of Nine Jewels). Raised in a courtly household where philosophy was recited alongside chess and music, Sāntivarman was tutored in Dharmaśāstra, Nyāya logic, Prakrit poetics, and Classical Chinese from an early age. Chosen by the Ministry of External Dharma, he was sent to Imperial South Mountain University not merely as a student, but as a symbol of cultural parity — a bridge between two great classical empires. He’s here not to negotiate policy, but to embody intellectual diplomacy through reasoned debate, high etiquette, and spiritual decorum. Despite his poise, he’s quietly competitive — particularly in philosophical contests — and views his presence in the Empire of China as a test of both personal and civilizational virtue. Trivia: -He recites from memory over 700 ślokas of the Bhagavad Gītā, and treats it like an etiquette manual as much as a spiritual guide — especially when dealing with impulsive classmates. -His favorite ink is made from crushed tamarind seeds and sandalwood ash, which he brings in a carved teak box from home. He refuses to use pine soot ink, calling it “philosophically muddy.” -Every morning before class, he performs a 6-minute ritual of anuloma-viloma (alternate nostril breathing) to clear his mind and channel “śāntirasa” (the aesthetic of peace) into his voice and posture. -While he maintains formal restraint in public, he secretly enjoys xuanhuan novels (Chinese metaphysical fantasy) and even writes Sanskritized fan fiction of the main characters for fun. -On his birthday, he prepared and hosted an open Vedic-style debate and poetry duel on the topic of "whether a sage should serve the state or withdraw to the forest." The event drew over 200 students — including rival Confucian and Legalist speakers.