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The Indian Army has embarked on an ambitious project called Project Udbhav, meaning birth, evolution or ‘arising from’, in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India, to learn meaningful lessons in warfare and statecraft from its ancient past and carve out a brighter future.
The biggest irony is that many Indian scriptures like the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, and Arthashastra contain a wealth of information on governance, warfare, military strategy, and diplomacy but they are not taken seriously or applied in real life. This is because of a widespread tendency among Indian scholars, and military planners to blindly follow foreign military strategists and philosophers like Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, or Niccolo Machiavelli while ignoring some of the finest Indian diplomatic, geopolitical and military traditions.
It is strange but true that many Indian scholars and military personnel are unfamiliar with the ethos, philosophy, tradition or history of warfare and military strategy during the Maurya, Gupta, Chola or Maratha period. For that matter, how many of them have bothered to read Chanakya’s Arthashastra? Likewise how many people have heard or read about Indian military strategists like Manu who wrote about the role of the king, diplomacy, inter-state relations, and intelligence operations, Kamandaka the author of “Nitisara,” a treatise on the art of warfare and politics, Somadeva Suri who wrote “Nitivakyamritam,” a work on politics, ethics and warfare, Shukracharya who taught the art of war and strategy in the Mahabharata period and Kalhana who wrote “Rajatarangini,” a historical work on Kashmir’s kings and their military campaigns?
What Project Udbhav intends to do is to make today’s soldiers aware of the largely forgotten ancient Indian military history, philosophy, and traditions. Project Udbhav’s goal is to make the Indian military rediscover, document, and assimilate the lessons learned from the past and apply them to contemporary needs. Project Udbhav aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Indian armed forces by bridging the gap between time-tested traditional knowledge and modern military techniques. The objectives of Project Udbhav include:
Rediscover the ancient military traditions and best practices:
- To explore and document ancient Indian texts that contain military strategies, tactics, and techniques.
- To understand the historical context and application of these strategies.
Bridge the gap between time-tested past knowledge and future:
- To adapt and incorporate relevant ancient military knowledge into modern training and operational doctrines.
- To create a synergy between traditional wisdom and contemporary military technologies.
Leadership, ethics, and morality:
- To derive lessons on leadership, ethics, and duty from ancient texts and apply them to modern military training.
- To instill a sense of moral responsibility and ethical conduct among military personnel.
Development of Training Modules:
- To develop training programs and modules based on ancient Indian martial arts, yoga, and meditation for physical fitness, mental resilience, and overall well-being of soldiers.
- To incorporate traditional combat techniques and strategies into the curriculum of military academies.
Cultural and Historic Preservation:
- To preserve and promote India’s rich heritage and historical knowledge related to warfare and military strategies.
- To foster a sense of pride and identity among the armed forces by connecting them with their cultural roots.
Research and Collaboration:
- To conduct in-depth research and studies in collaboration with historians, scholars, and military experts.
- To organise seminars, workshops, and conferences to disseminate the findings and encourage scholarly discussion.
Above all, the aim is to create a well-rounded, culturally enriched, and strategically advanced military force.
Project Udbhav will focus on the following:
- Arthashastra by Kautilya (Chanakya): A comprehensive treatise on statecraft, military strategy, and economic policy.
- Mahabharata and Ramayana: Epic narratives that contain numerous accounts of battles, strategies, and ethical dilemmas in warfare.
- Rajatarangini by Kalhana: A historical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, providing insights into medieval Indian warfare.
- Shivaji’s Guerrilla Tactics: The innovative tactics used by Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj to counter larger Mughal forces.
Ancient texts – relevance to the military today
The ancient Indian texts provide a wealth of knowledge that can be applied to modern military strategies, ethics, and practices. Here are brief descriptions of above mentioned key texts and their relevance to the military today:
Chanakya’s Arthashastra is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. It discusses in detail subjects like espionage, intelligence gathering, psychological warfare, and strategic planning which are highly relevant events today. Its pragmatic approach to governance and war tactics can be applied to modern military doctrines and counterinsurgency strategies.
Mahabharata, particularly in the Bhagavad Gita, focuses on various aspects of warfare, like leadership, ethics, and a soldier’s dharma or sacred duty. Lord Krishna’s discourse to Arjun as reported in the Bhagavad Gita can help military leaders today as well.
Ramayana – The strategic planning and strategy followed by Lord Rama, such as forming alliances and gathering intelligence, is relevant to contemporary military operations. Lord Rama’s emphasis on righteous warfare (dharmayuddha) offers an ethical framework for modern military conduct.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – The principles of mental discipline, control, and stress management found in the Yoga Sutras are applicable to military training. Techniques from yoga can be used to enhance physical fitness, mental resilience, and the overall wellbeing of soldiers.
Tirukkural by Tiruvalluvar is a classic Tamil text that covers various aspects of life, including leadership, ethics, politics, and military strategy and whose teachings can be applied to modern military training.
Dhanurveda is an ancient Indian treatise on the art of warfare, archery, and martial arts. It emphasizes the importance of physical fitness, strategic thinking, and the moral code of a warrior. These lessons on combat training, weaponry, and martial arts can be applied to modern training programs.
Buddhist texts, including Jataka Tales and teachings of Ashoka, provide insights into non-violent conflict resolution and the ethical treatment of enemies. These principles of non-violence (ahimsa) and compassion should be applied to modern military operations, particularly peacekeeping missions and the treatment of prisoners of war.
Jain texts, while advocating non-violence, also discuss the ethics of self-defence and protection of the state. These can influence modern military policies, particularly regarding the humane treatment of civilians and the conduct of soldiers in conflict zones.
Conclusion
Ancient Indian texts offer valuable insights into military strategy, leadership, ethics, and mental discipline. The emphasis on duty, righteous conduct, and mental resilience found in them can help shape well-rounded and morally grounded military personnel. By integrating the wisdom of these texts into military training, Project Udbhav aims to hone a defence force for possible future conflicts.
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