During the opening of the Indian Military Heritage Festival, in the presence of General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, Vice Admiral SJ Singh, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Lieutenant General JP Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Major General BK Sharma (Retired), Director General United Services Institution of India, and other dignitaries, Hon. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched “
After expressing gratitude to the Hon. Raksha Mantri, Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), informed the audience of the significance of “Project UDBHAV.” He emphasized that Project UDBHAV, a partnership between the Indian Army and the USI, is an effort to look back at the earliest military ideas in India.
‘Udbhav’, which translates to ‘origin’ or ‘genesis’, acknowledges the vintage scriptures and writings of our Nation, that span centuries in the past and contain profound knowledge that can benefit modern military strategies.
The Project’s goal is to combine traditional knowledge with modern military tactics to create a special, comprehensive strategy for tackling contemporary security concerns. The Indian Army has launched a bold project that aims to combine traditional military education with cutting-edge thinking.
The foundation of the ancient Indian knowledge system is a 5000-year-old civilisational legacy that placed tremendous emphasis on knowledge, as evidenced by its astonishingly huge body of intellectual texts, the greatest collection of manuscripts in the world, and thinkers and schools in a wide range of academic fields. The goal of Project UDBHAV is to comprehend the deep connections, significance, and applicability of our knowledge systems and philosophical perspectives in the present.
The value of strategic alliances, collaborations, and diplomacy is emphasized in literature like Chanakya’s Arthashastra, which is in line with contemporary military techniques like international cooperation and soft power projection. Various institutions around the world study Chanakya’s lessons on statecraft and warfare. Similar to this, the wisdom of Thirukkural, a traditional Tamil scripture written by the Tamil philosopher Thiruvalluvar, promotes moral behavior in all endeavors, even combat. This conforms to current military morality standards for legitimate war and Geneva Convention tenets.
A study of notable military campaigns and leaders is equally significant as a study of ancient writings. During their eras, the empires of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, and Cholas prospered and grew in influence. There are examples of the Ahom Kingdom too, which successfully ruled for 600 years, repeatedly defeating the Mughals.
Chhatrapati Shivaji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh used the principles of the ancient knowledge system to beat the numerically superior Mughal and Afghan invaders. While Shivaji’s use of guerrilla warfare is well known, his ingenuity in building a string of naval forts along the Western seaboard to deter external invasions is less well known.
The Army Training Command was the first to take the initiative in this research, compiling the “Compendium of 75 Stratagems” after studying ancient Indian Scriptures such the Arthashastra, Nitisara by Kamandaki, and the Mahabharata. There are connections between Indian culture and the practice of strategic thinking, according to research done by other academic institutions including the College of Defence Management. These studies will also provide valuable inputs for Project UDBHAV.
Through multidisciplinary research, workshops, and leadership seminars, Project UDBHAV seeks to successfully meld this antiquated knowledge with contemporary military training. It will encourage deeper knowledge and contribute to enhancing military training curriculum by facilitating the formation of hitherto unexplored ideas and theories about strategic thinking, statecraft, and conflict.
In terms of grand strategy, strategic thinking, and talks on statecraft, Project UDBHAV is an effort to close the knowledge gap and maintain this knowledge production of Indian heritage. A publication will be released in January 2024 as the culmination of a series of events and workshops that will focus on different parts of our strategic culture as part of Project UDBHAV.
‘Project UDBHAV’ creates the foundation for a strong, forward-thinking, and future-ready Indian Army that not only resonates with the nation’s historical military sagacity but is also attuned to the demands and dynamics of contemporary warfare and diplomacy by fusing ancient wisdom with modern military pedagogy and operations.
The Indian Army has entered a new era with the introduction of “Project UDBHAV,” demonstrating their dedication to fostering a future in which our military power and strategic thinking are strengthened by our rich and strategic past.
