Not from West, India to harness wisdom for future military strategy from its own ancient texts

In an address at the conference titled “Historical Patterns in Indian Strategic Culture,” Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Tuesday (May 21) touched upon the significance of Indian Army's ambitious initiative - Project Udbhav.

This project, he said, is poised to revolutionise the military by drawing upon India’s ancient texts - Mahabharata, Vedas, Upanishads, Arthashastra, and Puranas for strategising in the future.

‘Udbhav’ means 'genesis' and the project was launched last year by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the inauguration of the Indian Military Heritage Festival.

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Speaking at the recent event organised by India’s oldest think-tank, the United Service Institution (USI), General Pande elaborated on the foundational principles of Project Udbhav.

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Highlighting the rich tapestry of ancient Indian wisdom, the army chief said that the "project Udbhav was conceptualised with an idea to rediscover the profound Indian heritage of statecraft & strategic thoughts derived from the ancient text of statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy & introduced relevant teachings to the present day military..."

General Pande also elaborated on the extensive research undertaken as part of the project.

"The project has delved deep into ancient texts such as Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, and Arthashastra, which are rooted in interconnectedness, righteousness, and ethical values," he said.

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"It has explored the epic battles of the Mahabharata and the strategic brilliance during the reigns of Mauryas, Guptas, and Marathas, which have shaped India’s rich military heritage."

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General Pande underscored the significance of India's 5,000-year-old civilisational legacy and said that this knowledge is of "immense value".

India's ancient texts over concepts proposed by West

Strategic affairs expert Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), present at the event, reportedly said,“For long, India has been studying warfighting concepts proposed by the West and those may not most relevant in our region and context. Our rich legacy will play a great role in guiding us and strategising for the future."

The unveiling of Project Udbhav last year was a crucial moment for the country's military history, as it seeks to chart a course guided by its own ancient wisdom and historical knowledge.

(With inputs from agencies)