The Indian Army is gearing up for future conflicts by extracting insights from ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, Puranas, and the Mahabharata. Army Chief General Manoj Pande emphasised the importance of Project Udbhav, an initiative introduced last year to delve into India’s military heritage.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially launched Project Udbhav in October 2023. General Pande, speaking at a recent conference, emphasised India’s need for self-reliance in security matters, highlighting that the country cannot outsource its security. He stressed the importance of turning to India’s rich heritage for strategic guidance, noting that traditional Western war strategies may not always be suitable for the region's unique challenges and geography.

Under Project Udbhav, the Indian Army explores ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, and Arthashastra. These texts, steeped in spirituality and moral values, offer insights into governance, strategy, diplomacy, and warfare. The initiative also analyses the strategic prowess displayed in the epic battles of the Mahabharata and by historical empires such as the Mauryas, Guptas, and Marathas.

General Manoj Pande, commenting on the project, stated, "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, and diplomacy & introduce relevant teachings to the present day military...The project has delved deep into ancient texts such as Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads and Arthashastra, which are rooted in interconnectedness, righteousness and ethical values. It has explored the epic battles of Mahabharata and strategic brilliance during the reigns of Mauryas, Guptas and Marathas, which have shaped India's rich military heritage."

India's rich history boasts legendary warrior kings such as Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, from whom the Indian Army is extracting valuable military strategies. Texts like Kautilya's Arthashastra, Kamandaka's Nitisara, and the Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural are being revisited for their insights into governance, strategy, and the ethics of warfare.

Project Udbhav has received widespread support across various sectors. Retired Air Marshal Anil Chopra and other strategic experts have commended the initiative, as reported by Hindustan Times. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt has also praised the project.

Officially launched during the Indian Military Heritage Festival in October 2023, Project Udbhav marks a collaborative effort between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution (USI) to promote the study of India's military heritage. The Army plans to disseminate the findings from Project Udbhav on the USI website to reach a broader audience.

Image source: PTI