In a quest to unearth the profound wisdom embedded within India’s ancient statecraft, warfare, and strategic doctrines, the Indian Army has launched ‘Project Udbhav.’ This strategic endeavor aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary call in 2021 for the military to shed outdated systems and practices.
Project Udbhav recently reached a significant milestone as it concluded a hybrid panel discussion in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India (USI). The discussion centered on the theme ‘Evolution of Indian Military Systems, Warfighting, and Strategic Thought—Current Research in the Field and Way Forward.’
Prime Minister Modi had underscored the importance of enhancing indigenization in the national security framework during his address at the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kevadia, Gujarat, in March 2021. This initiative underscores the Indian Army’s commitment to acknowledging India’s age-old wisdom in statecraft, strategy, diplomacy, and warfare.
At its core, Project Udbhav seeks to bridge the historical and the contemporary. The initiative’s primary objective is to unravel the profound insights embedded within indigenous military systems, their evolution, time-tested strategies, and the strategic thought processes that have shaped the nation for millennia. Furthermore, it aims to integrate this ancient wisdom with modern military pedagogy.
The scope of the recent discussion encompassed an exploration of ancient texts spanning from the 4th century BCE to the 8th century CE. Notable focus areas included the works of eminent scholars such as Kautilya, Kamandaka, and the Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text.
This initiative comes at a time when the Indian armed forces are actively pursuing measures to decolonize their practices. The Indian Army has made strides in this direction by discontinuing colonial practices like horse-driven buggies at ceremonies and reviewing the nomenclature of regiments, buildings, roads, and uniform ceremonies.
Additionally, the Army has been actively supporting a project that compiles Indian stratagems derived from ancient texts. A noteworthy outcome of this endeavor is the publication of the book titled “Paramparik Bhartiya Darshan…Ranniti aur Netriyta ke Shashwat Niyam” (Traditional Indian Philosophy…Eternal Rules of Warfare and Leadership) in 2022. This publication includes 75 aphorisms carefully selected from ancient texts.
The Indian Navy, too, is embracing changes in its practices, with the launch of INS Vikrant featuring a new naval ensign inspired by the Maratha king Shivaji, signifying a departure from colonial-era symbols. Furthermore, the Navy is considering allowing traditional Indian attire in messes, wardrooms, and institutes.
As Project Udbhav forges ahead, it exemplifies the Indian armed forces’ commitment to preserving and revitalizing India’s rich heritage in the realms of statecraft and warfare.
