PROJECT
UDBHAV - DEFENCE & SECURITY
News: Army’s Project Udbhav to rediscover
‘Indic heritage of statecraft’ from ancient texts
What's
in the news?
●
The Indian Army has started an initiative,
named Project Udbhav, to rediscover the “profound Indic heritage of statecraft
and strategic thoughts” derived from ancient Indian texts of “statecraft,
warcraft, diplomacy and grand strategy” in collaboration with the United
Service Institution of India, a defence think-tank.
Key
takeaways:
●
In connection with this, USI will conduct
a Military Heritage Festival on October 21 and 22, to acquaint “future thought
leaders with the dynamics of comprehensive national security with special
emphasis on India’s strategic culture, military heritage, education, modernisation
of security forces and Atmanirbhar Bharat,” according to an Army statement.
Project
Udbhav:
●
Project Udbhav is an initiative set in
motion by the Indian Army to rediscover
the profound Indic heritage of statecraft and strategic thoughts derived from
ancient Indian texts of statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy and grand strategy.
Goal:
●
The goal is to understand the profound
depths of indigenous military systems, their evolution, strategies that have
been passed down through the ages, and the strategic thought processes that
have governed the land for millennia.
Aim:
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The aim of Project Udbhav is not limited
to just rediscovering these narratives, but also to develop an “indigenous strategic vocabulary”,
which is deeply rooted in India’s “multifaceted philosophical and cultural
tapestry”.
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The overall aim is to integrate age-old
wisdom with modern military pedagogy.
Nodal
Ministry
- Ministry
of Defence
Features:
●
It focuses on a broad spectrum including indigenous military systems, historical
texts, regional texts and kingdoms, thematic studies, and intricate Kautilya
Studies.
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The project endeavours to explore India’s
rich historical narratives in the realms of statecraft and strategic thoughts.
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As a part of this process, a panel
discussed the “evolution of Indian military systems, war fighting and strategic
thought”, exploring both current research in the field and the way forward.
○
The panel discussion included a dialogue
on the study of ancient texts from the 4th century BCE to the 8th century CE,
with a focus on Kautilya, Kamandaka, and the Kural.
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By reintroducing these classical teachings
into contemporary military and strategic domains, the Army aims to nurture its officers to apply ancient wisdom in modern
scenarios and also allow a more profound understanding of international
relations and foreign cultures.
Significance:
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Project Udbhav seeks to bridge the historical and the contemporary.
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The initiative stands testimony to the
Army’s recognition of India’s age-old wisdom in statecraft, strategy,
diplomacy, and warfare.