In a significant endeavor, the Indian Army has inaugurated ‘Project Udbhav’ to rekindle the profound heritage of Indian statecraft and strategic wisdom derived from ancient Indian literature. Spearheaded by the military, ‘Project Udbhav’ endeavors to mine insights on statecraft, strategy, diplomacy, and warfare from timeless Indian treatises such as Chanakya’s Arthashastra, Kamandaka’s Nitisara, and the Thirukkural by the Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar.
This project is a pivotal component of a broader governmental initiative to foster “Indianisation” across diverse sectors, encompassing education, healthcare, and scientific pursuits. By delving into the reservoir of ancient Indian philosophical thought, ‘Project Udbhav’ seeks to enrich contemporary military methodologies and tackle the complexities of modern security challenges.
‘Project Udbhav’ stands as a visionary undertaking by the Indian Army, endeavoring to synthesize ancient wisdom with contemporary military practices. Its objective is to craft a distinctive and all-encompassing approach for addressing the demands of contemporary security challenges. The name ‘Udbhav,’ signifying ‘origin’ or ‘genesis,’ epitomizes the Indian Army’s aspiration to revisit the roots of India’s military philosophy. The central mission of the project is to blend age-old wisdom with contemporary military pedagogy.
Embedded in a 5,000-year-old civilization, the ancient Indian knowledge system boasts an extensive collection of texts, the world’s largest manuscript repository, a multitude of scholars, and a diverse range of knowledge domains. ‘Project Udbhav’ is poised to facilitate an extensive exploration of these knowledge systems and philosophies, striving to comprehend their enduring connections, significance, and relevance in the contemporary world.
A striking facet of ‘Project Udbhav’ is its emphasis on ancient Indian texts and teachings, particularly those of Chanakya, the celebrated scholar, educator, economist, and political strategist of ancient India. Chanakya’s teachings on statecraft and warfare hold such significance that they are included in the curriculum of the United States Army War College, a prestigious military institution in Pennsylvania. This underscores the enduring relevance of ancient Indian wisdom in the modern era.
‘Project Udbhav’ serves as a bridge between age-old wisdom and contemporary military tactics, enabling India to confront the evolving security challenges of the 21st century. The project is grounded in the belief that ancient scriptures and writings spanning centuries contain profound knowledge that can substantially enhance modern military strategies.
The launch of ‘Project Udbhav’ coincided with the inauguration of the inaugural edition of the Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi. During this grand event, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the project. The festival functions as a platform to celebrate and showcase India’s rich military heritage, shedding light on the country’s centuries-old military traditions, strategies, and contributions to the field of statecraft.