Project Udbhav

• 25 Oct 2023

On 21^st October, 2023, India’s Defence Minister, inaugurated the army's "Project Udbhav" (meaning "origin").

Key Points

• Exploring Ancient Military Wisdom: "Project Udbhav" aims to explore the military wisdom found in ancient Indian texts and historical sources.
• It delves into lessons on statecraft, strategy, diplomacy, and warfare from sources like Chanakya's Arthashastra, Kamandaka's Nitisara, and Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural.
• Scope of the Project: The project encompasses a broad range of topics, including how Indian warrior kings defeated Mughal invaders.
• It seeks to draw lessons from these historical events and writings to inform contemporary military practices.
• Revisiting Ancient Wisdom: The project's goal is to revisit India's ancient military thoughts and merge them with modern military practices to address modern security challenges.
• This initiative aligns with the government's broader efforts to promote "Indianisation" in various sectors, including education, health, and science.
• Collaboration with Think Tank: "Project Udbhav" is a collaborative effort between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India, a think tank.
• Incorporating Ancient Wisdom: The project notes that ancient texts like Arthashastra emphasize strategic partnerships, alliances, and diplomacy, aligning with contemporary military practices such as international cooperation and soft power projection.
• Similarly, Thirukkural advocates ethical conduct in all endeavors, including warfare, aligning with modern military codes of ethics.
• Historical Examples: Apart from ancient texts, "Project Udbhav" also explores prominent military campaigns and leaders from India's history.
• It cites examples of empires like Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, and the Cholas, as well as the Ahom kingdom, which successfully ruled for 600 years, repeatedly defeating the Mughals.
• Modern Military Application: The military tactics and knowledge systems from ancient India were also put into practice by historical figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who defeated numerically superior Mughal and Afghan invaders.
• Promoting Indian Heritage: This initiative aims to promote and utilize India's rich military heritage to develop contemporary military strategies and practices.