Indian Strategic Thought

India has a rich strategic heritage that originate from its earliest scripture, the Vedas. The commentaries written by learned sages of yore reflect a deep understanding of kingship, need for strategies and tactics in war, responsible use of force on the enemy, concept of 'dharma' (righteousness) in military conduct, spy craft, forming of political and military alliances, and a host of other aspects that constitute the term strategy as it is understood today. Great Indian epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata and innumerable scholarly literature like the Arthsastra and Tirukkural extensively discourse on kingship, governance, management of treasury, dispensation of justice, diplomacy, organization of the military, relationship with friendly and inimical nations and conduct of war. The principles and concepts contained in these treatises need to be explored in contemporary contexts in order to develop indigenous knowledge systems. Six research papers presented in this book discover Ramadharma Doctrine, Kautilyan Realism and Indian Foreign Policy, Arthsastra and Hybrid Warfare, Mahabharata and the Theory of Just War, Project Udbhav and Modern Indian Military Pedagogy, Kautilya's diplomacy and Indian Foreign Policy, and, Strategic Thought and Military Manoeuvres from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Arthsastra, through substantial research. Praghna Centre for Research is happy to bring out this book to serve as a referral work and promote more substantial research in Indian Knowledge System.

Dr R Srinivasan is the Founder-Director of Praghna Centre for Research, a Coimbatore-based LLP that promotes scientific research among students and emerging scholars in social sciences. He is also the Publisher cum Editor-in-Chief of Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies, an online Open Access research journal. He holds a PhD in Political Sociology and is an internationally published author of over a dozen book chapters and over 30 research articles. Apart from his academic and research activities, he writes and blogs on religion, philosophy, international events, leadership and management. He retired as a Group Captain from Indian Air Force after 33 years of service. He was conferred the Visisht Seva Medal by Hon'ble President of India for Distinguished Service of a high order, in 2012.