Monday, June 25, 2007

Ways to Tackle Global Terrorism - Lessons from Hindu Scriptures

Ancient Wisdom vis-a-vis Global Terrorism
Ways to tackle as reflected in the Indian Classical Literature
Chanakya
vishwadharma@gmail.com,
Contents

1. Ways of the Terrorists. 1
2. Ancient Hindu Texts and Scriptures. 1
3. Leaders who used Strategic thinking to good use. 2
4. Lessons to solve modern day problems. 2


1. Ways of the Terrorists
Who uses modern technology to maximum advantage? none so effectively as the modern day terrorists. They are technology savvy. They use mobiles, computers, automatic rifles, AK-47, hand grenades etc. They are well trained in ways of treachery, sabotage and brutal killings. They have the advantage of striking first. They have no sympathy for women, children and innocent men. They will hide behind burqas and lady agents. They use the naïve and innocent captors as shields and before they escape leave many innocent people bleeding. Hence the battle against them is difficult and long-drawn and needs intensive training.


2. Ancient Hindu Texts and Scriptures
Ancient Hindu scriptures and texts abound in ways to tackle terrorism. Rajadharma of sage Manu, Puranas by Veda Vyasa, Bheeshmaparva in Mahabharat, Panchatantra stories by Vishnu Sharman, Artha Sastra by Sage Kautilya and the chapter on Arthasastra in Tamil text Tiruk-Kural by Sage Tiru Valluvar give insight into terrorist behaviors, their strengths and weaknesses and ways to defeat them by using valor, intelligence, spying, and intrigues.
In the Puranas there are many stories where Lord Vishnu vanquishes rakshas who are similar to terrorists of these days, well equipped with powerful weapons and boons of near immortality obtained from other devas. In Bheeshma Parva Bheeshmacharya the doyen of Mahabharat educates Yudhishtra on war strategies through illustrations and stories. In Panchatantra Vishnu Sharman tells many animal stories to bring home the point that wit is superior to brute force. Kautilya or Chanakya classified foreign agents and spies as thieves and barbarians. Undoubtedly, Kautilya was the first person who endeavoured to re-interpret and re-orient the Indian perspective of power so as to make it capable of handling the barbaric warfare model of the Hellenistic and Abrahamic civilisations. Sage Tiru Valluvar has elaborated the preparations needed by a leader combating terrorism.


3. Leaders who used Strategic thinking to good use
Lord Krishna in Dwapar Yuga, Chankaya in the 4th century B.C. Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century used the lessons from ancient wisdom successfully to annihilate the wicked and evil forces. Lord Krishna helped Pandavas to defeat the much more powerful kauravas on the battle of Kurukshetra. Chanakya was able to defeat the Greek invader Selucas Nicader the army commander of Alexander, the vanquished. Shivaji, the inventor of guerilla warfare liquidated the Bijapur sulans in the south and the mighty Moghuls in the north by his tactful and intelligent war plans. More recently Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora and Vice Admiral N.S.Krishnan used strategic plannings and dare-devil acts to defeat the combined forces of Pakistan, China and USA with its much dreaded Seventh fleet during the famous 1971 war that freed Bangladesh in a matter of just 20 days. Gen Niazi and his army of 95,000 Pakistnai soldiers surrendered in what can be called the biggest defeats in the annals of modern war history.


4. Lessons to solve modern day problems
Ancient texts are full of wisdom and lessons for several modern day problems. Hence we should go back to the Vedas, the oldest and yet most modern text of the human race. If we do not forget the continuity, we may find solutions to the present troubles. The continuity of history can become a binder for the present and help us stamp out the present stand-off as it did in the days bygone.

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