Coming from you I take it as a sincere compliment and I thank you for that. The reason for starting a blog was to write on diverse topics. Writing for someone inhibits an individual. I have been prodded for what you have asked and I will look into the possibility and if i have the ability to do so. Thanks for appreciating. Your views are always a welcome for me.
A very informative article: just as Sun Tzu was able to simplify the complex within about 90-odd pages, you, too, have done as well in the summary and then in relating his strategic principles to the Russo-Ukraine war. When, many moons ago, I read of Arthashastra offered by L N Rangarajan (IFS), after reading Sun Tzu or rather Sun Tao offered by General Tao Hanzhang, I had the impression that Kautilya outdistances Sun Tao in matters military, ranging from strategy to tactics. What’s your take on this? What did your Command and Staff DSs have to say on this, if anything?
Gill sahab thank you for your quick response. and i am sorry i have been away for a while. travelling. i had in my conclusion added kautilya's arthashatra as a comparative analysis, but withdrew it as it was not gelling with the backdrop of ukraine-russia conflict. what i had stated was : while sun tzu wrote his treatise almost a 200 years before arthashatra, yet art of war concerned only matters related to warfare and nothing more. Where as arthshastra was a complete guide on governance. it included all the facets warfare included.Hence it was a superior book. But i also said that they cannot be compared as emphasis for one was on warfare where as the other was on governance.
Gill Sahab: You give far too much credit to my intellect. I would write what you mention the day i could state with confidence i have understood Chankaya and his Arthshastra. I will attempt then. But kind of you to goad me. I would look fwd to it. Rgds.
Well analysed sir. The sheer breadth of your writings amazes me.
You are right that Arthashastra is a treatise on governance, but would exhort you to cull out the war fighting part of it and analyse the same.
Dear Anupam :
Coming from you I take it as a sincere compliment and I thank you for that. The reason for starting a blog was to write on diverse topics. Writing for someone inhibits an individual. I have been prodded for what you have asked and I will look into the possibility and if i have the ability to do so. Thanks for appreciating. Your views are always a welcome for me.
Must read article, informative and comprehensively covered the techniques of warfare.
Thank you Minal. Nice to see you back on the dashboard.
A very informative article: just as Sun Tzu was able to simplify the complex within about 90-odd pages, you, too, have done as well in the summary and then in relating his strategic principles to the Russo-Ukraine war. When, many moons ago, I read of Arthashastra offered by L N Rangarajan (IFS), after reading Sun Tzu or rather Sun Tao offered by General Tao Hanzhang, I had the impression that Kautilya outdistances Sun Tao in matters military, ranging from strategy to tactics. What’s your take on this? What did your Command and Staff DSs have to say on this, if anything?
Gill sahab thank you for your quick response. and i am sorry i have been away for a while. travelling. i had in my conclusion added kautilya's arthashatra as a comparative analysis, but withdrew it as it was not gelling with the backdrop of ukraine-russia conflict. what i had stated was : while sun tzu wrote his treatise almost a 200 years before arthashatra, yet art of war concerned only matters related to warfare and nothing more. Where as arthshastra was a complete guide on governance. it included all the facets warfare included.Hence it was a superior book. But i also said that they cannot be compared as emphasis for one was on warfare where as the other was on governance.
Thank you sir but, one day, if the spirit moves you, you might consider retrieving warfare from Kautilya and .....!!
Gill Sahab: You give far too much credit to my intellect. I would write what you mention the day i could state with confidence i have understood Chankaya and his Arthshastra. I will attempt then. But kind of you to goad me. I would look fwd to it. Rgds.
Superb reply sir, but I remain optimistic!
Sun Tzu's principles of War continue to be relevant today which has been aptly brought out by you. A very well analyzed article.
Thank You sir for liking and putting your comments. means a lot. Thanks.