The Cartography of Mind and Power
We inhabit an epoch of unprecedented intellectual abundance. This moment represents both the greatest liberation and the most profound crisis in strategic thought history.
Strategic Clarity in the Cyber Domain: Refining India’s Doctrinal Foundation
India’s cyber doctrine is excellent, but one word change would make it even stronger
Drone Carriers – Reshaping Naval Power
For over a century, the aircraft carrier has been the ultimate arbiter of naval power. These 100,000-ton floating fortresses, with price tags exceeding $13 billion, have defined maritime supremacy. Yet, like the battleships they rendered obsolete, carriers now face an existential challenge. This challenge comes from a new class of weapon: the drone carrier.
Kautilya, Clausewitz, and The Eternal Calculus of Power
Clausewitz’s On War, remains the cornerstone of Western military thought. Kautilya’s Arthashastra, older by centuries, offers a broader, more intricate vision. Where Clausewitz dissects war, Kautilya architects power.
The Systems Approach: Redefining Indian Strategy
India’s dreams outpace its deeds. It yearns to rival China, steady the Indo-Pacific, and guide the Global South.
The Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence
By embracing an independent path, India can harness the potential of AI to create a secure nation that contributes to an equitable and secure global order. If we fail to do so, we risk reinforcing existing inequalities and entering an era of unchecked digital imperialism and authoritarianism. Published on NatStrat. https://www.natstrat.org/articledetail/publications/the-geopolitics-of-artificial-intelligence-183.html
Starlink: Threat or Opportunity for Indian National Security?
Starlink’s entry could undermine India’s control over internet services, create dependencies, and enhance U.S. military capabilities in the Indian hinterland. With Starlink and StarShield’s potential for military use, India must focus on maintaining sovereignty over its ICT networks and develop its own satellite constellations.
Stay Behind Party – The Hunter And Hunted
Small teams operating as stay-behind parties in counter terrorism play a crucial role in maintaining pressure on terrorists.
These are some of the most difficult operations, as to stay undetected among hostile populations itself is a major challenge..
Small Team Art: Counter-Terrorist Operations
Small team operations, as depicted in popular cinema, often show heavily armed commandos with night vision goggles, hands-free communication, flash grenades, and even small robots that can enter and detect hidden terrorists with minimal risk.
For Indian troops at the turn of the century, this was a fairy tale. They relied on overwhelming manpower, lights, & generators bought from regimental funds, rocket launchers, & even IEDs to bring down entire structures. But there were a few artists, who relied on instincts and the visualisation of their own troops & terrorist actions to achieve their aims, often with minimal collateral damage.
Surabhi’s Big Fat Mallu Wedding
Surabhi’s nuptials, a union that sparked joy and celebration amongst friends and family alike. Surabhi Santosh, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Col Santosh, a dear friend and mentor, had embarked on a journey to find her match amidst the complexities of her dual career as an actor and lawyer.
Avi’s Wedding – Return to the Naga Hills
Visited my friend Kikru in Kohima. The trip was steeped in Naga culture, from the Sekrenyi festival’s rice beer to wildlife conservation tales at Dzuleke. I learned about the significant reconciliation in Khonoma village, with a strategic takeaway reflecting a stronger Indian-Naga identity and regional ethnic concerns.
Chinese Digital Paw Marks on India’s Critical Infrastructure
The Ides of March has since been used to caution all rulers, that all warnings to a sovereign need to be heeded and only disregarded after proper study. With de-escalation signals emanating from the LAC, a fresh digital salvo with much more strategic punch than salami slicing of the borders greeted India and its policy … Read moreChinese Digital Paw Marks on India’s Critical Infrastructure
The Strategic Perspective On Data Protection
The Data Protection Bill has been withdrawn, with a statement that a ‘comprehensive legal framework is being worked upon’. This is an admission that the legislative effort was piecemeal and was fundamentally flawed. Introspection on the ‘why’ is called for! That there is a long pending legal void on protection of a fundamental right does not … Read moreThe Strategic Perspective On Data Protection
Pegasus snooping scandal and the privacy debate
Published in dailyO on 05-11-2019 WhatsApp, a US company, has notified 1,400 users internationally in various nations. Multiple methods of legal recourse will be attempted by the victims in various legal jurisdictions including India, that will have global political and diplomatic repercussions. The fallout from this scandal might not be containable within Indian officialdom and … Read morePegasus snooping scandal and the privacy debate
Indian Privacy Rights – A Long Wait For Godot
The long wait of the Indian citizen for a law to protect the right to privacy is a wait for Godot. This has come with increasing costs. In this unfolding theatre of the absurd. WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Facebook (infamous for breaching privacy ) has filed a case against the GoI to protect the privacy … Read moreIndian Privacy Rights – A Long Wait For Godot
Celebrating Independence 2020 Under Digital Slavery!!!
August 15, 2020, marked the 74th Independence Day for India. For a civilisational nation with a 5000-year history, 73 years marks just a blip in time. The year 2020; annus horribilis has unique challenges, the ritualistic celebration of Independence, gives a semblance of normality in challenging and difficult times. A global pandemic, disrupted economy and … Read moreCelebrating Independence 2020 Under Digital Slavery!!!
Anything With Nothing
“We, the willing, led by the ambitious, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” Anonymous Spoofs like the above on the original quote by Konstantin Josef Jireček were common in the Rashtriya Rifle units employed … Read moreAnything With Nothing
Interesting Times
‘May you live in interesting times’ is an ancient Chinese curse. The elegance and subtlety of that particular curse are very evident this week as the world slips into interesting times. The Coronavirus and the Russian and Saudi actions on drastically cutting the price of oil while increasing production has delivered twin shocks to the … Read moreInteresting Times
L’Affaire Gen Soleimani
The matter of General Soleimani, when examined jus ad bellum is a unilateral action that violates the rules-based international order that India supports. That said, it won’t be the first time in history that a nation has assassinated an official of another country, nor is it likely to be the last. But as far as the laws that regulate … Read moreL’Affaire Gen Soleimani
We Need A Digital Panchatantra
The Panchatantra is a series of ancient inter-woven Indian fables, many of which deploy metaphors of animals with human virtues and vices. According to its own narrative, it illustrates, for the benefit of three ignorant princes, the central Hindu principles of nīti or ‘the wise conduct of life‘. The Panchatantra is considered a treatise on political science and human … Read moreWe Need A Digital Panchatantra