In ancient times, borders were mostly broad, frontier zones that allowed for transition from one Kingdom or territory to another. But today, well defined and clearly demarcated and mutually accepted borders, as being in the interest of each, are what lead to good relations with neighbours.

As the adage goes, -’Good fences’(Borders) lead to good neighbourly relationships.Settling the borders and understanding the value of ‘MANTHAN’ / Cooperative type attitude is long overdue. Border demarcation, after comprehensive, on-ground survey of our entire Northern Border, from the Myanmar-China-India border point in the east to the China-Pakistan- India border point in the west, with due inputs from the Military posted along the Border, clearly demarcating our points of interest and the heights we need to occupy to protect them. The boundary line should be in the valley beyond such heights. The adversary would then occupy the next ridge or heights and therefore the valley in between would remain a ‘NO-MAN’S LAND’ and which would thereafter prevent ‘nibbling’ or ‘Fait accompli’ actions which cannot be acceptable by either side. This was done in 2012 to 2014, and the details of the Survey were shared with China. Follow -up action is now required to implement it.

So too with our other neighbours, Pakistan, Myanmar,Nepal, Bhutan,Tibet and Bangladesh. With these countries too we need to settle or even re-draw our borders to remove any of the errors or the contentious issues of old borders drawn haphazardly by the withdrawing British and, finalize them so as to properly resolve all such errors and issues, especially in view of the regional conflicts within their existing borders, with break away factions.

It is not easy to know if any of our neighbours will ultimately be a friend or foe.Hence we should aim to work insidiously with each of them, trying to build bi-lateral relationships in dozens of ways in the international context, so as to shape their interaction with us, thus creating new tactics and new relationships as sources of indirect leverage.

“Grand Strategy is simply the level at which knowledge and persuasion, or in modern times, intelligence and diplomacy,interact with military strength to determine outcomes in a world of other States with their own grand strategies” – Edward Luthwak

We should pursue an all encompassing Grand Strategy to deal with our neighbours. Preferably by what Joshua Cooper Ramo terms, ‘Effects Diplomacy’. This calls for encouraging people to people and cultural contacts and a mesh of mutual trade pacts and even encouraging the setting up of manufacturing or infrastructure companies and other assets within our Country. This will deter them from any action which then could result in greater economic loss to them. If the neighbour, or even a non-neighbour foreign country seeks to be listed in the Indian Stock Exchange, then at least 49,or perhaps even upto 74 percent of the equity shares must be allocated to the Indian Public. To make such investments attractive, easing Regulations and simplifying the Taxation would be a good step. (See- Comments on I.T. & G.S.T.).

Our strategy should always be based on deterrence from a position of strength and with our interests having primacy – India / Bharat first, even as we are considerate of others interests. Hence it is essential that we build an appropriate military using, to the best advantage, all the technological advances, innovations and systems of this Information and Technology Age in a self-reliant – ‘Atma Nirbhar’ manner. Our strategy should then also be based, not on a ‘Tug of War’ policy but on the ‘Manthan’ policy – the ancient Asian way of dealing with neighbours.

MANTHAN POLICY

‘Manthan’ – not ‘Tug of War’ , the Asia way of dealing with neighbours.

The western and communist concept of progress was, and even today is, based on the ideas of scarcity, competition, domination through War, and ensuring prosperity for themselves, through piracy, looting, enslaving of others and expansion of their territory by occupation, at a severe cost to the original people of that region. This of course soon led to a situation where the hold of their Military on the assimilated lands could not be economically maintained and, therefore, to the inevitable collapse of the Empires.

This contrasts greatly with that of the Indian idea of civilization and progress. Progress through Wars, followed by pillage and looting, was not an Indian concept or way. There is no record, across the past many millennia, of Indian Kings conquering and taking over other kingdoms and resorting to loot and pillage. Infact, in many historic stories, farmers were said to continue to plough their fields close to active Battle grounds, confident that the rules of Dharma would not permit them to be harmed. Of course, Wars were indeed, and often resorted to by the Indian Rulers too, but only to resolve problematic issues or to establish vassalage. Generally, the defeated King or his relative, was allowed to continue as the Ruler. Acceptance of the Culture and Knowledge, ‘Soft Power’, was what spread the Indian influence over much of Asia, especially South-East Asia. This led to greater trade, exchange of ideas and greater prosperity for all. Ancient China, to some extent, and for limited period, also practiced such a policy.

The Indian way of war and progress was based on Dharma/ethics, cooperation, with the attitude of ‘Manthan’/ Cooperation. The idea of using a rope, not for a ‘Tug of War’ but to use it to together churn the ocean of possibilities that exist between the Nations, thus leading to greater and continuous abundance for all, and valuing the pursuit of knowledge not only for progress but also for its spiritual benefits. Generally, a ‘Tug of War’, or actual war, between two reasonably equally matched forces, would leave even the winner exhausted, and the victory would only be a Pyrrhic one.

This is what the story of the ‘Asuras’ and ‘Devas’, from our ancient tales tell us. Of the Samudra Manthan they undertook together and the many benefits they collectively got from that. This attitude enabled the culture and the Indian civilization to continue even long after the many individual Kings died or were replaced, and their lands assimilated, mostly peacefully, into that of the other Kingdoms and, for the spread of the Indian culture by voluntary acceptance by the locals there. This is why the Indian civilization is the only civilization, across the world, that has still continued to exist over millennia. Even today this difference, between the Western/Communist way, and the Indian way, is evident in their respective approach to progress and manner of dealing with others. It is this attitude of ‘Manthan’, and not that of a ‘Tug of War’, that we should now encourage and work with, to enable better use of available resources and generate abundance for All.

DEALING WITH CHINA

There is no reason why our two countries, India and China, cannot work together to take advantage of our respective strengths, China mostly in Manufacturing and Infrastructure and India mostly in Services and Culture. India can offer access to the Indian ocean through its territory, even POK and Aksaichin, to China, on payment of a cess on all goods or tourist traffic using such access. So too, China can offer India access to Central Asia and even beyond to Russia, Europe, Korea, and Japan, on similar terms. All Corporations or infrastructure or IT facilities, set up in each other’s country, should be mandated to employ at least 70 percent of the local citizens, at all levels below Board level and at least one -third at the Board level.

This Manthan policy, of working together versus the ‘Tug of War’ policy of working against each other, is now being explained to China as being beneficial to both countries and as being in line with our historic attitudes, and as having proved successful – before the incidence of Communism, with its western/communist mindset of a ‘Zero-sum’ game of winner takes all. In this world of Technological Progress, it will ensure better utilization of the strengths of each to provide Abundance for ALL. Hopefully, better sense can prevail and the historic and successful Asian way to work together to resolve any issues and ensuring harmony will be recognized as the best way. Such an Asian way will be an example to the rest of the World.

Unfortunately, the Chinese, being a communist country, has so far, over 11 years since the Manthan concept was first mooted to them by President Pranab Mukherjee, not been able to understand the concept. Their militaristic mind-set fails to grasp the advantages of co-operation, of cultural and people -to-people contacts, and of working together. Therefore, we may need to wait till the attitude of the Government, or the Government itself, changes. All the while being ready to protect our interests, even as we continue to look forward to China soon recognizing the value and benefits of the Manthan Policy, being an extension of the historic Asian way, that benefits both the Countries, and it being willing to implement it in dealing with India. If however, it does not do so, then we will no option but to deal with it as it calls for.

DEALING WITH PAKISTAN

Take up all possible water storage and management projects in J & K as allowed under the Indians Water Treaty of 1960 to avoid Pakistan taking undue advantage of the as is biased Indus Water Treaty. If deemed necessary, be prepared to re-negotiate, the Indus Water Treaty. If any untoward reaction is made by Pakistan, then we can justifiably takeover POK. Anyway taking back the POK, Gilgit – Baltistan area is already an announced aim of our Parliament.

We should also cancel the one-sided Free Trade Agreement that we have offered to them.

We should also support Balochistan, Sindh support the Baluchistan, Sindh, Pashtun freedom movements. Once they are free, we can deal with each appropriately, to ensure that there remain no pending issues that will cause disruptions later.

(See – Pakistan and J&K – The real issue – and how India can react to Pakistan based Terrorism at www.ideaz4india.in)

If Pakistan continues it’s terrorist operations in India, it becomes time to declare Pakistan a Terror State and deal with it accordingly.

DEALING WITH BANGLADESH, MYANMAR AND OTHER NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES

Settle the border issues, considering the benefits of ensuring the integrity of the areas occupied by the related populations, now divided by wrongly drawn borders by the British.Pursue the Grand Strategy and Manthan Policies as appropriately applicable.

Note: If any of the Countries or some Enclaves of them that have broken away from these Countries, now seek recognition and support in matters of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Currency exchange valuation etc., and special relationship with India, we should consider doing so as may be appropriate.

Dealing/ Working with Artificial Intelligence, is it a danger or a boon to Humanity?

Too many persons in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) , from John McMCarthy, Elon Musk, Sam Altman and others, have justifiably expressed their fear that AI may soon develop into becoming a serious threat to Humanity itself. But, they and others have not been able to suggest a way to avoid this happening.

AI works on algorithms designed by Humans to access information from the data it is exposed to, and reach its conclusions, and even act on them. Given that much of such data/ philosophies are from the Western World of Marxist, Kantian,Nietzsche etc mostly espousing a way of progress, through Competition and Domination with the concept of a Zero- Sum game, especially when seeking political power, ways of governance, social interactions and also shortchanging the importance of morals and ethics, it is not surprising that their fears have some basis.

In the 1960’s Issac Asimov, in his Robot series of science fiction books, had tried to address this problem and came up with the Laws of Robotics, first three laws then added a fourth law and then even a Zeroth law, clearly showing that such laws written in any language cannot comprehensively deal with the issue. Though the best human language could be Sanskrit as it follows strict rules of grammar and logic and allows no misinterpretation of words or meaning and has a relatively unlimited capacity to expand, generate new words with great clarity. It is recognized as the best human language to interface with Computer language.

But we need a better and a self-reinforcing way to better guide the AI in its search for answers. We need to teach Dharmic Philosophy to AI and imbue in it the attitude of cooperation and collaboration, rights, obligations, ethics and morality in the algorithms it is fed by us, and direct it to find answers and solutions that live up to these concepts. To be aware of the consequences of its recommendations or actions and measure them on the understanding and scale of Karma, as beneficial or otherwise to humans.

China had set up Confucius Centres across the world to push awareness of their ancient philosophy even as they themselves did not practice it. But that philosophy is not really good enough for such a purpose. These Centres were more for cultural activities, though they spouted quotes and extracts from their Philosophers,Confucious and Sun Tzu.

It is now time for us to set up Dharma Cultural Centres all across India and even across the world to not only raise awareness of the Dharmic Culture, leading to a ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (World is one Family) also imbibing the concept of ‘Ubuntu’ (I am because we are), but in this day of AI to also teach Dharmic Philosophy to AI, to imbue in it the attitude of cooperation and collaboration instead of the western philosophy concept of a zero sum game, of competition and domination, as it surveys all data and works out the answers we ask of it.

Even as it later develops a more autonomous capability. Sieved through such a Dharmic filter, it will weigh in the Karmic consequences and never be a danger to Humanity. Just a great addition to our capabilities ! …. Major P.Tuhinikar Choudary

– JAI BHARAT! -JAI HIND! –