Author: T G Anandhu Krishnan
The author is a research scholar at MIT SVS, pusruing his Ph D in Vedic Sciences in a topic related to this article.
Abstract
This paper is an initial attempt to show the need of Union in Indian subcontinent by fusing Vedic principles from Kautilya’s Arthashaastra (KA) and Brihaspati Sūtra (BS). European Union (EU) in European continent & African Union (AU) in African continent are formed out of their independent needs and objectives. Indian subcontinent seeks a Union complement to other unions but on indigenous needs mentioned in Vedic shaastras i.e. Territorial Security, Political Sustainability&Psychological Integrity. Only by formulating these objectives in form of a Union, Regional interest can be realized.
Keywords:Union, Indian subcontinent, Territorial Security, Political Sustainability, Psychological Integrity.
Introduction
Nature never created a ‘Union’ or a ‘Nation’ but its integrity exist when people collectively believes and follow that system. Indian subcontinent is such kind of geographical entity having natural boundaries, sharing diverse culture with Yogic background or Spirituality i.e. “Insight into reality” [1] as a common thread of unity. ‘Present is the product of Past’ and taking in consideration of the contemporary situation, there is a need of Union as a political identity in the Indian subcontinent. Or else in Future the indigenous civilization may become the victim of time.
In this 21st century, world shows a trending approach of transforming power from a state to a regional identity, which is relevant for being part of the World-voice. While entities like European Union (EU), African Union (AU) etc. got formed out of their own goals based on their Regional or Continental conditions, in the case of Indian subcontinent the 3 major objectives for Union mentioned by Vedic shaastras are also applicable to current situations from Territorial to Political to Psychological levels, namely,
- Security for Indian subcontinent (Territorial),
- Sustainability among States (Political) &
- Integrity within People (Psychological)
Why Union as a Regional Identity?
From past many millennia the common thread of Unity in diverse Indian subcontinent been followed through education, family and other traditions. Time witnessed multiple kingdoms within Indian subcontinent. Nevertheless, they did not affect the regional identity or its socialintegrity. But, since Alexander’s invasion of 326 BC, the situation began to change and the political system began to play a crucial role in the civilization aspects. This extended till the colonial period and still in result affecting the territorial integrity. The most fundamental idea of Union is that of the people in the region to resolve contradictions between their civilization identity and contemporary political identities.
A Vedic statement mentions:‘shastreNarakshiteraashTreshaastreNachinthaapravartate’. The meaning in this context can be derived as‘Unless a Nation which is not protected through defensive tools will not able to revive its civilization’. So as per Vedic shaastras, the need of Union as a Political tool in the contemporary Indian subcontinent are to be explained on the basis of Territorial Security, Political Sustainability & Psychological Integrity.
1. Territorial Security
Kautilya in his Arthashaastra says “भूमि-गुणानांअपाश्रयःश्रेयान्” meaning “Security is the ultimate quality to be acquired by a territory” [2]. Most Political entities within Indian subcontinent shares an open relation, which has resulted in insecurity to the entire region due to various insecureoperations ongoing in the Indian subcontinent. Only a secured territory can lead to a peaceful atmosphere, where the territorial insecurity will be either by human cause or by natural disasters.
1.1. Natural Disaster
Indian subcontinent have been facing natural disasters due to its location, the tectonic changes andgeographical advantages which A.L Basham in his book ‘A Cultural History of India’stating that ‘the important inheritance is the great chain of the Himalayas, without which the land would be little more than a desert’ [3].
Disasters can affect all dimensions of human civilization, including damages to physical infrastructure and natural ecosystems [4].Repeated earthquakes in the Himalayan states of Bhutan andNepal is due to which located along the active Main Himalayan Thrust arc, where the subducting Indian plate and the overriding Eurasian plate interact [5]. ‘Tsunami events have occurred in the past and will re-occur in the future’ [6] not only in the coastal regions of India and Bangladesh.Flood occurred in Pakistan and the sea level oscillation over islands of Sri Lanka andMaldives caused not by global water-volume changes but by regional dynamic forces[7].All these are showing the need or necessity of cooperation in the regions of Himalaya up to Indian Ocean.
It is likely that the earthquakes in the Himalayan region andthe coasts of the Indian Ocean will always continue to be severely threatened by tsunami events and extreme storms [8]. Because, as mentioned first there is no political distribution made by nature and therefore these disaster may occur beyond the political borders. And the need is a regional understanding and cooperation for taking collective-precautionsandassistance for disaster relief. So, Union in Indian subcontinent is a need to ensure ‘Collective Disaster Management’.
1.2. Hub of Terrorism – A Human Disaster
Indian subcontinent is known as the ‘Hub of Terrorism’. Where terrorism is not an occasional disaster but the main cause of insecurity in the region. Terrorism has 2 aspects: ‘Ideology based’ and‘Ideology based on faith’. History and geography have conspired to make this region the single largest contributor to the growth of Jihadi terrorism as also its major victim [9]. Almost all the political entities in the region experienced the bitter taste of terror except the smallest Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. But the rise of terror can be seen in the southern regions of the peaceful kingdom also.
While looking at the past, there have been many major or minor conflicts among countries or group of countries, this is still continuing in one or the other form, andseems like it will also continue until the end of Human race. But, this may the first time as per any previous records that almost all the countries, unions, along with the UN are holding hands together against a common threat, which is “Terrorism”. Jihadis against a super power will not only seriously destabilize the region but catapult the global threat level several notches up [10].
Indian subcontinent has been the major victim of continues terrorist attacks throughout the past decades. Also, ‘the largest number of people have fought and died in the name of Jihad from this region in last quarter of a century and has over 200 extremist groups and Jihadi organizations of various brands and sizes.’[11] So it is must to share the power to tackle Jihadi terrorism in Indian subcontinent, and bring about a change in the address of being the ‘Hub of Terrorism’.
1.2.1.Ghazwa-e-Hind
Indian subcontinent became a safe haven for terrorist trainings and recruiting processes across the world. Ghazwa-e-Hind referenced to in a hadith or Islāmicprophetic tradition which became one of the major reasons for Jihadi terrorism in Indian subcontinent. AQIS (Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent) by unifying pre-existed Jihadi groups in the Indian subcontinent has since placed the concept of Ghazwa-e-Hind at the centre of their narrative, describing their first major attack at the Naval shipyard in Karachi in September 2014 as giving a clear message that Ghazwa-e-Hind has only just begun [12].
In the socio linguistic linkages of Indian subcontinent, there is a wide-spread prevalence of the idea of ‘Jihadi Terrorism’ even among the common people. Taking this into context, there is a need to prevent the spread of this idea of theological terror, namely, ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ [13], which will disintegrate unity of the territory andpose an insecurity at present and in future to the civilization. Here, Union is a must among this politically separated socio culture of Indian subcontinent to wage ideological war against ‘Jihadi Terrorism’.
In addition, the former Head of India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) andcurrent National Security Advisor Shri. Ajit Doval also stated that ‘Political initiatives have to play a seminal role in complementing the security efforts including exposure of diabolical designs of the terrorists and building a strong civil society support for governmental initiatives’[14]. So Union in Indian subcontinent is a need to ‘Combat Jihadi Terrorism’.
2. Political Sustainability
Kautilya in his Arthashaastra mentions “पितृ-पैतामहंनित्यंवश्यंअद्वैध्यंमहल्-लघु-समुत्थंइतिमित्र-सम्पत्” meaning “The one having Historic-traditional relations with stablity, open to conviction, never falling foul andnon-dualistic approach, being capable of making preparations andwilling to do service at any time, is a best friend” [15]. Indian subcontinent faces lack of these qualities due to political instability. Therefore, only attaining Political sustainability can lead a prosperous Indian subcontinent.
2.1. Traditional Relations for Regional Growth
There are many treaties/agreements signed due to bilateral issues among states in the Indian subcontinent. Continues change in the political situations within the subcontinent have made the relations quite unstable. So, the instability in changing political situations brought about lack of cooperation among entities of the Indian subcontinent. European Union (EU) is an after effect of World War II where Germany and France been shaking hands together for the prosperity of a single identity, viz., Europe. The EU is a leading inter-governmental organization and its success generates among non-members states the desire to participate in the project of European integration[16].
In case of Indian subcontinent, the regional identity should be poked out, which has already there from past relations, to acquire stability in changing political situations by resolving lack of cooperation among entities.It also involves ensuring their economic well-being, covering a long-term environment for durable peace, political stability and cooperation [17]. Thus, volunteering for cooperation is beneficial for both the host and the home countries as it promotes intercultural understanding and therefore promotes conflict prevention [18].
Here Union can play a very effective role in resolving these internal disputes by reviving this relations into a system or a group of institutions in the field of agriculture andeconomics. However, as in most other contemporary civilizations of the world, agriculture was the backbone of Indus economy [19], and investing in infrastructural developments, maintaining the natural ecosystem andimproving traditional skills, easy connectivity with exchange of goods, service and wealthare significant. So also is sharing common resources. So,there is a need for Union in Indian subcontinent for assisting ‘Collective Self-reliance’.
2.2. Grouping Powers against a Common Enemy
In the World of conflicts, we have seen the formations of ‘Group of Powers’ against a powerful or a common enemy. Looking at the past we can see an imperial power ‘the Vijayanagara’ in southern Indian subcontinent formed to protect itself and promote pan-regional identity against a common enemy, in particular the Islamic polities that ruled the northern Deccanwere both Vijayanagara’s foes and its peers [20].
Around today’s world we can see the same formation of ‘Group of Powers’ in a different dimensions in forms of Union, like the African states together to an African Union (AU) as a Power of Pan-Africanism. The pan-Africanist ideals that led to the creation of OAU (Organization of African Unity) in 1963 proceeded from the idea of the African states as strong and united against Colonial subjugation [21], which finally lead to AU. So in the contemporary world, Union also act as a self-protector and a promoter of pan-identity from a Common Enemy.
Looking at the present context of Indian subcontinent, there is a common threat to all the member states in forms of debt trap, demographic tensions andto the state sovereignty. So, it is essential to promote pan-subcontinental identity in the form of Union as a combined power, which can work against China’s accession to the subcontinent and its intervention in the state matters. Thus, Union in Indian subcontinent is a need to ‘Empower Sovereignty’.
2.3. Positioning as Smart Power = Super Power
The world never offers a status of ‘Power’ to any! Instead, it is a position that is acquired. Hard power and Soft power are the two forms of Power. While hard power is coercive power executed through military threats and economic inducements and based on tangible resources such as the army or economic strength, in contrast, soft power is persuasive power deriving from attraction and emulation and grounded on intangible resources such as culture [22].
Literatures, philosophies or darshanas, yoga and even the holistic approach to the ecosystem is been there in Indian subcontinent through indigenous traditions andsocietal system. These determine the strength and therefore the effectiveness of its soft power. Volunteering and intercultural exchanges appear as another kind of soft power that is increasingly used in today’s global politics [23]. This, however, is scattered in Indian subcontinent due to lack of inter-political cooperation. For stitching together of these scattered powers and shaping them into a regional form for reflecting the International face, stable political cooperation is relevant. Overall, it appears that soft power strategies are more effective in the contemporary international system than hard power strategies.
Soft power has weaknesses, in the sense that the strength of soft power is based on its endurance and sustainability [24]. So, it is worth considering the strength of hard power strategies, because sustainability andprotection of soft power can only possible through acquiring hard power. Hard power and soft power are oppositional approaches to power. By combination of existing soft power and cooperating hard power strategies, Indian subcontinent can transform as a Smart power, and has its place in academic debate and international policy making [25].
After the era of British Raj in Indian subcontinent, the independent states had gone through many agreements, treaties andforming regional organization like SAARC, which been majorly inactive [26] or active without much progress. Here is the major role of Union in building the combination of both strategies to a Smart power for contemporary world in impacting international forums and policies as also being as a game changer in the postmodern world with a common voice. So, a Union in Indian subcontinent is a need to transform as an ‘International Power’.
3. Psychological Integrity
Kautilya’sArthashaastra says “चरित्रं-अकृतंधर्म्यंकृतंचान्यैःप्रवर्तयेत्” meaning “To initiate all those customs which are righteous and practised by other (righteous) people” [27]. It is very important to recollect the cause that makes independent personalities bond together as a ‘Family’ or a ‘Society’. Because, even members of the same family being physically together is not a matter of their family bondage. It exists only when their psychological relations towards ‘Being as a Family’ becomes effective. Members of the same family who live far apart are also connected due to their psychological relations and their identity of ‘Being a Family’. This works same in the case of a society and on up to a Nation or a Union. This means that the artificial borders are not important but the psychological bonding is. Here in case of a Nation or a Union, asimilar sense of identity reflects among the citizens due to‘indigenous factors’.
Even in the politically divided sociocultural Indian subcontinent, therecontinue similarities in food, costumes etc.,like consumption of Rotis in Pakistan and wearing of sarees in Nepal, Bangladesh etc. But the people-to-people contact remain untouched, which is also the cause of all internal conflicts and separatism found in Indian subcontinent. In this diverse linguistic tradition, one of the common thread that connects people was the educational system. This yogic system of education promoted the idea of ‘Integral Humanism’ as the common thread of integrity, which can also keep emotional balance and healthy life [28]. This was taught in Samskritam as the main medium. Like how Latin connects the entire Europe, Samskritam acts as ‘the Mother’ to allindigenous languages, were we can still find relations among all regional languages.
3.1. Indigenous Schools for Similar Identity
In 1821, G.L. Prendergast, a British official reported his survey about ‘Indigenous Schools of Education as common, even in small village areas of the entire territory’ to the Bombay governors’ council [29]. But, later this Indigenous Schools of Education discontinued in a wide range due to the historic andpolitical conditions. So, in the politically divided sociocultural unit of Indian subcontinent, to connect people psychologically, intellectually and emotionally through developing their status toa regional identity, Indigenous Knowledge System should be revived and practised.
The world-famous philosopher Max Muller’s remarks in this regard is “Vedic education is a mirror of all education” [30], because apart from subject based content, personality development, character formation, logical and moralistic promotion, intellectual progress, spiritual engagements are basic pillars of indigenous educational pedagogy [31]. And this ‘insight into reality’ or the Yogic system of education was the common thread of integrity within Indian subcontinent. Here comes another basis of Union, as a factor to propagate Indigenous systems among the political entities for a similar identity which results in the Psycho-social integrity. On this basis,Union is a need in the Indian subcontinent to set up ‘Indigenous Knowledge Systems’.
Discussion
The need of a Union in Indian subcontinent has been formulated in this paper by fusing the strategies of Brihaspati Sūtra (BS) andKautilya’sArthashaastra(KA). This indigenous model covers from Territorial to Political and to the Psychological levels, i.e., Territorial security for Indian subcontinent from Jihadi terrorism and Natural disasters; Political sustainability among the states for collective self-reliance, empowering sovereignty and becoming a super or international power; and Psychological integrity within people through propagation Indigenous Knowledge systems.
Territorial Security, Political Sustainabilityand Psychological Integrity are three basic provisions which are interdependent upon and rooted in these above factors. Here a Union can act in multi dimensions comparatively to other models oforganizations. Taking in to consideration these Vedic objectives as the fundamental base stone, an Indigenous model of Union for Indian subcontinent can also be an illustration for other world Unions, because Vedic objectives are universally applicable and are beyond place and time.
Conclusion
A Union is the need of today to transform Indian subcontinent from current state of insecurity (kshaya) to sustainability (sthaana) andto progress of integrity (vRddhi) [32] i.e. to remove the Territorial insecurity – kshaya, by attaining sthaanathrough Political sustainability, which results in vRddhithrough Psychological integrity. This is the roadmap this model conceives. Yet, there is a misconception that the concept of morality or spirituality is not appraisable with the ongoing reign of capitalism.But the objectives of Vedic shaastras and theirDharmicmodel introduced herein shows its applicabilityeven in this postmodern world. It also promotes the Union to emerge as a soft power capable of establishing itself as a super-power.
Appendix
(1.1.) नाभाविव्यसनंपूर्वंज्ञात्वाव्यसनप्रतीकारंकार्यमितिगुरुराह ॥ BS 4-50॥
(1.2.)लोकविरुद्धंनाचरेत्|| BS 5.16 ||
(1.2.1.)प्रवर्तयेन्नचाधर्म्यंकृतंचान्यैर्निवर्तयेत्|| KA १३.५.२४च्द्||
(2.1.)मध्येचान्ते च स्थानवानात्म-धारणःपर-धारणश्चऽपदिस्व-आरक्षःस्व-आजीवःशत्रु-द्वेषीशक्य-सामन्तःपङ्क-पाषाण-उषर-विषम-कण्टक-श्रेणी-व्याल-मृग-अटवी-हीनःकान्तःसीता-खनि-द्रव्य-हस्ति-वनवान्गव्यःपौरुषेयोगुप्त-गोचरःपशुमानदेव-मातृकोवारि-स्थल-पथाभ्यांउपेतःसार-चित्र-बहु-पण्योदण्ड-कर-सहःकर्म-शील-कर्षकोअबालिश-स्वाम्य्-अवर-वर्ण-प्रायोभक्त-शुचि-मनुष्यइतिजन-पद-सम्पत्।। KA ०६.१.०८ ।।
(2.2.)संघाहिसंहतत्वादधृष्याःपरेषां।। KA ११.१.०२ ।।
(2.3.)ताभिरभ्युच्चितोज्यायान्भवति।अपचितोहीनः।तुल्य-शक्तिःसमः।। KA ०६.२.३५ ।।
(3.1.)भूत-पूर्वेयेनदोषेणापवृत्तस्तंप्रकृति-दोषंछादयेत्।येनचगुणेनौपावृत्तस्तंतीव्री-कुर्यात्इति।। KA १३.५.२२ ।।
(Conclusion)यदिवामन्येत “नास्मिशक्तःपर-कर्माण्युपहन्तुम्।स्व-कर्म-उपघातंवात्रातुम्” इति।बलवन्तंआश्रितःस्व-कर्म-अनुष्ठानेनक्षयात्स्थानंस्थानाद्वृद्धिंचऽकाङ्क्षेत।। KA ०७.१.३६ ।|
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