01-13-2004, 04:10 AM
IGNITING STRATEGIC MINDSETS IN INDIANS : A Book Review
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South Asia Analysis Group
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Paper no. 657 09. 04. 2003
IGNITING STRATEGIC MINDSETS IN INDIANS : A Book Review
By Dr S Chandrasekharan.
âINDIAâS DEFENCE POLICIES AND STRATEGIC THOUGHT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSISâ by Dr. Subhash Kapila, NOIDA, Simsid Books, 2003. pp 184
Here is a tract from a straight talking, straight shooting, thinking soldier. These qualities I suspect were the ones that stood in the way of Dr Subhash Kapila reaching greater heights in his Army career.
Dr Subhash Kapila is no stranger to the readership of the South Asia Analysis Group of which he is the Consultant, Strategic Affairs. He has made extensive contributions in terms of analytical papers on International Relations and Strategic Affairs.
The last sentence in this book states: âIf this book could ignite a strategic mindset in all Indians and make them conscious of matters connected with national security, the end aim would have been achieved.â Towards this end this book has made an admirable effort to present complex national security issues in a manner facilitating easy comprehension by even an average lay reader.
Dr Subhash Kapila maintains in this book that:
* India after more than half a century of independent existence faces today multiple threats to her security both external and internal. These threats have grown exponentially.
* Threats to Indiaâs security have arisen because India all along has been apologetic to the acquisition of military power and has shied away from using military power to protect her national security interests. India needs the WILL to use power.
* Indiaâs âSoft Powerâ image has therefore invited aggression in every decade of the last 50 years.
* Successive Indian Governments have always tackled threats to Indiaâs security in a reactive manner rather than a pro-active manner, commensurate with her national power attributes available in plenty.
* In the absence of strategic culture in Indiaâs political leadership and lack of political culture which gives national security and military preparedness over-riding priority, it falls on the average Indian citizen to sensitise himself to matters military relating to Indiaâs national security, namely: WAR, STRATEGY, NATIONAL POWER & MILITARY POWER and THREAT ASSESSMENTS.
* Then only will future Indian Governments be responsive to Indian public opinion on national security issues and not shroud them in a veil of secrecy.
Each chapter of the book, therefore provides a grasp of the subjects listed above. Rather, than deliver a theoretical monologue, the author has chosen to devote the first part of each chapter in articulating strategic thought of noted strategists and thinkers on military security in original with some amplification. The second part of each chapter is a comparative analysis of Indiaâs defence policies in relation to strategic thought and has attempted to interpret how defiance of strategic logic has cost India dearly in the past. The author frankly maintains that the interpretations in the comparative analysis are his own and therefore open to debate.
The concluding chapter has been titled as âPRESCRIPTIONS FOR INDIAâS NATIONAL SECURITYâ and focuses on vital issues like: Indiaâs Need for Strategic Vision, Indiaâs Strategic Culture: The Need for Reinvention, Indiaâs Foreign Policy: The Will to Use Power, Indiaâs National Honour: The Need for Sensitivity, Indiaâs Political Governance: The Need for a Qualitative Change and Indiaâs Need for Declaratory Strategic Doctrines drawing âRed Linesâ for adversaries not to cross. These are thought provoking. One may not agree fully with the analysis or even some of the statements made by the author on the political leadership since independence. But, what is admirable is his courage of conviction and his forthright and fearless views on matters of national importance.
The book should go a long way in igniting a strategic mindset in all Indians and is a recommended reading for all those tasked with Indiaâs national security and all others who are sensitive about Indiaâs national security.
********************************************************
The book can be obtained from
SIMSID BOOKS Price
G-628 Ram Vihar
Noida- 201313 India
Tel: ++91-120- 2456040
1. India: Rs 395* Defence Services: Rs 295* (*Rs 50 postage extra )
2.Overseas: US $18(inclusive of air freight charges)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Asia Analysis Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper no. 657 09. 04. 2003
IGNITING STRATEGIC MINDSETS IN INDIANS : A Book Review
By Dr S Chandrasekharan.
âINDIAâS DEFENCE POLICIES AND STRATEGIC THOUGHT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSISâ by Dr. Subhash Kapila, NOIDA, Simsid Books, 2003. pp 184
Here is a tract from a straight talking, straight shooting, thinking soldier. These qualities I suspect were the ones that stood in the way of Dr Subhash Kapila reaching greater heights in his Army career.
Dr Subhash Kapila is no stranger to the readership of the South Asia Analysis Group of which he is the Consultant, Strategic Affairs. He has made extensive contributions in terms of analytical papers on International Relations and Strategic Affairs.
The last sentence in this book states: âIf this book could ignite a strategic mindset in all Indians and make them conscious of matters connected with national security, the end aim would have been achieved.â Towards this end this book has made an admirable effort to present complex national security issues in a manner facilitating easy comprehension by even an average lay reader.
Dr Subhash Kapila maintains in this book that:
* India after more than half a century of independent existence faces today multiple threats to her security both external and internal. These threats have grown exponentially.
* Threats to Indiaâs security have arisen because India all along has been apologetic to the acquisition of military power and has shied away from using military power to protect her national security interests. India needs the WILL to use power.
* Indiaâs âSoft Powerâ image has therefore invited aggression in every decade of the last 50 years.
* Successive Indian Governments have always tackled threats to Indiaâs security in a reactive manner rather than a pro-active manner, commensurate with her national power attributes available in plenty.
* In the absence of strategic culture in Indiaâs political leadership and lack of political culture which gives national security and military preparedness over-riding priority, it falls on the average Indian citizen to sensitise himself to matters military relating to Indiaâs national security, namely: WAR, STRATEGY, NATIONAL POWER & MILITARY POWER and THREAT ASSESSMENTS.
* Then only will future Indian Governments be responsive to Indian public opinion on national security issues and not shroud them in a veil of secrecy.
Each chapter of the book, therefore provides a grasp of the subjects listed above. Rather, than deliver a theoretical monologue, the author has chosen to devote the first part of each chapter in articulating strategic thought of noted strategists and thinkers on military security in original with some amplification. The second part of each chapter is a comparative analysis of Indiaâs defence policies in relation to strategic thought and has attempted to interpret how defiance of strategic logic has cost India dearly in the past. The author frankly maintains that the interpretations in the comparative analysis are his own and therefore open to debate.
The concluding chapter has been titled as âPRESCRIPTIONS FOR INDIAâS NATIONAL SECURITYâ and focuses on vital issues like: Indiaâs Need for Strategic Vision, Indiaâs Strategic Culture: The Need for Reinvention, Indiaâs Foreign Policy: The Will to Use Power, Indiaâs National Honour: The Need for Sensitivity, Indiaâs Political Governance: The Need for a Qualitative Change and Indiaâs Need for Declaratory Strategic Doctrines drawing âRed Linesâ for adversaries not to cross. These are thought provoking. One may not agree fully with the analysis or even some of the statements made by the author on the political leadership since independence. But, what is admirable is his courage of conviction and his forthright and fearless views on matters of national importance.
The book should go a long way in igniting a strategic mindset in all Indians and is a recommended reading for all those tasked with Indiaâs national security and all others who are sensitive about Indiaâs national security.
********************************************************
The book can be obtained from
SIMSID BOOKS Price
G-628 Ram Vihar
Noida- 201313 India
Tel: ++91-120- 2456040
1. India: Rs 395* Defence Services: Rs 295* (*Rs 50 postage extra )
2.Overseas: US $18(inclusive of air freight charges)