Category: Best Military Quotes

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114: LEARNING FROM BUDDHA

On 26 May 21 was Buddha Jayanti – 2853rd birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

Buddha was born a rich prince who at the age of 30 renounced all his worldly possessions including his princedom.  He attained enlightenment and preached dharma (duty), nonviolence, harmony and kindness for 45 years. His teachings became the foundation of Buddhism which is the fourth largest religion in the world today. He was considered to be an enlightened teacher rather than a god.

Buddha’s teachings were put to writing in 400 BC. Buddha’s words of wisdom on a number of broad topics have stood the test of time. His quotes are characterised by their precision, profoundness, and pragmatism. My favourite ones (very relevant even in present day scenario) are as follows:

 

On Living

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

 

 

On Happiness

Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think.

 

 

On Spreading Happiness

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

 

 

On Action

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”

 

 

On Anger

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

 

 

On Health

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”

 

“To keep the body in good health is a duty … otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

 

 

On Perseverance

“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”

 

 

On Change

“One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.”

 

 

 On Controlling your Mind

“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”

 

 

 Last two are most relevant in today’s age of social media

 

“People with opinions just go around bothering one another.”

 

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”

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107: लाल टोपी रुसी – दिल हिन्दुस्तानी: Indo – Russian Relations

Indo-Russian Relations

 

 “special and privileged strategic partnership”

 

 Geography and Geopolitics have been binding Russia and India together in the past. However, in the world politics there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests and these also change with time. The deep, traditional and even “time-tested relations” shared for decades cannot be taken for granted. The premise of Indo-Russia relationship has undergone significant changes since the end of the Cold War. The strategic bond that existed between India and the Soviet Union is not the same as that with Russia and has been considerably diluted. Every country places its national interests above anything else, so does Russia. Russia may not be a partner at the earlier level and perhaps we should not expect it either. From the “special and privileged strategic partnership,” we appear to be moving towards a transactional relationship.

 

Defence Cooperation: India-Russia Strategic Partnership in Recess | Vivekananda International Foundation

Pic: Coutesy mapsofindia.com

Defence Cooperation. One of the strong pillar of India-Russia ties has is in the defence field. A close defence relationship with any country is based on trust which takes time to build. A critical issue is risk of interruption in supplies during conflict situations due to political reasons. Russia has been a tried and tested partner in this regard. Russia has been offering advanced defence equipment and sensitive military technologies. Almost 60 – 70 percent of equipment with India’s armed forces is of Russian origin. Sudden decoupling or complete switch to western equipment is not possible.

 

“We need to convert the extraordinary goodwill between India and Russia into a thriving, visible, vigorous, and mutually beneficial economic relationship”.

 

– Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

 

Importance of Relationship. Russia, of course, can no longer provide the kind of political and economic support to India as it did in the Cold War years. For India, Russia is a vital partner for energy security, and defence needs, willing to supply the “cutting-edge technology”. India-Russia relations have not been limited to energy and defence. While defence has been the strongest leg of the bilateral cooperation, there are several other areas in which the two countries cooperate – spanning culture, trade, transportation, education, science and technology, space and nuclear energy etc.

 

“Tolstoy and Gandhi had an indelible effect on each other. Let India and Russia make their relations better by taking inspiration from them. Let both the nations become bigger stakeholders in each other’s development,”

– Indian PM Shri N Modi

 

Way Ahead. India-Russia relations may not be as warm as they were during the Cold War, but both countries remain important for each other in the existing geopolitical scenario. Rapidly changing geo-political and geo-strategic dynamics presents significant challenges but also opportunities that India and Russia can leverage to further invigorate and intensify their relations to mutual advantage. Both the nations should view the relationship in a pragmatic manner, address their differences and divergences and identify fresh areas for cooperation. Many areas exist in which both countries can expand and deepen their relations for mutual benefit. Some suggestions are as follows:-

  • Cooperation could be enhanced in the high technology field including robotics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, space, nuclear energy, biotechnology and hydrocarbons,
  • Other areas of focus could include infrastructure, skill development, agriculture, shipbuilding, railways, aviation, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and deep sea exploration etc.
  • The two countries could cooperate effectively on regional and global issues in multilateral bodies.
  • Both should sustain and further reinforce dialogue at the highest as well as at Ministerial / Senior Official level.
  • Increase people-to-people connectivity, with special focus on the younger generation and cultural sphere. Regular cooperation with the Russian and Indian think tanks and joint publications would create better understanding of each other.

Comments and value additions are most welcome

 

Coming up : Other parts of the Equation

effect of Indo – US,  Russia – Pakistan and China – Russia relations

 

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References:

  1. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/india-must-be-realistic-about-russia-relations
  2. https://theprint.in/opinion/india-russia-less-useful-to-each-other-now-disagreements-will-only-grow/621264/
  3. https://www.orfonline.org/research/india-russia-ties-in-a-changing-world-order-in-pursuit-of-a-special-strategic-partnership-56877/
  4. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-russia-relations-in-a-post-covid-world/
  5. https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/india-russia-relations-face-more-trouble/
  6. https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/isnt-yet-time-write-obituary-india-russia-ties
  7. https://indianembassy-moscow.gov.in/70-years-of-india-russia-relations-a-historic-milestone.php

 

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105: Technology & Warfare Quotes: Lessons

1

Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur.

 

– Giulio Douhet

 

Change before the warfare changes or rather – 

BE THE CHANGE

 

2

It may be said that warfare has acquired a new phase – technological war. In the past, research and development were only preparation for the final and decisive testing of new systems in battle. Today the kind and quality of systems which a nation develops can decide the battle in advance and make the final conflict a mere formality or can bypass conflict altogether.

 

– Gen Bernard Schriever

 

Harness future technology for military use –

NOW

 

3

New conditions require, new solutions new weapons and imaginative methods for maximum application. New Wars are never won in the past.

 

– Douglas MacArthur

 

IDEATE, IDEATE and IDEATE – preferably

OUT OF THE BOX

 

4

An air force is always verging on obsolescence and, in time of peace, its size and replacement rate will always be inadequate to meet the full demands of war. Military air power should, therefore, be measured to a large extent by the ability of the existing air force to absorb in time of emergency the increased requirements of the war together with new ideas and techniques.

 

– Hap Arnold

 

Have a plan A &  have a plan B – More  important

HAVE A OPEN MIND FOR PLAN C

 

5

In military systems, the second step in the development of a radically new concept must be determined after operational deployment. The war fighters will use the system in innovative ways not described in the manuals, and it is this experience that will define the path to revolution.

 

– USAF Scientific Advisory Board

 

Fastest Way to operationalize a weapon or system is – 

Operational Deployment in LIVE EXERCISE

 

Value additions are most  welcome

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