THE CHINESE PARALLEX

Indians suffer from an acute Sinophobia. These fears reflect almost everywhere, from our domestic to foreign policy.

We see the Chinese engagement of Pakistan as an evidence of a sinister design. As a strategic counter balance to India. This may be the aim plus for the Chinese but the aim certainly is something else. So when the Chinese say, that India is a low priority threat, they are not lying. Chinese aspirations are aimed high. They extend beyond the horizons of Indian Ocean. Chinese believe they are a global power, and their vision depicts the same.

Pakistan, (With apologies to Quid- e- Azam) is a love child of US and UK. It was crafted with Intent to ensue the Anglo-Yankee footprint intact in Indian subcontinent. It cannot be sheer coincidence that two nations, Pakistan & Israel were created at the end of the Second World War. Both nations were crafted on the religious overtones. One Flanks the oil rich Arabia and Middle East from West & the other lies at the Eastern extremity. Both Nations have been in a constant state of conflict, increasing their dependability on the White Man’s Cartel.

In the days of cold war, (and before), both nation acted as a counter balance the Soviet threat. The Soviet threat receded with the end of the cold war. A new threat emerged for the White Man’s Cartel, the Peoples Republic of China.

As a result of Sino Indian conflict India initiated its pro west leaning. This encouraged China to absorb Pakistan in its fold. The condomisation of Pakistan by west, post its use in Afghan War pushed Pakistan further into PRCs fold. As on today, Sino-Pak Alliance is a natural bonding whereas US- Pak relationship appears to be forced one.

The Achilles heel of China lies to its West. It is where the ethnic minorities of Uighur and Tibetan dwell. These areas form a geographical continuity with the trouble torn Central Asia. Uprising of one community may fuel uprising of the other. These fear rally greatly in the mind of Sino strategist.

To check this China needs a Geographic buffer which coincides with the Northern Areas of Pakistan. This is where PRC is making investments in infrastructure development. By increasing a footprint in northern areas PRC can effectively check the growth of Islamic radicalization of Uighur. The continuity of Northern Areas to Wakhan corridor gives PRC a presence in Afghan battlefield as an independent player. In future the region is likely to act as a regulator for energy outflow from CAR.

PRC needs a remote to control Uighur Islamic Fundamentalist, which ISI provides. ISI provides a proxy to PRC for supporting Taliban & Al Qaida networks. It needs a counterbalance to US presence in Gulf, which is provided by Pakistan in general and Gwadar in particular. Gwadar also provides PRC physical continuity to Iran. To remain viable PRC needs Pakistan to be on its right side.

To keep Pakistan along PRC needs to appear Anti India. Moreover posturing anti India also takes care of the Tibetan issue.

Chinese assistance to Pakistan is not intended to threaten India, but to dislodge USA. It is by nuclear proliferation to Pakistan and DPRK PRC has been able to divert energies of USA which otherwise could have been used to make it unstable
.
A new Great Game is unfolding in the barren outcrops of Baluchistan. It is being played between the White Man’s Cartel & PRC. The Game extends into Afghanistan. If the things go the way PRC has envisaged, Iran- Pakistan –China pipeline will come up in no time. Gwadar will expand as a fully operational Sino-Pak (maybe Iran) naval base and the western hegemony will erode.
US is leaving no stones unturned to counter this design. Its presence in Pakistan is ensuring indefinite delay in the realization of this dream.

It is a matter of speculation, who plays the pawns on this checkerboard. Both are playing with intent to checkmate each other. Pakistan unfortunately continues to play the role of a checker board.

India is breeding a disillusion of being a player in this game. The truth is we have no role to play. We as a country are being used as a paperweight by the players to fix the board to the table. We are being pampered by US and coerced by China to stay as we are where we are.

If we can accept this fact, we can change the game.

THE FEDERATION OF REPUBLICS OF SOUTH ASIA

To begin with, this idea is Utopian. Impossible, many will conclude. Some will rubbish it. Only a few dreamers will acknowledge its merit.

The recipe for partition of India was perfect. The nation, divided by religion detonated into a violent paroxysm. The effect was so profound that the cause was forgotten. Soon, the invasion of Kashmir orchestrated by the British overlords sealed the fates of the new born nations with distrust and hatred. It was done to ensure the presence of Anglo –American alliance in South East Asia.

The hatred for each other propelled them on a trajectory of immolation. The divided nations fought four wars impeding own progress.

Today, Pakistan stands on a tower of Babble and India struggles towards self-esteem. The fingers are pointed at each other in a blindfolded game of ping pong.
What has been achieved by the 63 years of acrimony?
Has Pakistan achieved what it was created for?
Is India anywhere close to Gandhian vision of Swaraj?

The Answer is NO.

If a policy has failed to produce results for 63 years it certainly needs a re look.


A De Novo Look

Let us first acknowledge that the Partition of India was a British Design. The so called “Two Nation Theory,” was a proxy to spark animosity between the Hindus and Muslims. The Partition of India and Pakistan was a Historical Blunder and needs revision. This is the first and foremost step.

Once this is accepted by both nations the Kashmir issue becomes redundant.

Then we must rework towards restorations of relations as on 1st of January 1947. The Canal network, the Rail and road networks should be reopened. Travel and trade restrictions should be removed. The Punjabi & Sindhi Cultures will be the catalyst in this progress.

Then reintegration of the Armies should be worked upon. Firstly all operational units should return to peace location. Then a joint command should be established for international commitments. A unified Naval Command should be established for protection of SLOCS in Arabian Sea. A joint Air Logistics Command to be established for support of sea and ground forces. This should be followed by military exchange programs and joint maneuvers.

The Nations should withdraw from commonwealth till the Crown does not submit an apology for Partition and blood bath thereafter.

On sports front a joint team should be fielded for Olympics & Asian Games.
Once this has been achieved the issue of Kashmir should be worked out. Joint Investment should be made in development of Kashmir and Northern Areas by tapping Hydro Electric Potential. Needless to say tourism will boom.


Federalisation

After achieving the desire degree of maturity the process of fadrelisation should began. This should began with restructuring of Indian Union by giving further autonomy to its constituent states including Kashmir and Pakistan extending similar autonomy to its constituents. Once this has been accomplished, the Indian state of Kashmir and Pakistan state of Kashmir, and northern areas should be merged into single state. Punjab provinces of both nations should be open to same if the people desire so.

Once this is achieved, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives should be invited to be a part of the federation.

Federal Authority. This should be followed by establishment of Federal Authority. This will constitute representatives of Government of the constituent state. The Joint Headquarters of Defence Forces, Office of foreign Affairs & Economic Commission will work under federal authority.

Peoples Parliament .The federal authority will oversee the election of the people’s parliament as per the method in vogue in the state. The people’s parliament will be the apex body which will work out a constitution and approve recommendations of federal authority.

The present system of Central and State Assembly of constituent nations will continue. The Federal authority will allocate annual budget to the constituent nations after catering for the federal list issues. The Budget will be approved by people’s parliament. When the countries deem fit the central government of the constituent states can be dissolved. This will bring the Stated directly under People’s Parliament.

Common Market and Currency. The integrated market will be protected by cultural and traditional property rights. A common currency will facilitate free trade.



Geo- Strategic- Economic Challenges.

The Fedralisation of South Asia will dissolve the sphere of Influence of Hegemonic West. With integrate Defence Forces this will become the third largest power block, second largest economy, largest human resource, and largest intrinsic market in the world. The Oil Rich Gulf region and resource rich CAR will be under direct influence of this federation. 90% of SLOC of world oil trade will cross its EEZ.

Needless to say Five Armored Divisions, Twenty Corps,7000 tanks,1500 combat air crafts,50 Submarines of different kind, three carrier battle groups, 2 million strong professional experienced army will give sleepless nights to many nations. The odd 200 nuclear detonation devices and the delivery quadrate (Land, Air, Sea and Space) will cater for Maximum Credible Deterrence.

Religious Issues. This secular Federation with the largest, Hindu, Muslim population of the world will alter all religious dynamics. The Global Islamic Jihad will take browbeating .Saudi Arabia will be forced to hand over its Khalifat of Islamic nations to this Federation.

People Republic of China. People Republic of China will be directly affected. The Federation should address the concerns of PRC by concluding a treaty of Cooperation Friendship and Asian Brotherhood. This treaty will provide PRC access to Indian Ocean by means of Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Indus Corridors of High Speed Railway, Superhighway and Oil Pipeline. This treaty will also include defence cooperation in Naval, Missile Defence and Space. China and Indostan have been ancient partners in development of Asia. It was due to this wisdom that the civilizations never collided. The time has come to revoke the ancient ties.


Conclusion

The federation will ensure overall economic development of South Asia. It will create a power block which will ensure stability in Middle East and CAR region. Its cooperation with China will ensure the Golden Age of Asia once again. However this will come at a cost; end to Global dominance of Anglo American. They will make all efforts to never let this happen. The onus lies on us to beat them at their own game.

Dream on……….

ASHOKA... A NEW PERSPECTIVE

INTRODUCTION

“Silenced were the War drums,
And chants grew aloud…
Not Warriors but missionaries were set forth
To conquer not land but hearts…”

Ashoka the Great ruled the Maurya Empire from 273 BC to 232 BC. In his early life Buddhist text describe him as Chandal Ashoka. He is said to have killed his hundred brothers to ascend the Magadha throne. He was an ambitious king who wanted to be a “Chakravarti” or ‘Ruler of the Universe’. He embarked on a course of conquests to extend his empire. One of the most important conquests was of Kalinga. It is said that in the battle, the casualties were very high and were accompanied by extensive destruction. Upon observing the consequences of the war, Ashoka experienced great remorse and vowed to abstain from any further violence.

The aim of this Paper is to give an insight into the global geopolitics of third century BC and how its impact translated in emperor Ashoka using soft power to develop an empire.

The paper is discucced in four parts.

(a) Part one gives a historic brief of the pre Kalinga Life of Ashoka.
(b) In Part two Geopolitical specifics of South Asia during the times of Ashoka are discussed.
(c) In Part three we analyse options available and the course followed.
(d) Part four draws rationales from Ashoka’s period as applicable today.

PART I: HISTORIC BRIEF

Ashoka (or Ashoka) was born as the son of the Mauryan emperor Bindusara by a relatively lower ranked queen named Dharma.

As an impeccable warrior general and a shrewd statesman, he earned respect across the empire. This made his elder brothers wary of his chances of being favoured by Bindusara to become the next emperor. The eldest of them, Prince Susima, persuaded Bindusara to send Ashoka to quell an uprising in the city of Takshashila, of which Prince Susima was the governor. Ashoka was welcomed by the revolting militias and the uprising ended without a fight.

This enraged Susima and he convinced Bindusar that in some manner Ashoka was responsible for engineering the revolt to destabilize him. On his return, Ashoka was exiled from Patliputra.

During his exile there occurred a violent uprising in Ujjain which Susima was unable to subdue. Emperor Bindusara summoned Ashoka back. Ashoka went into Ujjain and quelled the uprising. During the battle he was injured and was treated in hiding by Buddhist monks and nuns. This is where he first learned the teachings of the Buddha, and it is also where he met Devi, who was his personal nurse. After recovering, he married her.

Emperor Bindusara took ill and was on his death-bed. A group of ministers summoned Ashoka to take the crown. As the Buddhist lore goes, Prince Ashoka attacked Patliputra and killed all his brothers, including Susima.

Ascending the throne, Ashoka expanded his empire over the next eight years: it grew to encompass an area extending from the present-day boundaries of Bangladesh and Assam, in the East, to the territory of present-day Iran and Afghanistan, in the West. From the Pamir Knot in the North almost to the peninsular tip of Southern India.


Mauryan Army

The Mauryan army under Ashoka comprised approximately 1 million infantry, 35000 horsemen, 25000 chariots and 10000 elephants and had immense deterrence value. It was raised and trained in Indo-Gangatic plains, thus was not suited for fast moving cavalry maneuver which were essential to achieve victory against mountain kingdoms.

As per historical records Merchant Marine and Coastal Navy existed. There is no record of a blue water navy.


Kalinga War

The pretext for the start of the Kalinga War (265 BC or 263 BC) is uncertain. It is said that one of Ashoka's brothers - and probably a supporter of Susima - fled to Kalinga and found official refuge. Ashoka then asked Kalinga's royalty to extradite him. When they defied this diktat, Ashoka, attacked Kalinga .Kalinga put up a stiff resistance. The whole of Kalinga was plundered and destroyed. Ashoka's later edicts say that about 100,000 people were killed.

As the legend goes, one day after the war was over Ashoka ventured out to roam the city and all he could see were burnt houses and scattered corpses. This sight made him sick and he cried, "What have I done?" Upon his return to Patliputra, he could get no sleep and was constantly haunted by his deeds in Kalinga.

Meanwhile Queen Devi, who was a Buddhist, apparently left Ashoka after she saw the horrors of Kalinga. Prince Mahindra and Princess Sanghamitra, the children of Queen Devi, asked Ashoka for permission to join the Buddhist monks, which Ashoka reluctantly granted. The two siblings established Buddhism in Ceylon.

Ashoka was grieved by this, and was counseled by his nephew to embrace dharma and draw away from war. From that point Ashoka, is described as Dharm Ashoka "the pious Ashoka". This is a part of Buddhist legend.


Lessons from Kalinga

The Kalinga campaign was conducted close to logistics basis of the hinterland. Ashoka realized that if a campaign fought under favorable conditions close to the hinterland can be so cost prohibitive, fighting a war away from support base could provide catastrophic. A military failure in mountains in the West or North will denude the deterrence balance leaving his kingdom open to successive invasions and rebellions. These eventually will lead to fragmentation of Mauryan Empire and his dream to become Chakravarty Samrat will rupture.

PART II: REVIEW OF SOUTH ASIAN GEO-POLITICS IN THIRD CENTURY BC

Geography

The Mauryan kingdom during Ashoka’s’ period was bounded by the Great Himalayas in the North, dense jungles of Patkai Mountains in East, Bay of Bengal to East and SE, Indian Ocean to the South, Arabian Sea to SW .It was limited by Pamir mountains towards West. It was a mighty empire confined by great natural barriers, which needed large resources to cross.


Political Situation

In the 3rd century BC the Carthaginian Empire was destroyed by the Romans and Rome became the most important power in the Western Mediterranean. In Middle East the remains of Alexander’s Empire had consolidated as Seleucid, Greco Bactrian and Parthian Empires. The Warring States period in China drew to a close, with Qin -Shi -Huang conquering other nation-states and establishing the short-lived Qin dynasty. In India, Ashoka the Great ruled the Maurya Empire.


Qin Dynasty. The unification of China in 221 BC under the first emperor Qin Shi Huang marked the beginning of Imperial China. A national conscription was devised wherein every male between the ages of seventeen and sixty years was obliged to serve one year in the army. Qin’s commenced frequent military expeditions pushing forward the frontiers in the North and South. To fend off a barbarian intrusion the fortification walls built by the various warring states were connected to make a wall; this is usually recognized as the first Great Wall of China. China under Qin Dynasty was a strong, stable state to contest any expansion to North, if possible beyond the great Himalayas.


The Seleucid Empire. After the death of Alexander, Seleucus Nicator became king of the eastern provinces. Seleucus invaded India in 304 BC, confronting Chandragupta Maurya. The two monarchs ultimately sealed a treaty, by which Seleucus ceded territories from the Indus to present-day Afghanistan. In exchange Chandragupta gave him no less than 500 elephants. The peace was complemented by a "marriage alliance”. The Seleucid kingdom was traditional ally to Mauryans. And considering their military prowess any attempt to expand West would have been disastrous.


Parthian Empire. The Parthian Empire was the third Iranian kingdom to dominate greater Iran in ancient times. The empire was ruled by the Arsacid Dynasty, and at its height they controlled most of Armenia, Mesopotamia, Iran, and Afghanistan. An invasion required crossing the Hindu Kush Mountains and a passage across the Seleucid Empire.


Greco Bactrian. The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was founded by the Seleucid military governor of Bactria Diodotus around 250 BC. The dynasty controlled Bactria and Sogdina comprising today's northern Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia. This kingdom lied across the Hindu Kush and Pamir Mountains.


Southern Kingdoms. It is unclear that why Ashoka did not annex the South Indian kingdoms of Cheras, Pandyas and Keralputra. It is likely that these kingdoms paid tribute to the Mauryans or were likely allies.

PART III: OPTIONS AND COURSE FOLLOWED

Options

In order to expand his empire Ashoka would have to launch campaigns to seek battles under conditions favoring enemy at the edge of vulnerable lines of communication. This as discussed could have been calamitous.

Second option required utilizing soft power to expand his ideology beyond domains of physical military capabilities. This was an unconventional option in which failure did not affect the status or strength of his kingdom.



Course Followed

Dharmvijay. Ashoka drew a comparison between conquest by force of arms and the conquest of the Law of Piety. He called the latter - the conquest of man's heart by goodness - "the true conquest.”. It is also clear from the edicts that he sent large numbers of missionaries to places as far afield as Greece and China, as well as all the neighboring States and the remainder of India not governed by him.

Missions for Dharmvijay. Ashoka Edict No 13 specifies that most Hellenistic rulers of the period received the teaching of the "Dharma". In the same Edict, Ashoka also adds the Cholas and the Pandyas as recipient of the faith. Several SE Asian countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand are well attested recipients of Ashoka’s missions lending credence to the historicity and the success of these missions. 2nd century Saint Origen stated that Buddhists co-existed with Druids in pre-Christian Britain.


Ashoka’s Dharma

While Ashoka’s dharma had much in common with the virtuous conduct that the Buddha preached, it was mostly his own invention -- a way of requiring the state to incarnate a higher morality that would appeal equally to, and thus unite, the multi-religious, multicultural subjects of his vast empire.

Ashoka himself was only partly faithful to Buddhist teachings as he ruled an empire. He did not abolish capital punishment, or reduce his army, or grant his subject peoples greater autonomy by federalizing his empire. In fact, he instituted a new centralized bureaucracy, Dharma-Mahamatras ("officers of dharma"), to supervise his religious reforms.

PART IV: RELEVENCE OF ASHOKA TO MODERN WORLD

The Ashoka’s concept of Dharmvijay still holds relevance today. In a world rifted with religion, cast creed colour differences the Dharma offers a panacea. It is aimed at building bridges and bonds between the anarchic mankind so committed to self destruction.

The South Asian power balance once again hangs in between deterrence dissuasion balance between the ancient neighbors India and China. Traditionally India has an advantage when it comes to utilizing soft power. It is time again to regroup the key elements of soft power, culture, religion and philosophic vision to revive the strong bond and mutual respect these Asian giants always enjoyed.

Terrorism the plague of modern times stands so naked in front of Dharma. Can there be a better quote than the Legend of Angulimal wherein the bandit surrendered himself when he failed to terrorise Tathagat Buddha.

CONCLUSION

Ashoka was undoubtedly one of the greatest emperors of the World. His strategic vision is unparalleled in history. His skilled use of soft power established him as the emperor of the world’s greatest ideological empire rivaled only by the Pope.

Science fiction novelist H. G. Wells aptly puts it that, “In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties' and so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day.”

...The Beginning

Often heard and read is the assertion... India lack Strategic culture. Apparently it seems to be true.The truth appears closer to what Sir William Francis Butler hath said"“The nation that will insist upon drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its fighting done by fools and its thinking by cowards." For 3500 years of recorded history we have been doing the same. Still continue to do so.

With a stated vision of being a Regional Power and unsaid aspiration of being a Global player we act naive to the world realities. We camouflage our ineptitude with relegated idealism.The truth is a for last 63 years we have stuck ourselves in a tangle called Pakistan.Pakistan is nothing but an advance position which if the need be should be masked and bypassed. We have wasted so many years to find the solution for a problem which actually does exists.

I started this blog to throw on murder floor a de-novo look on what India needs to do to Gain its rightful place in the Globe.