Once upon a time, and we’re talking about a long, long time ago India wasn’t just a land of spices, sages, and scriptural debates. It was a civilization where wisdom and warfare walked hand in hand, where the pursuit of peace wasn’t passive, but fiercely protected.
Fast-forward a few millennia and the same spirit lives on -only now, instead of chariots and bows, we’re talking hypersonic missiles and autonomous launch systems. But the philosophy is still very much rooted in the hindu faith, shaped by the history of Hinduism, and driven by the timeless ideals of Hinduism itself.
The Mahabharata, one of our holy texts, didn’t sugar-coat war. It told us that sometimes dharma (rightful act) needs defending. And defending dharma requires more than mantras- now it demands missile systems, preferably ones that don’t take a decade to manufacture.
Peace First, But Not at Any Cost
You don’t need to read between the Sanskrit lines of the Mahabharata to understand this quote:
“Ahinsah paramo dharmaḥ, yuddhaṁ dharmasya kāraṇam.”
“Peace is the highest duty; but war becomes necessary to protect that very duty.”
That’s not a battle cry — it’s a moral compass. Hindu culture has always emphasized restraint before retaliation. But it’s also made it clear, to stop a fight, you better be ready.
And India is looking more than ready now.
In what may feel like a plot twist for anyone who still thinks of India as a “developing” nation, we’ve just dropped our missile production timeline to 2–3 years. Yes, that’s on par with the U.S., Russia, and China.
Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, former DRDO chief and someone who probably dreams in code and schematics, recently announced this game-changing feat. He wasn’t just talking tech. He was talking geopolitics, self-reliance, and a not-so-subtle message to the rest of the world: India’s not just catching up — we’re leading from the front.
The Gita says, “Do Your Duty (Even If It’s Complicated)”
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna:
“Shreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt.”
“Better to fail in your own duty than succeed in another’s.”
India has learned this lesson the hard way…Years of dependency on foreign missile systems, unpredictable supply chains, and sky-high costs. But today, it’s walking its own path. Manufacturing, testing, and deploying indigenous systems like Agni, Prithvi, BrahMos, SMART, and ASAT — on its own terms, at its own pace (which, frankly, is getting faster than anyone expected).
The story here isn’t just one of missiles — it’s about mindset. We’re not just building deterrents; we’re building doctrine.
Arthashastra says “Be Prepared or Be Conquered”
“Sannaddhaḥ śatruṁ jayati.”
“The prepared conquer the enemy.” – Kautilya’s Arthashastra
Kautilya knew the art of war wasn’t about provocation — it was about preparation. And India’s doing just that, powered by new defence policies like DAP 2020, local manufacturing mandates under IDDM, and a turbo-charged public-private partnership involving the likes of L&T, Bharat Forge, and defence-tech startups you probably haven’t heard of — yet.
The result? India is now a credible missile exporter in the Global South, reducing its dependency, gaining technology sovereignty, and saving billions while doing it.
Final thoughts: It’s not just defence — it’s a philosophical stand !
If all of this feels more like strategy than hardware, that’s because it is. The hindu culture has always believed in layered meanings. A temple isn’t just a building, and a missile isn’t just a machine.
India’s ability to produce advanced missile systems swiftly isn’t just about steel, circuits, or sensors. It’s about a nation that carries the weight of its past with the vision of its future. It’s a country that believes peace is sacred — but also knows it must be safeguarded.
And in a world that’s increasingly volatile, being prepared is no longer optional. It’s essential.
India’s new missile doctrine is not about dominance — it’s about dignity. A commitment to defending peace, deterring conflict, and doing it all while grounded in the wisdom of Hinduism and the living legacy of the history of Hinduism.
If this blend of ancient wisdom and modern might interests you, drop a like, leave a comment, and let me know what you’d like me to explore next. The stories are out there — let’s keep uncovering them, together.
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