Radhakrishnan Pillai - Chanakya and the Art of War

We are constantly at war.

It may be an external warat our workplaces, our homes, amongst friends, relatives and/or with the government and its systems.

It may be an internal warinside our heads, with time, with decisions, with what is right and what is wrong.

This is unavoidable when we live in a world full of different people and different views. From the day we are born to the day we die, the external or internal wars will continue. From womb to tomb, we will always face difficult choices.

After a point, everyone realizes that they cannot walk away from such wars. Everyone has to fightsome win, some lose. This is where the difference in our attitude towards the war becomes known. We either accept defeat, or fight on to emerge a winner.

Most of us often compromise and give up. It is a good feeling, although temporary, that there was no bloodshed, that we avoided facing an extreme situation. But later, when we sit down and analyse, we realize that we have actually lost the war in the name of compromise.

The problem continues to exist. Sooner than later, it re-emerges in a different way. The quick-fix of compromise is temporary in nature because we have not fixed the leak. The tooth now requires an extraction. That one rotten apple has already spoilt the whole bunch.

We must make sure we win the war once and for all, rather than be under the illusion that a compromise has closed the issue.

The art of winning a war can be learnt by understanding some rules and then applying them in a practical manner to real-life situations. There are various formulae and techniques. Just because we have never been exposed to a war does not mean the art of war is not meant for us.

Swami Tejomayanandaji, the spiritual giant from Chinmaya Mission, says: If you dont stand up for something, you will fall for everything.

True that.

Are we all just living a life of compromise and adjustment? Have we become so weak that we cannot even voice our views? Have we forgotten the skills of negotiations and strategy?

Let us not simply allow life to happen to us, let us make life happen according to our wishes. We can decide what we want, and yes, we can emerge a winner. The good news is that there is a method and a system to do this.

It starts with building some basic leadership qualities. Yes, the answer lies here.

Leaders are strong men and women who stood up with conviction, squared their shoulders and faced the challenges that came their way. They were the only hope when others around them felt hopeless. They had nothing else but tremendous will power. World history is never complete without the stories of such great leaders from various nations and backgrounds. Initially, they were ordinary people, but their extraordinary leadership qualities made them shine in situations that were challenging and difficult.

Today, the life stories of such leaders guide us. They inspire us. They bring hope and possibilities. They are the guiding beacons of societies. Their stories must be told to our children. They should be discussed at dinner tables, their books should be read by all, and more research should be done on these great men and women.

Emerging as a winner in war is not just the work of the military and armed forces. It can be part of our basic nature. If every individual is taught the art of war, she/he will be better equipped to focus on the means and the ends towards which they are working so hard. Winning a war requires many skills. Studying our opponent, understanding human psychology, the right timing and place, keeping motivation levels upall these and more.

If we master the art of war, we can be successful in every field of life. As sportspersons, we will win medals; as corporate executives, we will achieve our targets; as government officials, we will execute all projects successfully, and as parents, we will bring up a healthy generation of children who have tremendous self-confidence and lead successful careers and lives.

In Nathalia Cranes words:

You cannot choose your battlefield,

God does that for you;

But you can plant a standard

Where a standard never flew

This is so true. Most of us are not prepared when a problem emerges. We are not ready at all. It hits us like a storm and can destroy us if we arent prepared.

So friends, let us now look at the story of one such great man who inspired generations. A person who emerged as a leader at every stage of life. A leadership guru. A strategist. A nationalist. A guru, a teacher, a scholar and an author.

Yes, we are talking about Chanakya.

The person who reshaped Bharat, when the nation faced one of its most challenging timesa broken internal state and a powerful invader hell-bent on capturing our lands.

In such a dire situation, Chanakya did not give up. He mastered strategy and tactics. He specialized in the art of war, and even wrote a book for future generations to refer toKautilyas Arthashastra.

In this book, Chanakya and the Art of War, we will be taking you on a journey. The journey of Chanakyas life experiences and challenges. We go back to his era and time. We draw inspiration and learn from his wisdom.

This exploration is also about India as a nation. Although Chanakya, just as everyone else does, had limited time on earth, his ideas did not die with him. For generations, kings and rulers across the globe have applied Chanakyas theories and rules. And so we will learn about such people who have kept Chanakya Niti alive in our society.

This book is your friend in this journey. As a reader, I would like you to assess your life challenges and apply the techniques and tactics given here. After all, no journey is complete till it becomes a part of who you are.