Dear Readers, Most of us have read Sun Tzu’s Art of War. A lot many may have just glanced through. Recently I got this book and read through it. I wondered how valid this treatise's relevance to modern-day warfare is. I decided to test it against the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and to my surprise, the relevance was larger than I had imagined. The realisation compelled me to pen down my observations. I hope you will agree and, if not, refute it in the comment section. Thanks for reading and supporting me.
A very informative article: just as Sun Tzu was able to simplify the complex within about 90-odd pages, you, too, have done as well in the summary and then in relating his strategic principles to the Russo-Ukraine war. When, many moons ago, I read of Arthashastra offered by L N Rangarajan (IFS), after reading Sun Tzu or rather Sun Tao offered by General Tao Hanzhang, I had the impression that Kautilya outdistances Sun Tao in matters military, ranging from strategy to tactics. What’s your take on this? What did your Command and Staff DSs have to say on this, if anything?
Well analysed sir. The sheer breadth of your writings amazes me.
You are right that Arthashastra is a treatise on governance, but would exhort you to cull out the war fighting part of it and analyse the same.
Must read article, informative and comprehensively covered the techniques of warfare.
A very informative article: just as Sun Tzu was able to simplify the complex within about 90-odd pages, you, too, have done as well in the summary and then in relating his strategic principles to the Russo-Ukraine war. When, many moons ago, I read of Arthashastra offered by L N Rangarajan (IFS), after reading Sun Tzu or rather Sun Tao offered by General Tao Hanzhang, I had the impression that Kautilya outdistances Sun Tao in matters military, ranging from strategy to tactics. What’s your take on this? What did your Command and Staff DSs have to say on this, if anything?
Sun Tzu's principles of War continue to be relevant today which has been aptly brought out by you. A very well analyzed article.