|
TERRORISM |
By Maj. Gen. Kulwant
Singh (Retd.) and Dr. David Leffler.
Terrorism is not an easy problem to
solve. India has been fighting terrorism for over half a century. Since
independence in 1947, the eastern states have been under the spell of
insurgents, abetted by foreign countries. The disputed region of Kashmir is a
powder keg, threatening to explode into conventional and possibly nuclear war
any day. A viable solution may lie in India's past-ancient Vedic knowledge that
was scientifically validated in the 20th century. Now, in the 21st century,
India's ancient method of preventive defense, a form of defense called
"invincible," promises to end terrorism and conflict and set an
example for the rest of the world. Is India ready to revive its illustrious
past?
India has fought four major wars over
the problem of the disputed POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir). Pakistan is
unlikely to be able to win a conventional war against India. For this reason,
Pakistan has allegedly resorted to sending terrorists into Kashmir, calling them
freedom fighters. This holds true throughout the world: one side's terrorist is
another side's freedom fighter. Globally, the impact of terrorism has been
increasing since al-Qaeda formed alliances with existing terrorist
organizations. The rise of tensions and the looming threat of nuclear war
between India and Pakistan has triggered a mass exodus of foreign nationals from
India as well as Pakistan.
Like many other countries, India has
fought terrorism through a dynamic approach, i.e., with weaponry and military
personnel. Despite its long-term military experience fighting terrorists, India
is still losing the war. Terrorists continue to increase in number. Adding to
the fray of foreign-based terrorists, new organizations are emerging, like the
Peoples War Group (PWG). The number of such organizations and cadres who have
joined them is alarming. Even with fully equipped police and para-military
forces, India will not be able to completely control them. Even more alarming,
defence experts predict that it is just a matter of time before terrorists
attack with weapons of mass destruction which may be handheld and easy to
transport and conceal.
Tensions between India and Pakistan
rise and fall, and frequently, both are poised for war. If war starts, India's
strategy, as announced so far, is for a "limited offensive" to stop
terrorism. The term "limited offensive" itself is misleading, as it
cannot be quantified. Does it imply limiting effort in the employment of forces,
the areas of offensive, use of weapon systems and so on? In any case, India's
leaders may want it to be limited, but this cannot dictated to its opponents. In
all probability, once war starts, it will not be limited.
Can India eliminate terrorism by
deploying military forces, as it has for the last 50 years? Again and again,
history shows that the answer is "no." Terrorism is a human problem.
Therefore, it requires a human solution. The underlying cause of terrorism, war,
conflict as well as other types of social violence, is accumulated social
stress.
If the collective social stress
driving terrorism could be prevented, such negative problems would cease. Thus,
no collective stress-no terrorism, and no war.
A silent approach to achieve this
prevention ideal is described in the Vedic literature. Heyam duhkham anagatam
(Yog-Sutra, 2.16): "Avert the danger before it arises." The Yog-Sutra,
2.35 also affirms Tat sannidhau vairatyagah: "In the vicinity of
Yogic influence-unifying influence, integrating influence, coherent and
harmonious influence-conflicting tendencies do not arise." These ancient
principles applied in the past, and they apply today.
According to Vedic tradition, conflict
resulted from ignorance-ignorance of how to prevent the build-up of collective
stress. For example, the Ramayana stated that "...ignorance will
have no access within eight miles from [the Yogi's hermitage]."
The Ramayana also described the
ancient city of Ayodhya. "Ayodhya" means "the city none can
challenge in warfare." Certainly, Ayodhya relied on the conventional
defence technologies of its time. For instance, "It was enclosed by strong
fortifications and a deep moat, which no enemy, by any expedient whatsoever,
could penetrate." Also, "Ayodhya abounded in warriors undefeated in
battle, fearless and skilled in the use of arms, resembling lions guarding their
mountain caves." However, the descriptions of the enlightened, stress-free
life of the inhabitants of Ayodhya may indicate that its first line of defense
was the city's freedom from collective stress. According to the Ramayana, this
low stress level, based on life in harmony with Natural Law, made Ayodhya worthy
of its name.
Could this ideal of preventive defence
again be accomplished in India? Vedic scholar and physicist Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi revived the practical components of the silent approach of Invincible
Defence Technology-he calls them the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi
program. These human resource-based technologies need not require or involve
religious belief and practices. These meditation techniques have been practiced
by members of many faiths worldwide. Extensive scientific research documents the
ability of the TM and TM-Sidhi program to dissolve stress on the individual and
collective levels. India could use this nourishing and non-destructive
Invincible Defence Technology to reduce tensions, thereby preventing conflicting
tendencies that drive terrorism.
The operative part of Invincible
Defence Technology requires having a Prevention Wing of the military. This wing
would comprise about 2-3% of the armed forces. The rest of the military would
carry on with their usual duties. The Prevention Wing of the military would
create societal coherence by practicing the TM and TM-Sidhi program in large
groups morning and evening. Their collective practice would produce positive
benefits for both themselves and their adversaries. Peaceful overtures would
increase from all sides.
Similar coherence-creating groups have
been deployed in many war zones and conflict prone areas with great success.
Extensive scientific research indicates that when 1% of the population (i.e., a
city), or the square root of 1% of the population (i.e., a nation) practices the
more advanced TM-Sidhi program in a group, a "field effect" is
created.
This effect is called the "Maharishi
Effect" by scientists. Over 50 carefully controlled studies have documented
and validated positive social trends such as reduced conflict and lowered crime
rate. These studies have been scrutinized and published in respected
peer-reviewed journals such as Social Indicators Research, Journal of
Conflict Resolution, the Journal of Mind and Behavior and Journal
of Crime and Justice.
This coherence-creating effect has
also been documented on a global scale. When large assemblies of practitioners
of the TM-Sidhi program exceeded the Maharishi Effect threshold for the world
(about 7,000 at that time) during the years 1983-1985, international conflict
decreased 33%, terrorist casualties decreased 72% and violence was reduced in
other nations without intrusion by other governments.
Thus, the deployment of a Prevention
Wing of the Military by India could be a force multiplier. It strengthens both
approaches of defence-the dynamic approach of weaponry and military personnel,
and the silent approach of Invincible Defence Technology. India's defence will
be perfect, or invincible, when both these approaches are combined.
India cannot solve the problem of
terrorism by standard military means alone. It also needs a silent approach,
which will help people focus more on peaceful means of settling differences.
India's Vedic heritage offers the ideal means to fight terrorism and prevent
war. India needs to deploy a Prevention Wing of the Military immediately for
lasting peace.
Articles about Invincible Defence
Technology, published in Defence India, Defense Review, Indian
Defence Consultants, Indian Defence Review, Indian Strategic
Review, and SAPRA Bulletin, are available at: http://www.davidleffler.com