ABOUT THE BOOK

In his path breaking commentary, the author has woven a fascinating mosaic spanning not only the subcontinent, but China, South East Asia, Central Asian Republics and a host of other regions as well. Many of the proposals have commanded international respect. The range of subjects dealt with cover an equally vast spectrum: from demography, good governance to trauma and critical care. The proposal relating to the "Demilitraisation of the Himalayas an Ecological Imperative" is being actively considered by several world bodies, NGOs and international agencies.

The chapter on "Understanding the nature of the New Societal Traumas" poignantly highlights tthe human tragedies taking place in the rapidly growing cities of south Asia and the developing world as a whole.

REVIEWS:

Reviewed by IAN CARDOZO

This work is, in fact, a collection of essays and talks by the author integrated into a book and reflects Vinod Saighal’s perceptions of the problems that ail India, in particular, and the world at large. The book is a mosaic that covers national and international security, political philosophy and games nations play, blueprints for better forms of governance, models for economic reform, restructuring of India’s armed forces, and concern for the threats to the world’s social, ecological and demographic systems. The catholicity of the author’s wide-ranging interests is amazing and his knowledge commendable.

General Saighal’s passionate advocacy for better forms of international governance with just and fair control systems are a reflection of what the world desires but is unable to articulate. Globalisation to him has a deeper meaning than meeting the needs of universal consumerism. To him, it means the sacrificing of narrow national interests for a just social order that embraces all nations. His vision is the integration of ‘the family of man’ and the security of the universe. Strange views for a solider, but not so extraordinary when one considers the horrors of war that a man is exposed to in a time-span that has covered four wars. After all, it was the ravages of war that made Ashoka give up his kingdom, renounce the world and disseminate the tenets of Buddhism to the furthest boundaries of the Eastern world.

The author finds today’s world spinning out of control, driven by consumerism and an insatiable greed for unjust profit that trap vulnerable developing nations in a spiral of continued poverty. The United States comes in for a fair amount of criticism and one cannot but agree with him when we look at America’s nuclear policy, her stand on CTBT, and her total disregard for the damage being done by her to the ozone layer that has serious repercussions on the global environment. Considering that these essays were written in 1998, his prescience is prophetic when considered against the backdrop of the events of September 11, 2001.

In 1998 he said “There are no overt military threats to the USA. But when a mighty nation, blinded with its economic and military might, starts defining the whole world as its sphere of influence, and talks of ‘full spectrum domination’ in every region of the world, the end of such dominance is at hand. It is against the laws of physics. It is contrary to the grain of history. It is a challenge to the spirit of freedom at the end of the second millennium” [pp. 48, 49]. He says a lot more in a similar vein but then the reader must read and find out for himself.

The author’s pronouncements on the situation in Afghanistan and on the Taliban have also been prescient. In 1998 he said ‘it will be remembered that the strategy for pushing the Taliban into Afghanistan was predicated upon opening of the oil route through pipelines via Afghanistan, Pakistan, and on to the Arabian Sea. Extremely heavy outlays by Saudi Arabia and several US oil majors [with the tacit support of the US government] helped to buy out local warlords with exorbitant sums; thus helping the rag-tag band in overcoming resistance in huge areas in Afghanistan’ [p. 47]. He goes on further to say, later in the book, ‘whether the Taliban succeed in unifying Afghanistan, or fail to do so, the problems for Pakistan will get exacerbated’ [p.111].

China’s quest for global power status, and its impact on India and the world, and what needs to be done in this regard has been well covered. The author’s assumption, however, that he has the answer on how to “manage” China is presumptuous. China’s behaviour has always been an enigma and has puzzled the world. To state that he has the answer to what the world is looking for is questionable.

The analysis of threats to India, militarily, economically, demographically and ecologically are masterful and well stated. His warnings are timely and need to be examined. His recommendations for restructuring the armed forces of India have merit and one cannot but be impressed with the candour with which he outlines the reasons that lead to the tentativeness with which India addresses sensitive issues concerning the USA, China and the Arab world.

Although the analysis of the subjects he has addressed is exhaustive and is the result of an independent mind, he tends to pontificate and to be “preachy” at times. Whatever be the depth and breadth of one’s knowledge, one needs to accept that it can never be truly complete, and one needs to give space to others who may know as much and more.

The general’s desire to change the culture of an unthinking and materialistic world is linked with the destructive nature of Western consumerism and he recommends India and China to maintain their ancient heritage and cultural identities. There is merit in this – not only to maintain a degree of independence based on vast human and material resources, but also to delink from a system that is volatile and interdependent on the mismanagement and vagaries of links in the globalised chain.

The author has a deep concern for ecology and his passionate commitments to turning around the ecological degradation of the Himalaya are well and truly stated. His suggestion to demilitarise the zone however is impractical because of the vested interests of the countries that border the region.

The overall focus of the author underlines the urgent need for a global, universal and planetary order that works. Desirable no doubt, but unrealistic because that is not the way nations think and act. A thought-provoking book that is well ahead of its times.(Reviewed in World Affairs Oct-Dec 2001 VOL 5 NO 4)

WHAT DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE BOOK:

“The book is a mosaic that covers national and international security, political philosophy and games nations play, blueprints for better forms of governance, models for economic reform, restructuring of India’s armed forces, and concern for the threats to the world’s social, ecological and demographic systems. The catholicity of the author’s wide-ranging interests is amazing and his knowledge commendable.” (WORLD AFFAIRS OCT-DEC 2001 VOL 5 NO 4)

“ China’s quest for global power status, and its impact on India and the world, and what needs to be done in this regard has been well covered.” (WORLD AFFAIRS OCT-DEC 2001 VOL 5 NO 4)

“ The analysis of threats to India, militarily, economically, demographically and ecologically are masterful and well stated. His warnings are timely and need to be examined. His recommendations for restructuring the armed forces of India have merit and one cannot but be impressed with the candour with which he outlines the reasons that lead to the tentativeness with which India addresses sensitive issues concerning the USA, China and the Arab world.” (WORLD AFFAIRS OCT-DEC 2001 VOL 5 NO 4)

“ The author has a deep concern for ecology and his passionate commitments to turning around the ecological degradation of the Himalaya are well and truly stated.” (THE INTELLIGENCE JOURNAL 2002)

“ A thought provoking book that is well ahead of its times.” (THE INTELLIGENCE JOURNAL 2002)