We are the last resort for universal happiness, and this is possible because we have Akhadas and millions of Naga Sadhus. Naga Sadhus is our ultimate line of defense. — Alok Singh

The diminishing shelf life of technology, the role of technology, the demographic challenges, and the demographic dividend are the two focal points of the world’s current civilization. 

Today, whether it be trade, education, manufacturing, banking, health care, social benefits, identity, communication, or any other process, whether services or manufacturing, it relies on man and machine to excel in the world. The race to be supreme in the multipolar world is between man and machine. Those at a demographic disadvantage have no alternative other than to establish a machine against the man. Those who own demographic dividends have all the alternatives open to place themselves in this multipolar world. 

The defense is one domain where the race for technological supremacy is heading in an anxiety mode. The Russians, Americans, Europeans, and Chinese are using all the tactics and techniques to dominate the world’s market for selling and accumulating the best defense and military infrastructure. The world’s era of a trade war by weaponizing tariffs as a handy tool to safeguard one’s economic interest is tangibly visible. Any nation that wants to be self-reliant needs the urgency to be self-sufficient in food, energy, and defense. Trade wars are bearable because they compromise day-to-day comfort if food and energy security are assured. 

But when it comes to defense, the mind, heart, and eyes go blind. There is no way one can compromise the defense necessities. Hence, the Americans Europeans, and even Russians are weaponizing the defense deal as a channel to gain economic progress. They keep looking for opportunities and creating opportunities for this business of defense deals. The easy market for them is the defense products. The vulnerable nations are easy prey.

Any democratically elected government that has to face an election at a regular interval cannot take an iota of risk to compromise its national security. In extreme cases, the budget allocation for procuring the military hardware is prioritized vis a vis food. Within the country itself, in the Naxal-affected area of Bihar, there was a time when farmers prioritized purchasing weapons for self-defense rather than buying tractors and other farm equipment to increase farm productivity. At the macro level, the nation’s behavior is like that only. 

The early engine of growth in terms of resources other than financial and technological are energy and fuels like petroleum products. Many nations other than Europeans, including America and Russia, hedged their earnings by selling energy products. When the world is on a launchpad to create and use environmentally friendly ways like wind and solar and others to satisfy their energy needs, fuel selling is risky, and oil-dependent countries of the Middle East are also facing the heat. Hence, defense is the product that saves them days.

The inventory of oil is different from the inventory of food. The oil inventory can be imported when the currency and the price in the international market are favorable, and the only constraint is the storage capacity. The foods can be imported, but apart from the storage capacity, the shelf life of the perishable eatables, even in raw format, is lesser than that of oil. Whosoever pays gets these products, whether for immediate consumption or lengthier consumption. The defense products are neither oil nor food. 

The importation of defense products cannot be treated like oil or food products. Defense products have positioned themselves as drivers of the economy for Americans, Europeans, and Russians. The Chinese have demonstrated that they can live and grow without Alphabet, Meta, Apple, or Walmart. Defense products are the last rescue products for Americans, Europeans, and Russians to dominate the world economically, financially, technologically, and militarily.

Now, the scenario is more dynamic. Those who want to dominate the world using their defense products will obviously sell products that do not make the buyer more powerful than the seller. The seller will create a race among neighboring countries to create an inventory of defense products. This never-ending plan is a conspiracy to create difficult choices for developing countries.

Even automobile companies don’t offer their best products to customers in a single go. They sell their basic products first and keep the best product to launch when their peers come up with a very competitive product that threatens their market share. Defense is a different game. The sellers of defense products are at a demographic disadvantage. They want the machines to be ahead of humans.

We have many fronts to handle. We wish to be Swvalambi, Aatmanirbhar, and Vikshit Bharat by 2047. Things are in our favor. Accepting the diminishing life of technology, including defense technology, is good news. The demographic advantage gives us confidence that in the race of man versus machine, man will lead.

In the ideal situation, when we are at par with the best defense products and can counter any military attacks, humans will be the deciding factor. The Israeli experience has demonstrated that technologies do fail and are less reliable than humans. When technologies fail, the traditional way is the best way—the only way. It is the original way.

The MahaKumbh at Prayagraj has demonstrated that Naga Sadhus is here for us. When the unforeseen situations demanded, our Naga Sadhus gave up their right, belief, and tradition to have the Amrit Snan, i.e., first to have the initial holy bath. Despite many restrictions pre and post-1947, our Akharas own many defense strategies that no one in the world can fully figure out.

Our traditions assure us that we are ahead, whether it be Shastra or Ashtra. We are the last resort for universal happiness, and this is possible because we have Akhadas and millions of Naga Sadhus. Naga Sadhus is our ultimate line of defense. They can train us the way Israel has trained its men, women, and even children. We all bow our heads to our Naga Sadhus.           

(Alok Singh has a doctorate in management from the Indian Institute of Management Indore and promoter of Transition Research Consultancy for Policy and Management.)