"Decisive Battles, Strategic Leaders" by J.P. Alexander delves into pivotal military engagements throughout history, analysing the strategic decisions of renowned commanders and their lasting impacts on nations and warfare. The author delves into the minds of these strategists to understand how their battlefield decisions influenced the outcomes of wars and the destinies of nations. The book presents fundamental principles of warfare and draws analogies between military strategies and business tactics, offering insights valuable to both military enthusiasts and practicing managers. Interesting point is that the author has visited each of these sites mentioned in the book, and was present there personally.
Book begins with strategic leadership in 2014, and takes us back to ancient leaders and battles.
The book examines campaigns from ancient to modern times, featuring leaders such as Pharaoh Thutmose III at the Battle of Megiddo (1479 BC), Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Constantinople, Charles Martel, Hastings, Genghis Khan, Gustavus Adolphus, Blenheim, Napoleon Bonaparte, General Sam Manekshaw during the Bangladesh War of 1971 and many more of them.
It also explores the fall of significant cities like Constantinople, Delhi and Singapore providing detailed accounts of these events. Divided into 24 chapters, the book covers many battles.
Autor mentions and pays special tribute to Krishnaswamy Subrahmanyam (19 January 1929 — 2 February 2011) was an Indian international strategic affairs analyst, journalist and former civil servant. Considered a proponent of Realpolitik, Subrahmanyam was an influential voice in Indian security affairs for a long time.
A commander must handle three basic element - men, material, and ground. Success comes to the general who is adept at the art of applying the first two elements to the last, in the most effective way.
According to the author, there are three deadly bombs waiting to be exploded - nuclear, financial and climate.
Prof. Arnold Toynbee (author of the classic 'Study of History) in his Azad Memorial Lecture (1960) in Delhi -"The new danger to which our race is now exposed - the danger of our being destroyed by our own hands - ought to inspire in us a new patriotism for Mankind as a whole, and this ought to take precedence in our hearts and minds over traditional attachments to this or that fraction of mankind."
Samurai Spirit, pervades all aspects of leadership style and strategy. In his 17th century "Book of the 5 rings" Samurai Miyamoto Musashi spells out the strategic principles. Five brief studies titled over 5 elements of nature - Chi/earth, Mizu/water, Hi/fire, Kaze/wind and Ku/emptiness. He covers many leadership lessons in it, like Balance, Intuition/sixth sense, Negotiation, Seeing the big picture etc.
Studies reveal that Ambition (Caesar), Hatred of Rome (Hannibal), Pride (Frederick the Great), Professionalism (Yamashita, Gustavus, Adolphus), Avarice (Genghis Khan, Abdali), Patriotism (Harold, Joan of Arc) and Sense of Destiny (Napoleon, Alexander) were their more obvious motivation factors - all located close to the summit of the hierarchical 'needs' pyramid.
Are geniuses born or made? nature or Nurture? Superstars are product of history and community of opportunity and legacy.
Major clash between the nomads and settled civilisation occurred in the 2nd millennium BC when the warlike Indo-European hordes poured out of the central Asian grasslands around the caspan and Aral Seas, in search of 'lebensraum'. (Territory needed for natural development) Astride sturdy horses and wielding spears and swords, they swept south-eastwards into India (as Aryans) and south westwards into Iran (as Medes and Persians)
The first major battle every recorded was fought at Megiddo (Armageddon), south east of Nazareth in Palestine on 14th April 1479 BC.
Interestingly, the 6th Century BC, Provides a contemporaneous galaxy of ethical thinkers - Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Zoroaster, Lao Tse, Confucius, Pythagoras of Samos and the Hebrew prophets of the Babylonian exile. Intrigued by this amazing coincidence, Jawaharlal Nehru devotes a full chapter to this spiritual phenomenon in his "Glimpses of world History', drawing parallels between these philosopher - prophet- teachers of different genres. He observes "There must have been a wave of thought going through the world, a wave of discontent with existing conditions and of hope and aspiration for something better."
Chinese mass lay far outside the fulcral area of the other major civilizations, under the Shang and Chou dynasties (till 771 BC) when they were unified by Chi'ins. Sun Tzu was a successful general of the king of Wu and his perceptive 'Art of war' was widely studied in China and Japan for his principles of "Creating confusion and friction."
No comments:
Post a Comment