Sankraman Kaal and the Return to Rajneeti: Insights from Session 5 of VK 4.0

At a time when the international order is marked by prolonged conflicts, Session 5 of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Ki Oar 4.0 turned attention towards the principles of ancient Rajneeti and their relevance in what the speakers described as a true Sankraman Kaal: a period of deep transition.

The panel brought together military leadership, scholars of Sanskrit and political thought, strategic experts and spiritual voices to examine whether ancient Bharatiya frameworks of power, duty and morality could offer guidance to contemporary governance and geopolitics.

Opening the discussion, Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director Vivekananda International Foundation underscored that Indian civilisational thought has never separated power from restraint. Drawing from scriptural traditions that emphasise ahimsa, he noted that communication and governance must be structured in a manner where authority is not experienced as coercion. Emphasising Swami Vivekananda’s idea of a “man-making mission”, Dr. Gupta posed a foundational question to the panel - whether this was indeed the right time to reflect on geopolitics, or whether the moment demanded something deeper than strategic realignment.

Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh (Retd.) responded by situating the debate within the present global crisis.

Referring to the growing number of conflicts across the world since the Second World War, he observed that the prevailing world order has failed to deliver stability or justice.

Invoking the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he linked global governance to a family structure where the strongest member bears responsibility as a guardian, not a dominator. Critiquing modern institutions, he remarked that sectors such as education and healthcare increasingly function on profit rather than service, reflecting a deeper erosion of ethical purpose.

According to him, India possesses an evolved strategic culture rooted in restraint, duty and protection of the weak, which must be consciously identified and adopted.

The discussion repeatedly returned to the shift from moral and duty-based governance to rights-centric politics. Prof. Dr. Shashiprabha Kumar, Chairperson, Indian Institute of Advanced Study highlighted that ancient Rajneeti was anchored in Raj Dharma, where the relationship between the ruler and the ruled was familial rather than contractual. She identified the three foundational elements of governance: Raja, Praja and Sanstha and stressed that true authority lay in the ability to protect.

She also reflected on the position of women, noting that while modern political participation for women came late, ancient Indian traditions had accorded them dignity and equality far earlier than is often acknowledged.

Prof. Uma Vaidya, Former VC Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University expanded on the idea of Sankraman Kaal through Sanskrit references, explaining that togetherness in thought, speech and action forms the essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

She stressed that transition periods impose collective responsibility, requiring societies to walk together towards justice rather than fragment into competing interests.

His Holiness Yugbhushan Suriji Maharaj offered a sustained critique of the Western nation-state model, arguing that the adoption of Western frameworks in constitutional and global governance has not yielded ethical outcomes. He explained that sovereignty, in ancient thought, never implied absolute or extra-territorial power but freedom from dependency. Introducing the concept of “dheer”, he described the ideal ruler as one who uses strength to protect the weak and is willing to sacrifice power for justice. In this context, he argued that global powers possessing unmatched strength but lacking moral restraint fail the test of legitimate authority.

Prof. Sujit Dutta, Editor National Security Journal brought the discussion back to practical governance, emphasising consensus-building as the only viable method of transition. He argued that change must occur through minimum common programmes where interests and values converge, allowing dharmic principles to gradually inform global decision-making.

Across perspectives, the panel converged on one central idea: ancient Rajneeti is neither obsolete nor romantic. As Lt. Gen. Singh observed, principles such as persuasion (saam) and conciliation precede force even in scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of power.

In a time bound by formal rule of law yet starved of justice, the speakers argued that revisiting Raj Dharma may offer not regression, but renewal.