The book delves deep into India's rich spiritual heritage-the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts, the Upanishads which are the high water mark of world philosophy as well as the Bhagvadgita, the Manusmriti and Patanjali Yoga Sutra : the great epics- the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The remarkable encapsulation of the teachings of these great texts is by itself an excellent introduction to Hinduism. Yet, despite our heroic tradition as reflected in the epics and the great kingdoms created by the Mauryas, the Guptas, and the Pratiharas and the cholas, from a thousand years ago we seemed to lose our military ethos as a result of which we were invaded, shattered and subjugated by a handful of brigands, freebooters and iconoclasts. While many of them destroyed and looted india and went back to their lairs, some stayed back and established great empires, particularly the Mughals and finally the British, whose Raj lasted two centuries. Coming to Modern times, the book throws light on the enterprising spirit of the cholas and the struggle against the invaders and colonists. Out of this also emerges how Hinduism triumphed over the the great historic tragedy of almost nine hundred years and retained it basic values, institutions and faith, intact. Examining post independence military developments, the author asks every Indian to draw inspiration from our history, review threats realistically, share challenges and overall develop a strategic culture.