In an era marked by global uncertainty and regional volatility, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged as a statesman of rare foresight and civilisational gravitas with his historic address to the nation on May 12, 2025. With unmatched clarity, moral conviction, and strategic depth, he unveiled Operation Sindoor—a new normal with counter-terror operation that not only redefined India’s security doctrine but also reaffirmed the timeless wisdom that underpins its national identity.
This was not merely a precision response to terror—it was a moment of profound leadership, rooted in dharma and driven by national dignity, the Prime Minister’s message echoed the voice of a resurgent civilisation reclaiming its rightful place on the global stage. In one resolute declaration, PM Modi conveyed that India will no longer tolerate the erosion of its sovereignty, nor will it be constrained by outdated doctrines of restraint. It was a bold, visionary recalibration of India’s geopolitical posture—anchored in wisdom, executed with precision, and guided by an unshakable commitment to protect Bharat.
Strategic Precision, Moral Clarity
India’s response under Operation Sindoor—neutralising over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets along the Line of Control—was swift, surgical, and strategically calibrated. Far from reactionary, it demonstrated an evolved doctrine of credible deterrence backed by operational readiness and political resolve. PM emphatically stated that terror & talk and terror and trade cannot coexist, and blood and water cannot flow together.
The Prime Minister reiterated that any dialogue or future engagement with Pakistan will revolve around only on cross-border terrorism; and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This was actually not a rhetorical brinkmanship. It is in fact a principled foreign policy position, grounded in international law, strategic realism, and India’s deep-rooted civilisational ethos. It reaffirms that India will no longer allow the pain of its citizens or the sanctity of its borders to be compromised by diplomatic ambiguity or global appeasement.
Operation Sindoor: Symbolism as Strategy
The very name—Sindoor—is laden with civilisational significance. In Indian tradition, sindoor represents motherhood, sacred continuity, and the life force of the nation. Naming this operation thus sends a clear and loud message: the protection of Bharat. More critically, the operational restraint shown—targeting only terror infrastructure and military assets, while avoiding civilian casualties—underscores India’s commitment to ethical warfare. It reflects the Gita’s martial philosophy: to fight only when dharma is endangered, and to fight only the unjust, never the innocent. This approach offers a rare model of just war theory in the modern world—where military might is wielded not in vengeance, but in service of higher principles. It sends a powerful signal: India’s strength is governed by its conscience, not in fury. Moreover, this operation reinforces that India believes in the philosophy of Buddha, not of Yuddha.
From Strategic Restraint to Strategic Assertion
Operation Sindoor marks a clear departure from India’s traditional policy of strategic restraint. As PM Modi noted, India has now built a protective architecture that enables calibrated and immediate response. This evolution represents more than just military preparedness—it reflects a psychological shift in India’s national security paradigm. The era of “first tolerance, then response” has been replaced by “zero tolerance, immediate deterrence.” India is no longer a passive player in the regional security calculus—it is a proactive and principled power. This doctrine also reshapes India’s global partnerships. It aligns with emerging powers seeking strategic clarity and ethical leadership in a chaotic multipolar world. India’s model of civilisational assertiveness—neither expansionist nor apologetic—could well redefine the contours of 21st-century diplomacy.
Rooted in Dharma, Guided by Shakti
What truly distinguished the moment was not merely the geopolitical decisiveness of India’s actions, but their deep-rooted alignment with the nation’s spiritual and philosophical heritage. The foundational ethos of Indian civilisation has always guided its approach to conflict—not through aggression, but through the imperative of dharma, or righteous duty. The timeless verse from the Bhagavad Gita— “Yada yada hi dharmasya glaanir bhavati Bharata…” (“Whenever righteousness declines and injustice rises, I manifest myself”)—captures the very essence of why and when a civilisation must rise to defend itself.
Similarly, the profound wisdom of Guru Gobind Singh Ji— “Chu kar az hama heelt e dar guzshat, Halal ast burdan ba shamsheer dast” (“When all avenues of justice are exhausted, it is righteous to draw the sword”)—resonates deeply in the India’s traditional moral imagination. These are not calls to war; they are ethical frameworks for action in the face of injustice. Operation Sindoor, in this context, is not just a military manoeuvre—it is a civilisational response to the desecration of peace, a reaffirmation of India’s strength.
A Nation United in Resolve
This address transcended politics. It resonated with 140 crore Indians—across regions, faiths, and ideologies—galvanising a national consensus that India stands united in the face of terror. From city streets to border villages, from students to soldiers, a new national confidence has emerged—one that is neither jingoistic nor timid, but self-assured and mature. The speech was strategic and spiritual, assertive, and composed, modern in its articulation but ancient in its foundation.
A Civilisational State on the Global Stage
Operation Sindoor is not merely a military response—it is a milestone in the evolution of India’s national doctrine. It represents the convergence of shakti (strength) and dharma (righteousness), but more importantly, it reflects the unwavering willpower, ethical grounding, and strategic foresight of a civilisation determined to chart its own destiny. In a world often driven by transactional alliances and tactical ambiguity, India’s stand is rooted in timeless values and guided by a vision that balances assertiveness with restraint, strength with morality, and tradition with transformation. This is the emergence of a civilisational state that does not merely react to threats—it anticipates them, confronts them with dignity, and redefines the terms of global engagement. Message is loud and clear that India will not bow down to rhetoric of nuclear threat blackmailing.
With Operation Sindoor, India has not just defended its borders—it has reasserted its soul. This marks the rise of a confident Bharat: self-assured, anchored with ethics, and strategically resolute. This is not merely a new India. This is a wise India—guided by timeless principles. A righteous India—anchored in dharma and moral virtue. A determined India—resolute in purpose, united in spirit, and fearless in action.
Jai Hind. Vande Mataram!
(Views expressed are personal)
Prof Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Punjab
