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Distinguished Panelists Commodore R. Seshadri Vasan Dr. Swasti Rao Francois Gautier Roundtable Chair Dr. A. Adityanjee, President Council for Strategic Affairs About the Distinguished Panelists Commodore R. Seshadri Vasan (Retd.) A naval officer with combined distinguished experience of 34 years from Navy and the Coast Guard which includes, staff, command and instructional appointments.To name a few, the appointments include Regional Commander of the Coast Guard Region East, Chief Staff Officer Operations of the Southern Naval Command, Commanding Officer of two naval airstations, a naval air squadron, war ships etc., More than nine years of think tank experience.Working in the field of Strategy and Security, International relations with a view to contribute to the understanding of these issues as well as to provide policy alternatives to stake holders of any description. Specialties: Maritime and Naval Aviation back ground , conferences, seminars, conducting workshops in areas indicated,writing for print media. etc. Dr. Swasti Rao Dr. Swasti Rao is Associate Fellow at the Europe and Eurasia Center, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. She has a Masters in Politics (spl’n. IR) and an M.Phil in East Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has completed her PhD in Advanced International Politics from Tsukuba University, Japan. She is a recipient of Japanese Education Ministry Fellowship (MEXT) in 2011 and also a recipient of the ‘Okita Memorial Scholarship’ in 2010 from ICCR. She holds an adjunct position at the Tokai University, Japan in the capacity of a foreign collaborator for the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) funded research project on “Civil Society and Urban Governance in Asia, 2020-2025” Her current research project at IDSA is on Conflicts in Europe amidst shifting Global Power Structures: Geometries of Deterrence and Europe's Indo Pacific outreach as strategies for Threat Balancing. Her other work and research interests explore dimensions of the securitization debate in Europe , Migrant Crisis, Europe's Outreach to Indo -Pacific, Defence Cooperation between India and Major European Players, Multilateral Cooperation for Space Situational awareness and Maritime Domain Awareness. She also explores Europe- Japan relations and its global implications. She has published with Routledge on intelligence sharing in the Indo Pacific and her forthcoming work with them is on Climate Change and Space Debris issues with special focus on emerging space race. Before joining MP-IDSA she was Assistant Professor in the Department of Strategic and Security Studies, AMU where she taught courses on European Security, Rise of China and implications for World Order, Research Methodology and UN Peacekeeping. She has been a Principal Investigator in Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) funded project,”A Comparative and Empirical Study of the Structural Changes in Politics” from 2011-2014. Dr. Rao has published extensively, delivered talks and lectures at various international universities like Australian National University, Canberra; Gakushuin University and Tokai University, Japan; Giresun University, Turkey; National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico; Thammasat University, Thailand and writes regular Op-ed columns for leading dailies. She has been involved in syllabus writing for Political Science, CBCS, IGNOU for the year 2020 and has been associated with the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), for collating International Relations Resources and Research Methodology Resources for teachers in Higher Education in 2020 funded by the National Resource Centre for Education, NEUPA Francois Gautier François Gautier (francoisgautier.com) was the political correspondent in South Asia during ten years for « Le Figaro », France’s largest daily. He is now the editor in chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde, published by Les Editions de l’Harmattan (Harmattan.fr). François has written several books on India: Un autre Regard sur l’Inde” (Editions du Tricorne), “A Western journalist on India” (Har-Anand 2001), “ “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a Guru of Joy” (Hay House, 2003; 11 reprints, 100.000 copies sold). « Quand l’Inde s’éveille » (Editions du Rocher, Paris 2013), « Apprendre à Souffler (Hachette Marabout, 2016), Les Mots du dernier Dalai Lama (Flammarion, 2018), Une Encyclopédie de l’Ayurvéda, (Flammarion, 2020), « An entirely New History of India (Garuda Books, 2021). Further Information and Contact E-Mail: events@councilforstrategicaffairs.org Strategic Affairs Roundtable is a presentation of Council for Strategic Affairs councilforstrategicaffairs.org

Distinguished Speaker Balaji Venkateshwar Host Dr. A. Adityanjee, President Council for Strategic Affairs About the Distinguished Speaker Balaji Venkateshwar Balaji is a Cyber Security Researcher & Business Executive with more than 25 years of experience and expertise in Security Analytics based improvised Security Posturing Hacking & Cyber Defense. He has innovated multiple solutions & created a de-novo framework to raise the bar of Cyber Security control and with “two Global Patents” granted, 5 filed & “One Trade Secret”. He is adept at executing smarter decisions in climates of considerable risk with ever bulging threat matrix for ensuring proactive cyber defense posturing. Currently, he is on Advance Study on Cyber Security & use of a simulator with an internationally acclaimed research organization (Confidential). In his last assignment, he worked as Executive Director- Cyber Security for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and worked on India’s Largest Cyber Defense Project as Key Architect & Designer. Balaji has also worked for State Bank of India, India’s largest Bank, Wipro as Head (Risk Management & Compliance), Bank of America as Vice President (Global Information Security) for Global Delivery Center & CISO(India) and Secure Matrix, a start-up in Cyber Security Research as Chief Executive Officer. In order to contribute to Cyber Security Ecosystem, Resilience planning and Policy Formulation at the international and National levels, Balaji represents the following Committees: Member Advisory Board for Global Cyberlympics Member of the CII National Committee on Telecom & Broadband Co-Chair of CII National Sub-Committee on Cyber Security

Moderated Discussion With: 1. Prof. M.D. Nalapat 2. Prof. Sen Nieh 3. Ambassador Pradeep Kapur 4. Dr. Adityanjee About Discussion: China’s political clock is winding toward the convening of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this fall. Since 1977, the CCP has regularly held a Party congress every five years, which has been an occasion for large-scale change within the Chinese leadership and embarking on a new trajectory in the country’s domestic and foreign policies. The personnel changes at the upcoming congress are simultaneously more anticipated and less predictable than most previous congresses. More anticipated, because it is beyond doubt that Xi Jinping will continue his third term as the Party chief and head of state. Also expectedly, Xi’s proteges will occupy more senior leadership positions than ever before. Less predictable, because some of the norms and rules of elite recruitment established in the post-Deng era such as the mandatory retirement age and term limit, which applied to the previous three congresses, will not apply to all members of the newly assembled Central Committee (CC) this time. Thus, analysts of Chinese leadership politics will likely be far less capable or effective at forecasting the new leadership lineup at the 20th Party Congress. #ccp #ccp_china #china #chinanews #chinanewstoday #geopolitics #internationalnews #internationalaffairs #internationalaffairsnews #csa #councilforstrategicaffairs @Council for Strategic Affairs #think_tank #xijinping

Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Sanat Kaul About Speaker: Served in the Government of India and Union Territories for 36 years in various capacities. Was India’s Permanent Representative to the Council of International Civil Organization, Montreal. Was on the Board of Air India and Airports Authority India. Currently Founder Chairman of International Foundation for Aviation, Aerospace and Drones (IFFAAD) in India, Canada. Sanat Kaul was member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS – 1971 – AGMUT)). In his carrier in served in many capacities which involved infrastructure development, security, strategic affairs and aviation and public sector enterprises.

Council of Strategic Affairs Roundtable Discussion on Kautilya's Arthashastra Multiple Discussants: with Dr. Adityanjee • Col. Harjeet Singh • Mr. Aditya Satsangi • Ms. Sumedha Verma Ojha About Discussion: Arthashastra is the masterwork of India‘s greatest statesman-philosopher, Kautilya. Composed in the late fourth century BCE, Arthashastra ranks alongside Sun Tzu‘s Art of War and Thucydides‘ History of the Peloponnesian War as one of the timeless classics of the ancient arts of war and governance. Like Art of War, the origins of Arthashastra are somewhat shrouded in mystery. It was lost sometime after the fall of the Gupta dynasty (ca. 550 CE), reappearing in 1904 after more than 1400 years of obscurity. Published in 1909, the first English translation was carried out in 1915 followed by German, Russian, and other translations. And, as is the case with many ancient works, its authorship has been disputed. Kautilya is often referred to as Chanakya, probably his birth name and generally understood to be the same person, and occasionally as Vishnugupta. In Arthashastra, there is much criticism of the opinions of earlier teachers, followed by Kautilya‘s own opinion. Still, the preponderance of academic opinion is that Kautilya (or Chanakya) is the author of Arthashastra (clearly stated in the first chapter), and that it was composed during the reign of the first Maurya king, Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BCE). A verse in the fifteenth chapter enumerates that the ―science (shastra) was composed by that person who, in resentment, rescued the earth from the Nanda Kings,‖ a tale briefly recounted below. About: Col. Harjeet Singh Colonel Harjeet Singh was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry in 1969. After commanding 2 SIKH LI he was posted as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He took early retirement in 1998. He holds two Masters degrees, a M.Sc. in Defence Studies and M. Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies, both from the University of Madras. The author of many articles, monographs, and reports dealing with defence and strategic affairs, he is well-known in military circles for his erudition and perspicacity of analysis. He has authored over 50 books. He developed an interest in the Arthaśāstra in 1980 and has been studying it since. Amongst his publications on the subject is the book, The Military Strategy of the Arthaśāstra. He has also written two monographs on the subject - The Kautilya Arthaśāstra: A Military Perspective and Evolution of Strategic Culture Based on Sun Tzu and Kautilya: A Civilisational Connect, both published by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, Delhi in 2013 and 2016 respectively. He has also had articles on the subject published in professional journals:  Does the Kautilya Arthaśāstra Have Contemporary Military Relevance?  Military Adages and Stratagems in Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra; and  Kautilya and the Operational Art. His latest monograph, recently published by the USI, Delhi is Eastern Military Thought. Widely travelled, he has visited many countries which has widened his horizons and given him a unique perspective on global issues. A keen student of military history he has delivered lectures on military history for the past 10 years to the Pre-Staff College courses. About: Aditya Satsangi Founder of Sattology and author of 10 books on ancient Vedic history and also Native History of the world. Indian American Entrepreneur & Author with an independent centrist viewpoint. Widely acclaimed author of books on Sattology. An Avid Golfer ! Global CX Champion. Built CX program for many Fortune firms from Strategy to Inplementation. CEO for large and medium sized IT consulting firms. Founder of Kisanpro.com, Sattology, NymblSoft. Currently helping companies in USA to build up operations and sales teams. About: Sumedha Verma Ojha She joined the Indian Civil Services in 1992 but switched careers after a sabbatical in 2006 moving to writing books and international consultancy with United Nations organizations. She has been engaged in deep research on ancient Indian History and Sanskrit and Prakrit works for the past decade and a half. Sumedha works in the area of translating and explaining the epics and bringing ancient Sanskrit/Prakrit literature to the modern world. Expertise, principles and information, hidden, often lost, for lack of knowledge of Sanskrit are being unearthed especially in the area of political science, international relations and ancient warfare. The Epics, Ramayana and Mahabharat, Dhanurveda and Arthashastra are her specialties. Her translation of the Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana was published in 2016. She is engaged in writing a book on the women of ancient India which will set a new approach to understanding women based on the emic Shastric and Indic traditions of the sub-continent. She also works in the area of conservation of cultural heritage with a focus on the intangible heritage of oral traditions.

Distinguished Speaker: Air-Marshal (Retired) RC Bajpayee About Speaker: Air Marshal (Dr) RC Bajpai was commissioned in the Air Force in the year 1960. After more than 36 years of distinguished service, he superannuated in the 1996 in the rank of Air Marshal as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of maintenance command. While in service, he obtained M Tech. in Radar Technology and Ph. D. in Electronic Warfare, both from IIT Delhi. He is also a graduate of National Defence College New Delhi and has passed Advance Diploma in Russian language. He has been trained in USA and Italy on Electronic Warfare. As a Technical Officer, he was responsible for the planning, installation, maintenance, repair and procurement of technical equipment, both within India, and from abroad. Some important appointments held by him are- Chief Program Director AWACS (Airborne warning and control system) programme. Founder Member of Electronic Intelligence System in the Air Force. A member of high powered committee headed by Late Dr. Kalam, then SA to RM and later on as president of India to investigate the Aircraft accidents. He has been an ardent supporter of indigenization. He developed Phased array for radar as a part of his M Tech programme, He saved foreign exchange worth crores of rupees through indigenous efforts. He was awarded PVSM (Param Vishishth Seva Medal) and AVSM (Ati Vishishth Seva Medal) by the President of India for his meritorious service. He was awarded Vishisht Vidyarthi Samman by Kanpur University in the year 2004. After retirement, he was advisor to UPSC. He has also been teaching as a guest faculty in an Engineering College. He is associated with a large number of organizations for the uplift of weaker sections of the society. Presently, he is National President of Forum for Awareness of National Security. He provides counseling and help to central services aspirants for their UPSC interviews as Chairman of mock interview boards. During his service career, he used to adopt nearby villages to his place of posting and help the villagers with counseling and other material assistance. While commanding Air Force Station, Kanpur, he started Industrial Training Institute (ITI) recognized by Government of India and managed by Air Force. He is a widely traveled person. Some of the countries visited by him are USA,UK, Italy, France, Holland, Russia etc. Presiding Dr. Adit Adityanjee President Council for Strategic Affairs

Russia’s bold military mobilization in and around Ukraine is the first major skirmish of a new order in international politics, with three great powers jostling for position in ways that threaten America’s aspirations to defend democracy on a global level and a long-term struggle to restore European security. #Russia #Crisis #geostrategy #internationalrelations #putin #biden #securitycouncil #UnitedStates #NATO #USA #Ukraine #CSA #councilforstrategicaffirs #policy #geopolitics #adityanjee #hussaine #katoch #walter