Bol Madhavache

The war between Russia and Ukraine grinds on, while hostilities between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply. Tensions persist between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and insurgencies continue to ravage Algeria, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and several other nations, marked by relentless violence. Numerous terror organizations are striking governments from within, destabilizing societies.

Artificial intelligence, now wielding power comparable to nuclear weapons, is being trained to execute autonomous attacks on human beings. What is portrayed as productivity through AI has, in reality, become a capitalist instrument erasing hundreds of livelihoods and threatening to engulf human civilization. The prevailing definition of productivity is narrow, self‑centered, and careless of its consequences—an approach that is actively depleting the earth’s precious resources. The world now stands at a crossroads unlike any before.

It feels like a reenactment of the Mahabharata. Driven by Duryodhana’s ambition to deny even an inch of land and Dhritarashtra’s blindness, one of the bloodiest wars was thrust upon humanity. The elemental forces of life—water, wind, fire—were weaponized at the altar of war to satisfy the greed of a few, while all value systems were sacrificed. The same story unfolds in the modern age.

An important milestone has been reached in the history of civilizational conflict, one that will ultimately compel humanity to question the very purpose of existence. This violence has no end, no goal, no mercy, no rules, no boundaries, no ethics, no purpose, no victor, and no vanquished. It is nothing but the exploitation of everything—every resource, every emotion—for nothing.

Dharma—the value systems that hold society together—are on the verge of collapse. This is precisely what Lord Krishna revealed to Arjuna, calling it Glani (unconsciousness) in the celebrated shloka: Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanir Bhavati Bharata… It is the moment that heralds the arrival of Krishna—consciousness itself. The only thought capable of sustaining the earth and humanity is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: the conviction that the entire universe, with all its creatures and the gifts of nature, is one family. It echoes the prayer of Saint Dnyaneshwar, that love should be the binding force among all creations.

That is why Lord Rama returned the land to Vibhishana after conquering Lanka—not to become a monarch or superpower, but to honor democracy. Sri Krishna chose to be Arjuna’s sarathi (charioteer) to establish governance rooted in values. Shivaji Maharaj did not wage wars to gratify the greed of a few, but to uphold benevolent rule and protect the poor. Swami Vivekananda affirmed that humanity, all creatures, and every form of nature must coexist in harmony.

Technology, too, must serve this vision: Sarva Jan Hitaya, Sarva Jan Sukhaya—for the benefit and well-being of all people. This is the position India has taken at the AI Summit, and it is this thought that becomes the true differentiator. Civilizations will inevitably converge upon it. Until then, violence and its immense cost remain unavoidable. The fire ignited by unchecked human greed will consume much before the final peace is established.