Innovate and survive

In a one-to-one fight with a Tiger, an average man has little or no chance of survival. But he used tools, developed weapons to fight from a distance. It all started with long sharpened sticks in the beginning, then with bow and arrows and by shooting bullets in the modern times. That is how human beings survived against the odds. By innovating, he overcame the shortfalls of deficiency in his physical strength against that of a Tiger and other larger & stronger animals. Necessity is the mother of innovation. The survival instincts made man innovate in order to survive.

Let us look at man's fight against similar species. Neanderthals were much stronger in built, aggressive in attitude, violent and ruthless in fighting when compared to Homo Sapiens. Despite those advantages, Neanderthals did not survive as Homo Sapiens learned to step back and observe. Sapiens learned to coordinate and fight in groups. They developed language for them to communicate effectively. Communication tools, ability to form larger groups, fighting from a place of advantage (like in ambush fights), helped Sapiens to take on much stronger species of human beings and survive. We, being decedents of such smart warrior species have further honed our survival skills.    

If you look at struggles within human beings, those communities and nations learned to innovate have come out stronger. For example, millions of Jews in Poland had died in the hands of Hitler. Fast forward a few decades to current times, Jews in Israel put up a strong fight if someone provokes them. Continuous struggles with neighbors made them build an iron dome, an ability to intercept the rockets fired into their borders. That system might not be entirely foolproof, but it improved their chances of survival and reduce the damage which their enemies intended to cause. Struggle to survive made them innovate new war strategies, build sophisticated weapons and handle their enemies with ease despite disadvantageous location of their country being surrounded by enemies in all directions. Enemies of Israel did not innovate at the pace of Israel, so in the recent war they fired crude rockets into Israel and got back much precise and powerful missiles in return. It is much of a war of innovation than a hand to hand or eyeball to eyeball fight between the soldiers.

Ability to innovate decided who will survive and thrive in the past and so will be in the future. The disability to innovate put us at risk. Struggles and threats do not cease to exist. Tigers in the jungle are no longer threats to us and Neanderthals do not exist in the mountains anymore. Our ancestors did their job well. But in the modern times, it is man against man. It is our own kind of people (sometimes countries in our own neighborhood) can pose real threats to our existence. Innovation helps us defend, if not  offend.

What is happening to Israel has been happening to India for many centuries. Invaders looted India multiple times for India’s inability to fight back effectively. Though India did survive, its potential to shine was dented. India has been rebuilt several times. Had India been successful in controlling their borders, it would have been a much stronger country.

Lesson or takeaway is written on the wall. Innovate else get ready to be wiped out from existence. Peace is the outcome of war, and not a precursor. Innovate and survive. Innovate and thrive.