Religious Unity and Leadership: Why the Indian Armed Forces Value Collective Faith Above Personal Beliefs

Nov 28, 2025 08:27 pm CST

This article examines a Supreme Court case upholding the dismissal of an Army officer who refused to participate in religious rituals outside his faith. Through personal anecdotes from a retired Air Vice Marshal, it explores how India's military institutions foster religious inclusivity through the Sarva Dharm tradition, where officers lead by example across all faiths to build unit cohesion essential for combat effectiveness. The piece illustrates why military leadership requires subordinating individual religious preferences to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among troops.