The perils of polarisation for India’s defence forces

Summoning hundreds of America’s top military leaders from their posts worldwide, US President Donald Trump and secretary of war Pete Hegseth, harangued them in what is being interpreted as an attempt to enforce ideological alignment among the military's command structure, with a blunt ultimatum that officers who disagree should resign.

- Arun Prakash

While such developments in far-off America should not be of concern to us, this sudden and significant departure from longstanding norms in a fellow democracy and its bearing on civil-military relations calls for reflection.

India’s armed forces have, so far, had an excellent record of non-involvement in any kind of activity that can be described as politically motivated. A serviceman is free to cast his vote as he wishes, but any expression of political views or public signs of political affiliation has remained taboo. Thus, no politics, no religious discrimination and no caste, gender or ethnic bias was considered the Indian military's gold standard credo, and an attribute that has distinguished it from many other national institutions, which have forfeited the public’s faith and confidence.

Of late however, the secular and nondiscriminatory ethos of the military appears to be under stress. While the Indian Army has inherited a tradition of accommodating and respecting diverse religious ceremonials, especially those linked to the faith of its troops, now, there appears to be a steady push towards public display of a politically-motivated religious-cultural identity. Senior military leaders are increasingly visible at places of worship or pilgrimage and are seen participating in religious ceremonies. This is unexceptionable, since every individual is free to pray at the temples of his gods and observe the rituals of his faith. However, military ethos and propriety have traditionally required that religious worship remains a private and personal activity, undertaken when off duty, and without involving service facilities or personnel.