Personal Barriers Rise Despite Sanatan Dharma’s Inclusive Spirit ?
Poonam Sharma
Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Christian Army Officer: Rising Crisis of Personal Religious Interpretations and India’s Inclusive Sanatan Ethos
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan, a Christian Army officer who refused to participate in regimental ceremonies at a temple and gurdwara, is more than a disciplinary affirmation. It opens a wider conversation about why personal religious interpretations, rigidity, and misplaced notions of identity are becoming obstacles in a society whose foundational civilisational ethos—Sanatan Dharma—is essentially inclusive, pluralistic, and embracing of all.
Discipline First: Personal Interpretation Cannot Override Military Order
A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi observed that Lt Kamalesan’s conduct hurt the religious feelings of his own soldiers. The CJI said, “If this is the attitude of an Army officer, then what to say?”—a comment that underlines the depth to which the Army relies on unity, mutual respect, and shared regimental identity.
The Delhi High Court had earlier explained that the case was not one of religious freedom but of refusal to follow lawful military commands. The Supreme Court has also recorded how despite guidance by an Army pastor, the officer persisted in insisting his personal interpretation above institutional discipline; if anything, it showed that the refusal was not about any essential practice of Christianity but personal rigidity.
Indian Army: Unity in Diversity at its Best
One of the most diverse forces in the world, the Indian Army integrates people from every religion, region, culture and language. None of its regimental traditions promotes any religion; instead, they honour and accommodate all.
The Sarv Dharma Sthal stands as a powerful symbol of India’s unique secularism, distinct from the Western concept of distancing oneself from religion. For in Indian secularism, it is about equal respect for every faith, not the exclusion of faith.
In such a structure, the refusal even to enter a temple or gurdwara during a regimental ceremony is not a matter of personal piety—it is nothing less than a direct challenge to the collective spirit that binds soldiers together.
Why Are Such Personal Religious Obstacles Increasing in Society?
This case reflects the broader social trend: people increasingly treat their personal or misunderstood religious convictions as more important than common culture, obligation, or sometimes even coexistence.
Several factors contribute to this rise:
Social media misinformation: Half-baked interpretations of religious texts are being treated as absolute truths.
Western ideological influence: A sustained effort at presenting India’s identity and religions as conflict-ridden rather than harmonious.
Politicisation of religion: People reduce faith to identity politics, forgetting their real spiritual roots.
Lack of genuine study and introspection: Most of them no longer read the scriptures or understand their traditions; they rely on hearsay, ideology, or extreme interpretations.
The irony is stark—India’s very civilisational foundation, Sanatan Dharma, never imposes itself on anyone, yet today, sectarian rigidity is rising in society, often imported from outside narratives.
Sanatan Dharma: The World’s Most Inclusive and Secular Way of Life
The essence of Indian civilization is essentially rooted in ideals of Sanatan Dharma, grounded on the concepts of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah”, “Ekamsat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti”, and “Atithi Devo Bhava.”
Sanatan Dharma:
Does not impose belief on anyone
Does not compel worship or participating in rituals
Does not oppose the existence of other religions
Encourages personal spiritual paths and independent thought.
Celebrates diversity rather than suppressing it.
That is why India has traditionally fostered Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Parsis, and innumerable indigenous traditions without conflict or enforced conversion.
In truth, Hinduism is the world’s most secular religion precisely because it does not revolve around a single scripture, prophet, or dogma. It allows infinite paths to the divine, encouraging harmony rather than division.
When an individual, irrespective of his religion, chooses personal interpretation over collective duty, he stands in opposition to the very civilisational ethos that makes India a multicultural success.
Supreme Court Judgment: National Interest Comes First
The Supreme Court judgment upholds two fundamental tenets:
The armed forces cannot compromise unity and discipline.
Personal religious interpretation cannot override duty.
India’s secular tradition binds people together rather than divides. This judgment reminds the nation that secularism, tolerance, and diversity are not mere constitutional values but the living soul of India’s civilisation. Both Sanatan Dharma and the Constitution of India echo the same message:
