Ever since the campaigning for Lok Sabha elections began in full swing, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi intensified his casteist rhetoric through which he advocated for caste profiling across the nation as well in various domains including in media, social media, academia, Ministry, bureaucracy, as well as in sacrosanct institution like the Indian Armed Forces. In a crude and a damning narrative for the country, the Gandhi scion attempted to create a caste divide within the ranks of the Indian Armed forces, pitting caste vs caste narrative in the death of soldiers.
While once demonising the Agniveer scheme, Rahul Gandhi resorted to casteist divide in martyrdoom of Jawans and officers. “There are two Indias and two types of martyrs within the Army,” Gandhi had said.
Now taking cue from his party leader, scandalous journalist turned Congress leader, Prashant Kanojia took the caste, religious profiling to a ridiculously low level. In journalism, there is an unspoken principle: a journalist’s success lies in their stories capturing attention, not in the journalist themselves becoming the focus for controversial reasons or publicity stunts. For those unversed, Kanojia was quite the opposite.
However, the scandalous journalist, Kanojia faced jailed terms for his ragtag journalism. He is notorious for deriding late CDS General Bipin Rawat, likening him with mass-murderer General Dyer, among other contentious activities. Yet, he was the apple of the eye for the leftist ecosystem. Now, in Congress, he has taken the baton of casteist, dividing narrative forward from Rahul Gandhi, going to an extreme of doing religious polarisation and targeting the religious sentiments and the very innate principle of the Jain community and the Indian Armed forces.
Journalist turned Congress leader raises questions on Jain community’s patriotism, claims they are absent in the Indian armed forces
Recently, an X user apparently hailing from the Jain community, highlighted the stellar representation of the Jain community in highly competitive exams like the CA exams, attributing absence of reservations as one of the key reasons for the same.
While responding to the X user, the Congress leader resorted to launching a direct smear campaign against the Jain community, ranting that they are virtually absent in the Indian Armed forces, and gallantry award recognitions.
Kanojia wrote, “No reservation in the Army and Armed forces still Jains are hardly seen in the line. Look at Ashok Chakra aur Paramveer Chakra list, hardly any Jains. Why don’t they want to serve the Nation? Only Businessmen?”
Now, the Congress leader’s post is wrong on so many levels. It is pertinent to note that off the left, the leftist ecosystem has been attempting to create an artificial rift between Indic religions, that are hailed within the larger umbrella of Sanatan Dharma tree. Earlier, a negative campaign was witnessed that aimed to pit the Buddhist against the Hindus, now a smear campaign is seemingly underway against the Jain community, a threat warning to distance from the Hindu brethren.
First and foremost, any journalist or public representative worth their salt knows that Jains strictly adhere to ahimsa, which is the bedrock of their belief system. To seek their representation in the armed forces with the intent to advance nefarious agenda or score cheap points is completely misguided. Worse, the attempt to portray them not as patriots risking their lives for the country but as greedy capitalist cronies is both baseless and malicious. In this instance, the Jains are the focus of the attack, but the leftist ecosystem frequently directs similarly shrill and baseless rhetoric against communities such as the Baniyas, Parsis, and so-called non-martial races.
By questioning the role of the Jains in the armed forces, especially stating that it is a place where there is no representation of such individuals while they are reaping benefits in business. Such comments, steeped in ignorance and devoid of respect, do not only belittle the stature of the Indian armed forces but also belittle the significant contributions made by people from all communities, including Jains, who have served with distinction.
Kanojia’s claim that Jains are conspicuously absent from the armed forces is blatantly false and reflects the wide gap in disturbing lack of understanding.
Guided by the motto of Naam, Namak, Nishan, the Indian military stands as a shining beacon of unity in diversity. Within its ranks, jawans and officers uphold the sacred duty of protecting their motherland above all principles, belief systems, and virtues. The bond is so profound that a jawan’s religion or caste becomes that of the officer and vice versa, fostering mutual respect, reverence, and adherence to each other’s faiths.
To single out a specific community as ‘absent’ from this great institution is not only misleading but also divisive. What Kanojia fails to realize is that service to the nation is determined not by religion or the community but by the power, integrity, and selfless nature of the person. The Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force have always been at the forefront as a point of national pride beyond religious restrictions and have served as opportunities for any Indian who chose to defend his country.
In a major embarrassment to casteist journalists, intellectuals, and leaders, the armed forces have consistently and firmly rejected any form of profiling within their sacrosanct institution. The soldier’s Dharma unequivocally forbids identity-based discrimination or differentiation, upholding the principle of unity and equality above all.
While strictly adhering to their belief system which bars violence, countless Jain jawans, officers are serving proudly in the Armed forces, negating the biased and baseless assertions of the Congress leader and his ilks.
Jain Officers in the Indian Armed Forces: A Testament to Service Above Self
Reading the long list of highly prominent Jain officers who are serving in the armed forces to the highest ranks would very easily defeat the baseless assertion and targeting of the Jain community.
One of the most remarkable examples is Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, a Tamil Jain by birth. He became a national hero for his bravery in the 2019 India-Pakistan standoff. When he shot down Pakistan’s state-of-the-art F16 with his antique Mig-21 Bison, his fightjet was also hit in the ensuing dog fight with several Pakistani jets. While he safely ejected from his jet, he ended up in the hostile terrain across the border where he stood tall, defiant with his quirky and ritualistic, ‘I am not supposed to tell you that‘ remark to Pakistani’s coercive tactics, Varthaman, a Jain by birth, emerging as a National hero.
Yet another prominent Jain officer serving in the Indian Air Force is Air Commodore L. K. Jain, who was an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and boasts 4,500 hours of flying experience that includes Canberra, IL-76, and Avro. He has been Chief Navigation Instructor at Navigation Training School and Head of Department at College of Defence Management. He was Station Commodore of an Air Force Station in Mumbai and commanded a missile squadron in Srinagar, J&K. He was Group Commander of National Cadet Corps (NCC) in Nagpur and also served as Deputy Director General of NCC, Karnataka and Goa Directorate and Rajasthan Directorate.
He is the epitome of a role model for young aspirants in the armed forces and very evident proof of the enormous presence of Jains in the defense services.
In addition, Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, an Indian Navy officer, is serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a retired Indian naval officer who served as the 2nd Vice Chief of Defence Staff of India. Many such successes in his service exemplify the quality and dedication of the Jain officers in defense services for the nation.
Another notable one is the elevation of Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain of the Mahar regiment to the 52nd Commandant position at the Indian Military Academy in 2024. The IMA is the training ground for future Indian Army leaders, so the fact that a member of the Jain community reached such a high position indicates much about the contributions of the Jains to the Indian Armed Forces.
As a Major General, he commanded a counterinsurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir and, as Lieutenant General, commanded 16 Corps. Lt Gen Jain is also an alumni of the National Defence College in Kenya and has been decorated with the Sena Medal and awarded Chief of the Army Staff’s Commendation Card. General Sandeep Jain’s emergence as a shining star in the Indian Army is nothing but a slap in the face of Prashant Kanojia’s false and baseless assumptions.
These are just a few examples of Jain officers who have served and continue to serve with honor, distinction, and a deep sense of patriotism. The Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy are full of such officers who, irrespective of the community or religion, have dedicated their lives to the defense of the country. It is this all-round commitment that has helped maintain the sovereignty of India, thus safeguarding its citizens.
Indian Armed Forces: A Realm of Unity Transcending Politics of Divisibility
The armed forces have always taken pride in their professionalism, discipline, and ability to transcend the narrow constraints of communalism. They teach their men that Indian Forces have no religion but one, which is WE ARE INDIAN. It is people like Congress leader Kanojia who, in the pursuit of transitory glory, try to reduce the real meaning of serving in the forces—commitment to one’s country, willingness to sacrifice, and an indefatigable sense of duty.
To those who seek to undermine the reputation of the armed forces for political gains, the message is simple: the nation stands united behind its soldiers. They would always be special in the hearts of every Indian and no amount of baseless rhetoric could reduce their grand legacy. The Indian Armed Forces will continue to survive with honor and dedication and will always be above petty politics.
