trauma

1 Comment Posted on by Reji Koduvath Indian Army

The Invisible Wounds of War: Understanding PTSD in Indian Soldiers

A General’s Final Salute

When Lieutenant General Savi (name changed) jumped from his eighth-floor apartment, his death shocked the military community. Friends revealed he had withdrawn from social life for three years—a classic red flag for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). His tragedy underscores a silent crisis: India’s soldiers are fighting battles long after retirement.  As a veteran, I’ve experienced this firsthand.

The Indian Army operates in extreme environments—Siachen’s glaciers, Kashmir’s counterinsurgency ops, Insurgency-hit jungles—yet denies the psychological toll. While the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) likely has PTSD data, reports gather dust in South Block’s bureaucracy.

PTSD: The Enemy Within

What is it?

PTSD isn’t a weakness—it’s a brain injury caused by trauma (combat, explosions, losing comrades). PTSD isn’t a Western concept. Ancient Indian texts describe warriors’ psychological wounds—we just forgot to listen. In Mahabharata, Arjuna, experiences profound distress and hesitation to fight, displaying signs of what could be interpreted as PTSD. It’s time to honour our soldiers by healing their invisible scars. Symptoms include:

  • Reliving Hell: Nightmares, flashbacks (e.g., smelling gunpowder years later).
  • Emotional Numbness: Avoiding weddings, unable to hug children.
  • Hypervigilance: Startling at fireworks, road rage incidents.

Why Soldiers Are Vulnerable:

  • Delayed Onset: Symptoms may emerge years after retirement.
  • Stigma: Seeking help assuming it to be unsoldierly.
  • Institutional Denial: No PTSD modules in training at various academies and training institutions.
  • Psychiatric Department in Military Hospitals – they resemble a German Concentration Camp and the Psychiatrist’s office an interrogation cell.
  • Lack of confidence in Psychiatric Intervention.  Sometimes it has been used as a mode to punish those who do not Fall-in-Line. The infamous AFSF10 is mostly misused.

The Hidden Fallout of PTSD

  • Depression: Life loses meaning. Nothing feels joyful. Feelings of guilt over surviving when others didn’t can lead to isolation.
  • Anxiety: A constant sense of dread, often misinterpreted as a physical illness.
  • Substance Abuse: Affected soldiers may turn to alcohol or drugs. General Savi reportedly had a dependence on alcohol.
  • Relationship Issues: Loved ones may perceive veterans as distant or self-centered. Emotional intimacy and sexual relationships may also suffer.
  • Career Disruption: PTSD can impair focus, memory, and work performance. Some veterans bury themselves in work to cope, while others find even simple tasks overwhelming.

The Ripple Effects of Untreated Trauma

  1. Families Under Fire:
    • Spouses describe living with ghosts – Soldiers/ Veterans physically present but emotionally absent.
    • Children learn to tiptoe around Dad’s unexplained anger.
  2. Career Collateral:
    • Workaholism or Self-Sabotage become coping mechanisms.
    • Alcohol Abuse.
  3. National Betrayal:
    • Veterans feel abandoned by the system they served. As one soldier remarked: “They give us medals but took away our dignity.”

Breaking the Silence: A Battle Plan

For the Indian Army:

  • Mandatory mental health screenings during/after high-risk deployments.
  • Trauma-informed leadership training for officers (Battalion Commanders must recognise PTSD and be capable of counselling soldiers suffering from PTSD).
  • De-stigmatise therapy by involving soldiers/ veterans in awareness campaigns. Making everyone aware that consulting a psychiatrist/ psychologist does not mean that one is mad.

For Veterans:

  • Therapy Works: CBT and EMDR can rewire trauma responses.
  • Brotherhood Heals: Join peer groups like Ex-Servicemen Mental Health Foundation.
  • Small Wins Matter: Daily walks, fixed sleep times, reconnecting with one friend.

For Society:

  • Stop asking “Were you in combat?”—PTSD can stem from training accidents or peace-time deployments.
  • Demand Veteran Mental Health Policies.  Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) clinics are devoid of psychiatrists.

Last Post

General Savi didn’t die from weakness—he was failed by a system that equates mental health with shame. Until we accept that uniforms don’t armour minds, more silent salutes will follow.

“The bravest thing I ever did was asking for help.”  – Anonymous Para SF Veteran

Conclusion

The silence around PTSD in the Indian military is costing lives. The first step to healing is acknowledging that PTSD exists. It is not weakness. It is the cost of duty, paid in silence. For soldiers like General Savi, that silence turned fatal. But with greater awareness, empathy, and institutional support, we can ensure others don’t have to suffer in silence. Above all, remember you are not alone. Across generations, soldiers and veterans have faced similar struggles—and overcome them.

Thanks to Veteran Major General SK Dutta who prompted me to pen this article.

2 Comments Posted on by Reji Koduvath Canada, Indian Army

Srinagar Airport Incident: A Symptom of a Larger Crisis

Recent reports of an Indian Army officer assaulting SpiceJet staff over baggage fees shocked many. While inexcusable, this aggression may point to a deeper issue: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Unlike Canadian soldiers—who enjoy baggage allowances up to 32kg ×3 pieces without fees – Indian personnel often face logistical stressors that compound existing traumas.

Canadian Soldiers are not charged overweight/ and or oversized bag fees for in all Canadian airlines including ultra-low-cost airlines – both on official and private travel.  

This incident mirrors my own awakening to PTSD after moving to Canada. When our children teased, “Dad, PTSD is kicking in!”, I realised how ill-equipped I was as a former Commanding Officer to recognise this invisible wound in my soldiers or myself.

PTSD: The War That Doesn’t End

PTSD is a psychological injury caused by trauma (combat, accidents, witnessing death, etc.) Symptoms include:

  • Intrusions: Flashbacks, nightmares (e.g., reliving Siachen avalanches).
  • Avoidance: Shutting down when asked about operations.
  • Hyperarousal: Explosive anger, sleep disorders, constant vigilance.

Historical Context.  In the American Civil War, it was referred to as Soldier’s Heart; in the First World War, Shell Shock; in the Second World War, War Neurosis; Vietnam War, Combat Stress Reaction. Many soldiers suffering from PTSD were labelled as Combat Fatigue and many soldiers continued and in 1980, it was categorised as PTSD.

Why PTSD Goes Unchecked in the Indian Army

  1. Cultural Stigma: Mental health – Considered a weakness in hyper-masculine environments.
  2. Lack of Training: No PTSD education for both officers and soldiers.
  3. Systemic Neglect: Low reported rates (officially) may reflect fear of career impacts or denied benefits.

Devastating Consequences of PTSD

  • Relationships: Emotional numbness destroys marriages (Why won’t he hold our baby?)
  • Substance Abuse: 50% veterans with PTSD self-medicate with alcohol.
  • Work Dysfunction: Alternating between workaholism and uncontrollable rage.

Breaking the Silence: Pathways to Healing

  • Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT,) Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy technique to alleviate the distress associated with PTSD.
  • Routine: Exercise, sleep hygiene, small daily goals.
  • Community: Creation of Veteran support groups.

For the Indian Army:

  • Accept Prevalence of PTSD.
  • Mandate PTSD Screening post-deployment (especially CI ops, high-altitude postings.)
  • Train officers to recognise symptoms.
  • Destigmatise PTSD. Confidential counseling without career penalties.

For Society:

  • Stop glorifying Sacrifice while ignoring suffering.
  • Demand veteran mental health budgets (current: <1% of defense spending).

A Call to Action

That officer at the airport wasn’t just misbehaving—he was likely re-experiencing trauma. Until India acknowledges PTSD as a war injury (not a disgrace,) we fail those who defend us. Indian Army claims that prevalence rates of PTSD is much lower compared to global averages – may be to ensure that the Veterans do not claim disability benefits.  In my opinion, about 50% of the Indian Veterans suffer from PTSD.