The military is often glorified as the ultimate representation of national strength, discipline, and sacrifice. Soldiers are draped in medals, paraded in ceremonies, and held up as paragons of patriotism. But what happens when the walls of discipline mask a darker reality — one where silence is the true uniform and statistics scream what commanders won’t say aloud?

The stark contrast between the emotional resilience of Indian Armed Forces personnel and the alarming rates of PTSD, mental health issues, including suicides, among soldiers in the USA, Australia, and other Western countries was a revelation.