Indians feel a sense of pride when they talk about Dharma Yuddha – the Hindu Code of War, which lays out strict rules for fighting for both sides. The Vedas laid out thousands of years ago that warriors should not attack unarmed warriors, and war should take place only between equals. Gardens, temples, and other public places of worship should remain unaffected.
According to British-Nepali jurist Surya Subedi, a ruler or a king who did not observe the laws of war had no place in the galaxy of virtuous and victorious kings. “As are the laws of war in modern international law, the laws of war in Hinduism were designed to make the conduct of war as humane as possible. The Hindu laws of war included rules to ensure that warfare was conducted in a fair manner and by open means.”
However, no law, however beautiful, can be for all times to come. The Hindu Code of War is not appropriate in the modern era where Pakistan and China do not follow such rules. For several decades after independence in 1947, India’s national security strategy was guided by a philosophy of restraint, rooted in Mohandas Gandhi’s principle of Ahimsa, or non-violence. This deeply embedded ethos shaped India’s foreign and defence policy, often resulting in calibrated inaction even in the face of grave provocations. While the moral idealism behind this stance projected India as a peace-seeking nation, it also left the country vulnerable to repeated aggression by hostile neighbours.
Legacy of Restraint
The Gandhian legacy, amplified by leaders like Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saw India consistently choose dialogue over force. The belief was that moral leadership, not military might, should define India’s role in the world. This doctrine was tested repeatedly — whether during the 1947-48 invasion of Kashmir when India halted military operations on its own, or in the 1962 war with China, where faith in diplomacy met a brutal reality check as China seized Aksai Chin.
Even as late as the Kargil War in 1999 and the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, India’s response was largely shaped by its desire to avoid escalation, seek international approval, and remain anchored in non-aggression. But as history has shown, inaction can be mistaken for weakness, especially in a volatile neighbourhood.
The Gandhian legacy, amplified by leaders like Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saw India consistently choose dialogue over force. The belief was that moral leadership, not military might, should define India’s role in the world. This doctrine has been tested repeatedly since Independence
Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Turning Point
The Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 was a watershed moment. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precise, proportionate, and unprecedented military retaliation against terrorist infrastructure across the border. It marked a historic break from decades of strategic passivity. For the first time in modern Indian history, the state acted with speed, moral clarity, and technological confidence — signalling that restraint would no longer be the default.
Operation Sindoor was more than a military operation. It was a civilisational inflection point that reflected India’s evolution from a reactive power to one that embraces assertive deterrence — firm, ethical, and strategically calculated.
Civilisational Patience Meets Strategic Clarity
India’s post-independence diplomacy was inspired by a belief that a civilisational state should lead by example, not by force. That ethos, however, often left India ill-prepared to deal with asymmetric threats, especially state-sponsored terrorism from across the border.
With Operation Sindoor, India reframed its narrative. Inspired by the Bhagavad Gita’s call for righteous action (Dharma Yuddha), the country embraced a new posture — one that balances civilisational patience with strategic decisiveness.
Redefining Deterrence: From Moral Idealism to Strategic Realism
For decades, India’s measured responses were seen not as wise restraint but as geopolitical hesitation. Adversaries like Pakistan exploited this predictability, outsourcing violence to non-state actors under a nuclear umbrella.
Operation Sindoor shattered that assumption. Conducted within 72 hours of the Pahalgam massacre, the operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan-administered territory using precision long-range weapons. Crucially, it was executed without breaching the Line of Control, thereby preserving the formal sanctity of borders while delivering maximum tactical impact.
The strikes were backed by diplomatic coordination with global powers, ensuring the operation was seen as justified and proportionate. Media briefings, foreign embassy notifications, and backchannel diplomacy reflected a new strategic maturity.
India’s use of Rafale jets equipped with SCALP cruise missiles, real-time satellite intelligence, and AI-enabled targeting illustrated not only the resolve but also capability. This was deterrence in the language of power — precise, credible and morally grounded.
Operation Sindoor, conducted within 72 hours of the Pahalgam massacre, targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan using precision long-range weapons. Crucially, it was executed without breaching the Line of Control, preserving the formal sanctity of borders while delivering maximum tactical impact
Four Pillars of Assertive Deterrence
India’s emerging security doctrine is shaped by four foundational principles:
- Proactive Punishment: Unlike in the past, when military responses were delayed by bureaucracy or fear of escalation, Operation Sindoor demonstrated rapid execution based on credible intelligence. The shift from reactive diplomacy to timely retaliation redefined deterrence in real terms.
- Moral Certainty: Framed as a just war, the operation was presented as an act of righteous self-defence. India’s emphasis on protecting civilian lives and upholding territorial integrity garnered global sympathy and established a high moral ground.
- Cultural Confidence: Operation Sindoor reflected a reinterpretation of Indian civilisational values — not as signs of passivity, but as inner strength. Ahimsa, in this new vision, is restraint exercised from a position of power, not submission.
- Technological Empowerment: The operation showcased India’s growing reliance on indigenous technology:
- Akashteer Air Defence Network intercepted retaliatory drone threats.
- Loitering munitions enabled precise targeting across the border.
- Cartosat-3 and RISAT-2BR1 satellites delivered real-time imagery for mission planning.
Such technological readiness enhances India’s ability to control escalation and project credible deterrence.
A Civilisational State with Strategic Maturity
Operation Sindoor defined a new strategic identity for India — an identity shaped by:
- Chanakyan realpolitik, where actions are guided by national interest;
- Vedantic and Gita-inspired clarity, where war is seen as a last resort but a just one;
- And 21st-century technological capability, where digital warfare, space-based intelligence, and precision systems are integrated into national defence.
This is not an India abandoning its values — but one evolving them to meet today’s complex geopolitical realities.
Global Resonance and Strategic Signalling
The international response to Operation Sindoor was telling. Western allies commended India’s calibrated response. Middle Eastern partners like the UAE and Saudi Arabia expressed quiet solidarity. Even China, usually quick to criticise, issued a restrained statement — indicating growing respect for India’s military credibility.
India’s assertive yet disciplined approach was seen as a sign of a maturing power — capable of balancing strength with responsibility.
The international response to Operation Sindoor was telling. Western allies commended India’s calibrated response. The UAE and Saudi Arabia expressed quiet solidarity. Even China, usually quick to criticise, issued a restrained statement — indicating growing respect for India’s military credibility
Road Ahead: Institutionalising Strategic Dharma
To sustain this new doctrine, India must take several steps:
- Theatre Command Reform to ensure unified tri-service warfighting.
- Civil-military synergy to enable rapid, informed decision-making in crises.
- Strategic Communication to shape global narratives before adversaries do.
- Indigenous Defence Innovation to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers and enhance self-reliance.
Conclusion: End of Restraint and Rise of Strategic Dharma
Operation Sindoor was not just a military success — it was a statement of intent. It marked the end of an era defined by excessive restraint and the beginning of a new phase grounded in Strategic Dharma — a doctrine that values peace but recognises that it must be protected with strength.
This is a new India — clear in purpose, confident in culture and credible in power. A nation that still values Ahimsa, but no longer mistakes silence for strength.
–The writer is a globally cited defence analyst based in New Zealand. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
