India, a country full of "curry flavors", has long received mixed reviews from the military. It is undeniable that India is one of the most militarily equipped countries in the world today. With nuclear weapons and cutting-edge technology from the United States and Russia, its defense power is indeed powerful for ordinary countries. However, despite this military prowess, India often makes ironic moves in its military performance, which leads to doubts about India's combat effectiveness. But in any case, India's continued build-up of the country's military power shows that its ambitions remain, its vigilance against its neighbors, and it seems that it is always planning something.
When we look at the military equipment of Indian soldiers, it is not difficult to see that many Sikh soldiers do not wear bulletproof helmets, but a special kind of headscarf. This aroused people's curiosity, is this "Indian third brother" turban also has bulletproof function?
The Indian soldiers wearing the turbans were actually one of many ethnic groups in India, known as Sikhs and believed in Sikhism. Sikhs are natural warriors who have a strong military tradition, are united and good at following orders, and are the main component of the Indian army. From the point of view of the level of quality, a steady and combative Sikh soldier is more suitable for the role of a soldier than an impulsive and irritable Russian soldier. During World War II, the combat qualities of Sikh soldiers were significantly higher than those of soldiers in other countries.
According to Sikh beliefs, men are not allowed to cut their hair and trim their beards, and can only wrap their heads in a long sectarian turban. In order to respect this religion, the Indian government has instituted regulations that allow Sikh soldiers not to wear bulletproof helmets. However, this cannot fully guarantee the safety of Indian soldiers. To solve this problem, the Indian military has developed a "bulletproof bandana" called the "Ptaka helmet". The helmet resembles a barrel and allows Sikh soldiers to wear a turban and wrap it around it. Although this turban can withstand the direct fire of conventional rifle bullets, it is not comparable to traditional bulletproof helmets due to its small internal cushioning space. Therefore, the Indian military still recommends that Sikh soldiers wear bulletproof helmets to ensure their safety.
Despite the tradition of Sikhs in India, many Sikh soldiers serving abroad have abandoned the habit. This reflects the convergence of cultures in the era of globalization, without clinging to rules that have nothing to do with religious beliefs. The Indian military respects the religious beliefs of its soldiers, just as the Chinese military has set up ethnic canteens to cater to the eating habits of ethnic minorities. Mutual respect and tolerance are the keys to building a better country.