UNITED STATES, December 22, 2025 (MSN): What happens when faith collides with uniform? Second Lieutenant Harish Rao’s story exposes a rarely discussed side of military service in the United States. During basic training, India-origin Rao was allegedly threatened with deportation for refusing to remove his Hindu tilak, a core religious symbol. Isolated from fellow trainees and sidelined, his future hung in the balance. Then came a turning point, a chaplain who chose the Constitution over convenience. With official religious accommodation, Rao returned to training, completed advanced courses, and rose as a leader. Today, he stands as a commissioned officer and a voice for Hindu religious rights in the military, advocating dietary accommodations and representation. Rao is a member of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

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https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/hindu-soldier-threatened-with-deportation-for-tilak-during-us-army-training-before-justice-prevailed/vi-AA1SNMDa?cvid=69498b227fdc4a2e981077858645d6ee&ocid=hpmsn

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