In 2006, Pratima Dharm received her commission in the U.S. Army and in 2008, she was selected to attend the Army’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program while in her year long deployment to Iraq. It was during her tour that she received the Bronze Star for conducting a series of humanitarian operations in Northern Iraq to provide needed supplies and care to the populace in the region, including the Kurds. Dharm grew up in New Delhi and in mid-2001, she immigrated to the United States. Prior to coming to America, she attended Notre Dame Academy (a Roman Catholic secondary school) and would go on to attend Mithibai College and later, Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, both of which are in Mumbai. This would earn her a Masters in Psychology. Dharm was raised a Hindu but she was exposed to many religions through her education, from her family who was open to other religious thought, as well as growing up in New Delhi which was a mixed religious city. An inner drive to know God saw Dharm enter into theological study after her immigration where she studied Judaism and Christianity in addition to maintaining her Hindu faith. Upon entering the U.S. Army, she was assigned to the Staff Specialist Corps, the combat service support branch and one in which unassigned officers were placed. In order to become a chaplain, the individual must train at a seminary and be endorsed by a religious organization in order to serve on active duty. At the time, there was no seminary which offered Hindu studies and so Dharm attended a Protestant seminary and was endorsed by the Pentecostal Church of God. Upon her ordination, Dharm wore the cross insignia on her uniform, denoting a Christian chaplain. This was because at the time, there existed no Hindu uniform device nor even a specification for a Hindu chaplain. This led to the Clinical Pastoral Education Program which was the result of a Department of Defense endorsement for a Hindu chaplaincy and Dharm submitted her interest in the program. Chinmaya Mission West became the endorsing religious organization and in 2011, now Captain Pratima Dharm became the U.S. Army’s very first Hindu chaplain as well as the first Indian female chaplain. At that time, there were approximately 1,000 Hindu soldiers in the Army. Dharm, though, was not a Hindu priest and thus could not perform sanskaras which are Hindu rites of passage that include such things as wedding ceremonies, various child rituals (naming, entrance into school, and other child “firsts”), and cremation rites. Still, she provided worship services (Hindu and Christian) and Hindu festival celebrations. In 2014, Dharm left the U.S. Army and became the Hindu chaplain at Georgetown University but within a year, resigned the post, to paraphrase her words, seek direction from God on what her future may be.
The photograph here of CPT Dharm shows her prior to receiving her endorsement and advancement to chaplain and so she wears the Staff Specialist Corps branch insignia. It was not until 2012 when a Chaplain Candidate specific branch insignia was issued. The main difference was the replacement of the sword with a shepherd’s crook. Upon becoming a chaplain, she wore the cross insignia of a Christian chaplain given she was taught in a Christian seminary and endorsed by a Christian religious organization but in May 2012, the U.S. Army authorized a Hindu specific insignia which consisted of the Sanskrit syllable for Om. There are many interpretations of what Om is but in Hinduism, it is the most sacred syllable and mantra of Brahman, the Almighty God of Hinduism. Some interpretations consider Om to be absolute truth, the essence of life, and the vehicle of deepest knowledge and self-knowledge. Images exist of CPT Dharm wearing all three insignia over the span of her career. Dharm’s ribbons are: Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (with Bronze Campaign Star; likely Phase 5 “Iraqi Surge”), Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Army Overseas Service Ribbon. The ribbon over her right breast is the Army Superior Unit Award. Above that is the DUI (Distinctive Unit Insignia) for the Chaplain Corps whose motto is “Pro Deo et Patria” which means “For God and Country.” Barely visible in the photograph beneath her name plate is the crest of the 3rd. Infantry Division.
Sadly, in 2014, some no morals, unscrupulous spammer utilized a photograph of CPT Dharm as part of his phishing campaign emails.
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