Painted on a sweeping canvas with broad strokes of the pen, he seamlessly integrates the complex world of military affairs, politics & international relations
An explosive, mind blowing account of a single man’s unbounded initiative to checkmate the Dragon . . . ,” so reads the blurb on the reverse jacket of Major Bakshi-The Dragon’s Nemesis, by Sudip Talukdar, author, military analyst and journalist. The book, published by Garuda Prakashan, is an unusual yet gripping story in contemporary Indian fiction, focusing on very real dangers posed by our northern neighbour.
The narrative begins innocuously enough. Major Bakshi, a veteran of fifty counter terror operations and a recipient of Mahavir Chakra, is distressed by the ‘rowdy’ behaviour of some ‘Bollywood celebs’ he is hosting for a TV programme in a forward area. Not only do his polite requests to maintain decorum fall on deaf ears, but his uniform is mocked as a ‘joker’s costume.’ But when he is manhandled, an indignity that crosses all bounds of toleration, matters really get out of hand. He promptly marches the entire protesting team to the waiting transport and sends them away, unceremoniously.
Dumped into the most backward rural pocket of central India, dubbed as a ‘black hole,’ by a livid brigade commander, the infantry officer finds himself among a bunch of Army discards, doomed to a miserable existence. The Major, made of sterner stuff, rebounds from the colossal setback, turning the punishment posting into an opportunity. He goes about forging the demoralized group into one of the world’s most feared guerrilla forces, with a resolute will and grim determination. Notwithstanding daunting odds, he imparts cutting edge combat skills to the written-off soldiers and moulds them into warriors of steel, preparing them for the most dangerous and daring mission of their lives. One that is capable of inflicting terrible vengeance on an enemy like China! Is it his sharp strategic sense at play or just pure luck? Or even his connect with Shamanic Powers, from the world beyond. This is the author’s second novel after Proxy War: The Counter Moves, which focused on terror networks from across the border and how the Army delivers a coup de grace.
Painted on a sweeping canvas with broad strokes of the pen, the book seamlessly integrates the complex world of history, military affairs, politics and international relations, into a gripping narrative that never loses sight of its goal, heading inexorably towards a shattering denouement.
Major Bakshi does have so many intriguing aspects to his persona. The setback in love life and the ensuing trauma prompt him to take up the calling of arms. The master of tactics and ambush is not only a ruthless task master but also equally compassionate, often to a fault, who loves his men and seeks to help them in a thousand and one ways. He is also instrumental in eliminating dozens of the most dreaded terrorists, applying their own methods. The book has a real-life war veteran in a fictional role as a lieutenant general and army commander, who has been given the mandate to checkmate the aggressive Northern neighbour. He brings his formidable experience and expertise to bear on the undertaking. China has been bullying India with impunity, a fall-out of the policies being pursued in the post-independence years. Successive political dispensations have fared no better, either behaving like passive spectators or wilting before its military might, even though the Indian Army is prepared to give the Dragon a befitting reply, as borne out by events at Nathu La, Somdorong and lately at Galwan.
How the book came to be written makes for an interesting story. One day, just out of the blue, the publisher asked the author to write about China, not long after his debut novel Proxy War-The Counter Moves, appeared on the bookshelves. Being totally clueless and unprepared, he somehow racked his brains for ideas, completing the task in seven short months. He wove a plot around whatever knowledge he had acquired about geopolitics, strategic matters, military life, officers and men who had served with his father in war and peace and lastly the urge to punish the Northern neighbour.
Lt Gen PG Kamath, former Commandant of Army War College and strategic affairs analyst, observes: “The book has in places discussion that is taking place among the veterans and planners. It is so realistic that it well could be held in the decision-making process in the corridors of power. The author appears to be well informed in geo-strategy and has a clear idea of power-play indulged by countries. The shenanigans of different countries and the concept of proxy war have been abundantly and exquisitely brought out in the book.”
(The reviewer is a former Secretary, Government of India. The views expressed are personal.)
