The story of Jammu Kashmir since 1980s when terrorism rose its head and reached the pinnacle is being told to the world and that too as seen and experienced by a soldier. Come 2023, the book “Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye, My Life Story” by Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, former commander of the elite Chinar Corps and former director general of the Defense Intelligence Agency would hit shelves across the country.
Popularly known as Lt General JKS Dhillon ‘Tiny’ for his bytes in news bulletins in various TV news channels, the soldier played a major role in neutralizing terrorist activities in Kashmir with his ‘boys’. The memoirs would also disclose the socio-political situations prevailed in Kashmir including the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.
In what is seen as a ‘publishing coup’, Penguin Viking, the leading publishing group walked away with the contract to publish the memoirs. The details about the book were released by Penguin on Thursday. General Dhillon, who was commissioned in the Indian Army’s Rajputana Rifles hang up his boots in January 2022 after 39 years of meritorious service during which he was decorated with highest awards instituted by the Indian Army for sterling performances and leadership qualities.
General Dhillon, whom friends call Tiny would disclose the hitherto untold details of the Pulwama massacre unleashed by the terrorists and the retaliatory strikes at Balakote in POK by soldiers of the Indian Army. The commander is widely respected for his judicious use of military power even while persuading the terrorists to give up the path of confrontation and join mainstream life. “‘Kite Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye’ is a first-hand narration of my life journey from a young boy to the Commander of Chinar Corps with Kashmir being an inseparable part of this story including the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, terrorism, Pulwama blast, Balakote and abrogation of Article 370,” General Dhillon has been quoted in a release issued by the Penguin Group.
“Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon’s (Retd) life stories—full of challenges—should interest a wide spectrum of readers. Anecdotal, candid, and evocative, this inspirational memoir will open a window to the true stories from this army veteran’s life. From the barbarous attack on the convoy of Indian security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama district, killing 40 CRPF staff to the abrogation of Article 370 and its impact on the socio-political and law and order, among others, will form an integral part of the narrative in the book,” said Premanka Goswami, associate publisher, Penguin.
