Roll Of Honour
Author: Amandeep Sandhu
Publisher: Rupa, Rs 275
The novel gives an account of Punjab during the 1980s when it was under the grip of the Khalistan movement, writes Varad Sharma
Amandeep Sandhu’s novel, Roll of Honour, gives an account of Punjab during the turbulent 1980s when the State was under the grip of the Khalistan movement, aimed at creating a separate Sikh nation. The author blends his personal experiences with the political situation in Punjab three decades ago and rolls out his “Roll of Honour”.
The protagonist of the novel is a Sikh boy, Appu, who is studying in the XIIth standard in a military school in the fictional town of Jassabad, Punjab. He wants to get his name listed in the school’s hall of fame. Appu aspires of getting into the National Defence Academy so that he can serve the nation by joining the Indian Army.
In the meantime, the situation in the State turns vicious. The Army at the behest of the Indian Government carries out the Operation Blue Star for eliminating the Khalistani terrorists holed up in Golden Temple. In the operation, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the chief advocate of the Khalistan movement, gets killed along with his associates.
These incidents affect the environment in the military school as well, splitting students along the sectarian lines — Hindus and Sikhs. And Appu, who initially wanted to join the Army, doesn’t seem to be interested anymore after seeing the ‘wrongs’ committed by the armed forces in the State.
Appu is now confronted with the questions of authority, identity, dignity, sexuality and friendship. In the hostel, the seniors indulge in sodomy and bullying so as to dominate the juniors. In between, Appu tells about his current life. The past-present transition in the novel is smooth.
The observations made by the author are striking. “Of all that transpires in the heart, hope is the meanest because it tints one’s understanding of reality.” let’s take another one: “I realised with time that we are all potential chameleons changing our colours according to where we belong, who pays us, what keeps us safe.”
Sandhu, while questioning the authoritative powers of the state, talks about different identities an individual assumes in different phases of life on the basis of colour, religion, community, language and nation. The author is blunt in describing the events and experiences. The characters of the novel appear at time confusing. Yet, one should read this novel to get an insight about what the youth of Punjab went through during the troubled years of the 1980s. I hope the author has found peace with himself and his past after writing this novel.