From the Battlefield To Your Heart (Book Review)

Book: Letters from Kargil
Author: Diksha Dwivedi
Publication: Juggernaut

Letters from Kargil takes you through an emotional rollercoaster where every word, every sentence leaves you tear-jerked and with a big lump in the throat. Diksha Dwivedi takes you through the lives of those brave warriors and their families who fought in the 1999 Kargil War and emerged triumphant. She beautifully balances the Kargil war narration throughout the book and the personal moments of each soldier who fought that war.

Diksha lets us into her little world through various letters exchanged between her and her beloved father. She explains the fear that she, her sister and mother felt at each moment when her father was busy fighting the invading enemy at all times. The loving letters dripping in extreme affection and care, made her feel that he was not at the border but sitting next to her, sharing life lessons with her.

She makes us feel the excruciating pain that she and her family had to go through when they learnt that he is martyred. No words can describe what they went through at that moment and the days that followed. She also makes accessible a glimpse of letters of other soldiers from across the country who bravely faced the enemy, sent them to hell and achieved martyrdom with gentlemanly grace and their heads held up high.

Guest Author: Varun N Rao 

What’s in the letters

Each letter written by the soldiers tell us that even when they were at the battlefield, in the heat of the war, facing bullets and mortar shellings every second, and conquering vital peaks, they never forgot their loved ones and wished they could spend more time with them. They never forgot their motherland, and despite some getting hit with bullets, shrapnels, RPGs, they still fought and achieved what they were set for. They never forgot their duty as a father, brother, husband, and through their letters instilled guidance, love and care for their loved ones. Their letters reflect a whole plethora of emotions. Some wanted their children to do well in exams and not worry about them, some were assuring their parents that they are fine and will return, while others to their newly wed brides that they will have a good married life when they are back from the front.

They are just like us but with a heart of gold

While we have tremendous respect for our soldiers and regard them as our superheroes, Diksha actually tells us that they were simple human beings who loved the little pleasures that life gave them, be it going back home and doing simple house chores, reading about their valour in the newspapers, helping their family etc. Just like any other normal men.

Be it a father of two small children, or a newly married husband, or a soldier who was to get married after the war ended, they all faced the enemy with equal grace, passion and patriotism. It was a sense of unexplained madness that possessed them while facing the enemy that led them to undertake extraordinary acts of bravery, even when they were taking their last breaths.

The book gives an enormous food for thought and at the end, you just sit there thinking about these brave men, ruminating over their stories and the future of their families.

Diksha has accurately described each major battle fought in Kargil. From the battle of Tololing to the capture of Tiger Hills, she has nailed the technical details and this shows the amount of research that went into the book. Hats off to her!

Word from the reviewer 

Our brave soldiers weren't told to join the Indian Army. They were never told to be away from their families and fight at the borders where neither the climate conditions nor the enemy made lives easier for them. They come from simple families, eat simple food, have big dreams for them and their children, strive to give them good values and morals and give a good life to them. They are led by their passion, sheer grit and untold patriotism for their motherland.

While we lead our lives by fulfilling ambitions, debating over the state of affairs, partying on weekends, savouring family lunches & occasions, being around our family & friends and caring for them, giving the best of lives to them, we must not forget that there are a bunch of brave men who are far away guarding our borders, fighting the enemy, and ready to give or have already given their lives for the country. Their families living in fear every single second, dreading that phone call, that news that might come from someone else in the unit, fighting sleepless nights and restless days. They have sacrificed much of their living lives for the nation and face uncertainty of death and their families' future.

The soldiers themselves know, that in the heat of any major or minor battle, the news is all over the papers, there is heightened sense of patriotism, anger against the enemy, even jingoism. But just like any other story, it fades away in a couple of days. They are forgotten. And they don't mind that. For they are warriors with a heart of gold and they put the country ahead of themselves.

We must not forget them and their sacrifices. Every story must be told, every thought must be written. Every martyr's story must be written by their child or siblings or parents or spouse. There should be more such books and should reach every person in the country. For everyone should realize the price of their freedom.

For our tomorrow, they gave their today. Remember and Never Forget! Salute to these brave men. Jai Hind!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

I received a review copy of the book from Juggernaut in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About The Guest Reviewer:

Varun N Rao is a Senior Content Specialist at a US-based software company in Bengaluru. In his 'strictly me' time, he creates realistic portraits with pencils and paints, paintings and funny caricatures. He also creates digital works and explores new trends in the art world both, digital and fine art. Follow his works at www.facebook.com/vartoonss/

Apart from this, he helps his wife to create delicious, mouth-watering chocolates under the banner Eat More Chocolates (www.facebook.com/eatmorechocolates).

When not creating portraits or preparing chocolates, he indulges in some lazy time to read biographies, fiction and non-fiction books, editing his wife's articles/blogs/short stories or just watch movies, comedy serials etc.