A Soldier's Journey Through Life

A Soldier's Journey Through Life
The reader joins the author in his 'Journey through Life' around 1935, as perceived by a child of five and six following him through the simple ways of life in the Western UP villages, then to Delhi of yore and the small towns of the province.
The culture shock of the move to Lucknow in the 50's and the freewheeling life in the university is introduced to the new concept of 'Love at Far Site. Next on to Indian Military Academy in Dehradun located in the foothills of lofty Himalayas. IMA with its dreaded Drill Square, Obstacle Course and then the passing-out as a proud but nervous 2nd Lieutenant married to his new, but virtual wife: the Indian Army. He subsequently suffers a period growing pains in the post Independence Army. An Army which was still a blend of the old British traditions and the Indian value system.
Shortly thereafter he finds himself married to the love of his life, Jeet and the reader is introduced to a man experiencing 'Love at First Sight', the pangs of separation in married life and the complexity of juggling with the conflicting needs and demands of the two wives, one loving and demanding; the other just plain demanding. Then during the 1962 Sino-Indian Conflict it's off to the battle grounds in the 'Valley of Death' to face the uncertainties to life and limb.
As the author climbs up the career ladder, the reader has a chance to look at the intricacies of Command and Staff at Army HQ and the studentinstructor relationship in a service environment, so different from traditional institutions.
As life goes by, the reader is introduced to the author's trauma on being a helpless witness to his wife's tenacious fight with cancer, with his only partly successful efforts, to minimise her pains through the long struggle, culminating in her untimely demise, finally to sympathise with his efforts to cope with remorse, pain and guilt of living without her.

Dettagli