Aaapki galti nahi hai, India ke logo ko na actors aur cricketers ke alawa kisi aur ki story nahi pata hoti, jaaiye dhudh lijiyega internet-shinternet par.
5 years ago I heard that dialogue by a soldier in a short film Plus Minus by Bhuvan Bam. But is the internet a trustworthy source?
On page number 88, the author mentions how Brig. Shekhawat’s Wikipedia page was full of false information. Historical movies like Bajirao Mastani, Jodha Akbar, and many more alter historical facts to make the story interesting. Nowadays, media persons also carry a certain agenda. So, where is the trustworthy source? Where can I find the stories of our brave soldiers? Where can I know the facts about how a soldier fights? What does he think? How does he make the supreme sacrifice for his nation?
Swapnil Panday is one of the superwomen who took a step to bring the stories of soldiers to the audience. Her long-time researched book "Balidan" is the outcome of her efforts, which she did by conducting hundreds of interviews with army personnel, their families, and their friends. She explains,
Hollywood has produced hundreds of movies on the exploits of the United States Navy Seals or The Special Air Service (SAS) of the British Army, soft-propagating their reverence all across the world; there are hardly any movies of Indian Special Forces when they are the best in the world. I hope this book plugs that void.
It's a great pleasure to write a review of this book and tell our readers what makes this book stand apart. These are the points that I will be going to cover in my book review:
Initial Impressions of the Book & Story Behind Balidan Badge
She dedicated this book to,
All the nameless, faceless, fierce, and worthy owners of the Balidan badge.
When I saw that book cover, I remembered that I first saw this Balidan badge on MS Dhoni's gloves in 2019 (Dhoni holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel).
At that time, I only knew that it was related to the Indian Army but didn't know the full story of it. The book begins with the same point.
While reading this, I got to know how this Balidaan badge is associated with the Indian Para Special Forces and only the most perfect ones can hold this. The book is focused on the soldiers of India's Para special forces who held this Balidan badge.
The 228-page book contains 6 stories in 6 chapters, where 5 are the bravery tales of 5 different soldiers from 21 Para, 9 Para, and 4 Para special forces, and the 6th one is the story of Operation Ragdori Baihk which is dedicated to 5 martyrs and only one surviving soldier of that operation. The initial 5 stories not only focus on how a soldier fights but also his childhood motivation to join the Indian Army and also cover the family, their love, and all the sacrifices he made apart from the service.
Why is Swapnil Pandy the most fitting choice to write that Book?
Which thing makes a story more credible and trustworthy?
When it is written by a person who is also part of that and the author is one of them.
Swapnil comes from an Army family, which makes her the perfect choice to write a book for them, not only as a researcher but in daily life, she can feel the vibes of an Indian soldier. I also reviewed two books related to an army soldier, but this one is the only one written by a person who is part of a soldier’s life. Her dedication and love for the Army are seen when she cancels two of her confirmed contractual events to accept the invitation to the Battalion’s Raising Day program (page 223).
She is on a mission to introduce more superheroes to the next generation. Along with Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad and Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Field Marshal Sam Manekshow is also a role model for every Indian, but she took the initiative to introduce stories of army persons only which was not heard by anyone. You can take a look at her Instagram story, where she is replying to the same question, and also how much she values her readers.
I loved this thing the most because Apurva Bharat’s mission is also the same.
Analysis of Balidan
In 2021, Swapnil published a book “The Force Behind the Forces,” where the first ‘Force’ word indicates the “Family of a soldier,” who dares to send his loved one to fight for the nation. I have not read that book yet, but I can see this book also touches the same pattern. Apart from the soldier’s life, this book also highlights the courage of their family, in the second story, where Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat’s mother replies in a conversation,
Why would I be scared? I stopped getting scared when he joined the Army.
I felt that a soldier is not only one who is fighting on the border but also the family members who wait for his return.
Five years ago, CDS Bipin Rawat gave a statement,
Many people, especially the youth, come to me and say, sir, I want a job in the Army. I tell them that the Indian Army is not a job; if you want a job, go to the Railways.
I understood this statement just after reading the first story of this book, which is about the Late Col. Santosh Yashwant Mahadik, where I read that at the age of 12, he cut his little finger and let the blood drip onto the Shivling, just like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. And I was confirmed that soldiers are born with extraordinary souls and they are just different from others.
Three lessons from that book
Strength of A soldier
On page number 160, she highlighted a quote from the famous English writer and philosopher Gilbert Keith Chesterton,
The true Soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.
Our Duty for Soldiers
On page number 136, when she asked Sub Maj/Hon Capt. Mahendra Singh to give a message to the citizens of his nation, he said,
A Soldier only seeks pride and dignity. Whenever a Soldier or his family visits any civilian work, they must be given priority, and their problems must be heard and solved by any means.
The Religion of Indian Soldiers
On Page number 47, I read the incident of Brig. Saurabh Singh Shekhawat Life’s Special Forces training school day when his trainer Ustad Havildar Hanuman Ram asked his caste, and he replied, “Ustad, I am a Hindu Rajput from Rajasthan.”
After giving little punishment, Havildar told him,
You are an officer - that too, a special forces officer. Your religion is the religion of your boys. If your boy is Hindu, you are Hindu and If your boy is Muslim, You are Muslim.
The audience I would recommend this book to
Let's conclude with the beginning phrase, "Aapki galti nahi hai, India ke logo ko na actors aur cricketers ke alawa kisi aur ki story nahi pata hoti."
That book needs to be read by our youth because we must forward these superhero stories to the next generation. If you ever dream of joining the Indian Army, that book is really for you. If you ever thought that an Army job is just a source of employment, then you must read this book.
Even if you don’t know about the Indian Army, that book can explain everything. And at the end, you will realize that freedom is not free; our soldiers are paying the price for it every day.
Jai Hind!
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