March Of A Foot Soldier

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK The book, “March of a Foot Soldier”, written by DK Havanoor, a former officer of the Indian Army, is a delightfully humorous journey of his life in uniform. It is based on his experiences in the Indian Army, which is spun together and narrated lucidly with anecdotes from his career. It covers the ethos of the Indian Army in general, and the regiment of Sikh Light Infantry in particular, as he weaves his tale from when he decided to heed the call to arms and entered the portals of the Officers Training Academy and was then commissioned into his regiment. His life and experiences are a fascinating collection of real life humour in uniform, and depicts the military way of life in a gripping narrative. The book has broken the barriers of conventional military writing and presents to the reader a story devoid of excessive military terminology and details that would have made the book incomprehensible to a lay reader. It is a true representation of the fact that you may leave the army; but the army never leaves you. Narrated with a crisp lucidity the book reflects the nuances of military institutions and is expressed in a way that only Havanoor can. It brings to life the journey of a young man from boyhood to a combat ready officer and beyond. It brings home to the public that the role of Indian Army goes well beyond its purely military functions and that it contributes to myriad different roles like aid to civil authorities, nature conservation, arboriculture and so on. The attention to detail and characterization of officers and personnel whom the author has come into contact with have been described with a pathos and understanding that is the hallmark of the officer-man relationship in the Indian Army. Havanoor has depicted his in lucid detail the leadership qualities required while facing an enemy eyeball-to-eyeball on on the line of actual control. His narration of experiences of peacetime soldiering is graphically described on a diverse canvas in various theatres. The tales range from harmless gaffes to incidents fraught with danger. They bring home the intricacies of life in the army in an unforgettable read. It has even been have suggested that some of the episodes should be included in the leadership curriculum of management institutes. He has dealt with his regiment, The Sikh Light Infantry, in some detail. The Indian Army is more or less constantly in combat. The living conditions of the soldiers in field conditions along the border are generally primitive and having to improvise to improve one’s lot is the hallmark of soldiering. The constraints are many and these have been captured by Havanoor with passion, while bringing out the spirit of soldiering in his ‘March of a Foot Soldier’. The dedication, loyalty and pride in the profession of soldiers are described in a captivating manner. The book has been narrated in a simple language, chronologically in the first person. He has depicted the hard training of the Indian Army in a forthright manner and never fails to evoke the humour and poignancy in everyday situations. The amazing narrative is bound to keep the reader glued. Col Havanoor has amply displayed his intellectual qualities in penning his original, innovative ideas and analytical description of events. His feelings for the men he commanded and the lives that touched him lie sublimely under the narrative. The tales in the book are a thoughtful compilation of a conscientious military mind. Havanoor provides a nostalgic journey down memory lane in a story that raises the spirit and shows the intricacies of human endeavour in an unforgettable read.