Review by Shaimaa -- Border Post 99 by Kedar Patankar
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Shaimaa
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Review by Shaimaa -- Border Post 99 by Kedar Patankar
[Following is a volunteer review of "Border Post 99" by Kedar Patankar.]
3 out of 4 stars
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"You should flow like water through life."
Border Post 99: No Man's Land by Kedar Patankar is set, as the title suggests, in the Indian-Pakistani border where the post should be non-existent. The events take place in March, 2011 during the peace talks in Delhi. The book was published in 2015 by Global Mind Publishing.
The story is about the 25-year-old Indian Lieutenant Mangesh Sharma, and The Pakistani Captain Abid Khan and their engagements. Both of them are sent in a mission to patrol at the border between their countries after being informed that their mission is just a simple precautionary measure, and that they would never encounter another person. After a few weeks, each knows of the other's presence. They start setting some military traps to mock the other since they have been strictly ordered not to shoot. One night, with the intention of setting a trap, Khan enters Sharma's tent and sees photos of Bhagatpur, Sharma's town. Khan asks Sharma about the town, but the latter gets suspicious, and does not answer. After that, Khan writes to his grandfather, who writes back a letter about his past. Khan leaves the letter for Sharma to read. Khan's grandfather and Sharma's grandparents are revealed to be friends and neighbours before the 1947 division.
Sharma thinks they were destined to meet in that no man's land because their roots go back together. Before Sharma decides to take any action, Major Jadhav, Sharma's boss, approaches with ten soldiers to take offensive at Post 99. They intend to shoot the Pakistani soldier, but Sharma alarms him with a sign they have once agreed on, leaving Khan falling into Sharma's former trap and rescuing him from the Indian soldiers.
The story focuses on the aftermaths of the heart-breaking India-Pakistan division, and how it altered things, separated one from his or her original home, and killed so many people. It is an engaging, moving story that reached me especially because I have watched many Bollywood movies about this subject. It is so sad to think of how many people had to endure all of that. Family relationships and patriotism are the main themes of the story. Sharma keeps photographs of his family and town with him while Khan prefers to write letters to his grandfather and mother and wife. Sharma and Khan do their jobs out of a sense of duty.
I rate this book three out of four stars. Everything is good about this book: the plot, the writing and the characters. The only thing I did not quite like is the open ending as it left me with many unanswered questions.
******
Border Post 99
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
"You should flow like water through life."
Border Post 99: No Man's Land by Kedar Patankar is set, as the title suggests, in the Indian-Pakistani border where the post should be non-existent. The events take place in March, 2011 during the peace talks in Delhi. The book was published in 2015 by Global Mind Publishing.
The story is about the 25-year-old Indian Lieutenant Mangesh Sharma, and The Pakistani Captain Abid Khan and their engagements. Both of them are sent in a mission to patrol at the border between their countries after being informed that their mission is just a simple precautionary measure, and that they would never encounter another person. After a few weeks, each knows of the other's presence. They start setting some military traps to mock the other since they have been strictly ordered not to shoot. One night, with the intention of setting a trap, Khan enters Sharma's tent and sees photos of Bhagatpur, Sharma's town. Khan asks Sharma about the town, but the latter gets suspicious, and does not answer. After that, Khan writes to his grandfather, who writes back a letter about his past. Khan leaves the letter for Sharma to read. Khan's grandfather and Sharma's grandparents are revealed to be friends and neighbours before the 1947 division.
Sharma thinks they were destined to meet in that no man's land because their roots go back together. Before Sharma decides to take any action, Major Jadhav, Sharma's boss, approaches with ten soldiers to take offensive at Post 99. They intend to shoot the Pakistani soldier, but Sharma alarms him with a sign they have once agreed on, leaving Khan falling into Sharma's former trap and rescuing him from the Indian soldiers.
The story focuses on the aftermaths of the heart-breaking India-Pakistan division, and how it altered things, separated one from his or her original home, and killed so many people. It is an engaging, moving story that reached me especially because I have watched many Bollywood movies about this subject. It is so sad to think of how many people had to endure all of that. Family relationships and patriotism are the main themes of the story. Sharma keeps photographs of his family and town with him while Khan prefers to write letters to his grandfather and mother and wife. Sharma and Khan do their jobs out of a sense of duty.
I rate this book three out of four stars. Everything is good about this book: the plot, the writing and the characters. The only thing I did not quite like is the open ending as it left me with many unanswered questions.
******
Border Post 99
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Shaimaa's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "Puffy and the Formidable Foe" by Marie Lepkowski and Ann Marie Hannon
