Review by Maureen Lambrick -- Border Post 99
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Maureen Lambrick
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Review by Maureen Lambrick -- Border Post 99
[Following is a volunteer review of "Border Post 99" by Kedar Patankar.]
4 out of 4 stars
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This compelling story is set along the border between India and Pakistan, a vast area covering two thousand miles of desert, dense forest and mountains. Since the partition was created in 1947, four wars have been fought and daily skirmishes continue. Border Post 99 is in No Man’s Land and as such should be out of bounds to both India and Pakistan. It is here, at this illegal post, that two soldiers find themselves, both having been sent there by their Indian and Pakistani military superiors as pawns in a high level political game. Lieutenant Mangesh Sharma is a 25 year old newly commissioned officer from the Indian Military Academy and Captain Abid Kahn a seasoned soldier from the Pakistani Military. Surrounded by pine trees and separated only by a stream, the two soldiers at first can only sense each other’s presence and begin a dangerous game of cat and mouse, setting up traps to kill the other, even though they are under strict orders not to shoot and kill. Tension is high, particularly as neither of them knows if the other is also a lone operator.
The game continues, time passes slowly. The mistrust between the Indian and Pakistani runs deeper than this altercation in a remote outpost. Each has many hours to think whilst they wait to see who is going to make the next move. Both seek solace in thoughts of family, home and heritage, and both have bouts of intense homesickness. Sharma longs to be back in his village Bhagatpur, and relives childhood memories of playing in an abandoned house which was shrouded in mystery and fable. Kahn longs for his village, Azambad, where his beloved grandfather, Dadajaan, still lives with the rest of his family. Eventually Sharma and Kahn meet face to face but only briefly. The tension between the two soldiers is finally broken with a climatic unforgettable end.
In my opinion, Border Post 99 is a spellbinding novella. It is beautifully written and the author’s writing skilfully captures this isolated area where there is nothing to be heard except early morning birds, the rustle of trees and the flow of the stream. Every sound is amplified and the reader can feel the quickened heartbeat of the men as they become aware of each other and are on high alert for any impending threat. The depiction of fear and the anticipation of attack is extremely well conveyed. Besides the one on one battle between Sharma and Kahn, there are leopards who are roaming the forest at night since it is the mating season. The tension is thus intensified because Sharma and Kahn now are not only on the lookout for attacks from each other, but from the roaring leopards as well.
In contrast to these adrenalin charged interactions, there are the quiet times. The author has created a real sense of time, where it slows down for days on end and nothing happens. There is only the silence. The detailed descriptions of daily activities enhances the atmosphere of solitude and loneliness: “He finished his meal, smoked a couple of cigarettes, and stepped inside the tent. It was time to read the letters again and then to go to sleep. It was chilly outside and the forest was dark. A couple of night birds chirped, otherwise all was quiet.”
The musings and meditations of Sharma and Kahn were very moving as they read and wrote letters to their loved ones. These thoughts, disclosed only to the reader, are stark reminders that our similarities far outweigh our differences, and it’s only through some quirk of history that we end up on opposing sides. And outside this bizarre situation created in the forest, not far away, life goes on as normal. For example, “When he arrived at the pickup spot, he found Giridhari relaxing on a patch of grass. His donkey was grazing nearby. Giridhari was chewing on tobacco and listening to an animated cricket match on a small transistor radio.” The reader won’t miss the irony. I found Border Post 99 an absorbing and thought provoking read; there was nothing about it that I did not like. Without hesitation, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, and hope it gets the wide readership it deserves.
******
Border Post 99
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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This compelling story is set along the border between India and Pakistan, a vast area covering two thousand miles of desert, dense forest and mountains. Since the partition was created in 1947, four wars have been fought and daily skirmishes continue. Border Post 99 is in No Man’s Land and as such should be out of bounds to both India and Pakistan. It is here, at this illegal post, that two soldiers find themselves, both having been sent there by their Indian and Pakistani military superiors as pawns in a high level political game. Lieutenant Mangesh Sharma is a 25 year old newly commissioned officer from the Indian Military Academy and Captain Abid Kahn a seasoned soldier from the Pakistani Military. Surrounded by pine trees and separated only by a stream, the two soldiers at first can only sense each other’s presence and begin a dangerous game of cat and mouse, setting up traps to kill the other, even though they are under strict orders not to shoot and kill. Tension is high, particularly as neither of them knows if the other is also a lone operator.
The game continues, time passes slowly. The mistrust between the Indian and Pakistani runs deeper than this altercation in a remote outpost. Each has many hours to think whilst they wait to see who is going to make the next move. Both seek solace in thoughts of family, home and heritage, and both have bouts of intense homesickness. Sharma longs to be back in his village Bhagatpur, and relives childhood memories of playing in an abandoned house which was shrouded in mystery and fable. Kahn longs for his village, Azambad, where his beloved grandfather, Dadajaan, still lives with the rest of his family. Eventually Sharma and Kahn meet face to face but only briefly. The tension between the two soldiers is finally broken with a climatic unforgettable end.
In my opinion, Border Post 99 is a spellbinding novella. It is beautifully written and the author’s writing skilfully captures this isolated area where there is nothing to be heard except early morning birds, the rustle of trees and the flow of the stream. Every sound is amplified and the reader can feel the quickened heartbeat of the men as they become aware of each other and are on high alert for any impending threat. The depiction of fear and the anticipation of attack is extremely well conveyed. Besides the one on one battle between Sharma and Kahn, there are leopards who are roaming the forest at night since it is the mating season. The tension is thus intensified because Sharma and Kahn now are not only on the lookout for attacks from each other, but from the roaring leopards as well.
In contrast to these adrenalin charged interactions, there are the quiet times. The author has created a real sense of time, where it slows down for days on end and nothing happens. There is only the silence. The detailed descriptions of daily activities enhances the atmosphere of solitude and loneliness: “He finished his meal, smoked a couple of cigarettes, and stepped inside the tent. It was time to read the letters again and then to go to sleep. It was chilly outside and the forest was dark. A couple of night birds chirped, otherwise all was quiet.”
The musings and meditations of Sharma and Kahn were very moving as they read and wrote letters to their loved ones. These thoughts, disclosed only to the reader, are stark reminders that our similarities far outweigh our differences, and it’s only through some quirk of history that we end up on opposing sides. And outside this bizarre situation created in the forest, not far away, life goes on as normal. For example, “When he arrived at the pickup spot, he found Giridhari relaxing on a patch of grass. His donkey was grazing nearby. Giridhari was chewing on tobacco and listening to an animated cricket match on a small transistor radio.” The reader won’t miss the irony. I found Border Post 99 an absorbing and thought provoking read; there was nothing about it that I did not like. Without hesitation, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, and hope it gets the wide readership it deserves.
******
Border Post 99
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Maureen Lambrick's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Elastic Girl by Olivia Rana
