Review: Bhaavna Arora_Mistress of Honour
The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next.
Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.”
Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.”
Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode at the Indian Military Academy on 10 December, 1932.
December 10: IMA'S Red-Letter Day | Jaskiran Chopra | 10/12/2013 | The Pioneer | http://bit.ly/1e1N2wN
For most civilians, life in the Armed Forces is characterised by valour, glory and sacrifice. Those soldiers, who give up worldly comforts to protect the Nation and our way of life, live a life full of hardships, struggle and the constant threat of death. Far removed from their families, friends and worldly comforts, they are trained to face any adversity at a moment’s notice and we should thank them for it.
However, as true as it is, we often tend to overlook the fate that the families of these brave soldiers face every day. It is not easy to let go of your love knowing that it may be the last time you’ll ever see them. While we worry if a loved one does not answer our phone calls, imagine the strength and courage that the family members of these soldiers have?
Mistress of Honour by Bhaavna Arora, is a book that vividly brings to life that part of the soldier’s life that we least see and know about. The book is as much a story of valour, service and sacrifice as it is about strength of character, resolve and love. Love is a strong central theme throughout the book and it takes the reader through a journey of that one emotion in its varied form. To choose between one’s love for the Nation and one’s love for the person is a reality of the life of both, the soldier and the family. While it may be simple as civilians to think of only the glory and honour of the Forces, the book highlights the emotion through the eyes of those who have decided to sacrifice all for the Nation. For them, there is only one first love.
The book brings to life the characters in an animated manner putting the reader right in the middle of the constant emotional turmoil and hard decisions that are a part of their lives. Whether it’s the Mother-in-Law or Pansy or Rihana, the book does an excellent job of bringing to the fore the mental and emotional strength that the wives and family of a soldier exhibit every day. From the split second decisions in the line of duty to breaking all rules for the one you love – it takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and a sequence of events that our Forces have faced in the line of duty. The painstaking research by the author shows in the narrative and will make your heart swell up with the emotional dilemmas and decision making that is a part of the lives of those who choose the Armed Forces. I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion while reading it.
“You have never lived until
You have almost died,
And for those who choose to fight,
Life has a special flavour,
The protected will never know!!!”
Captain R. Subramanian | Kirti Chakra (P), 1 PARA.
ADGPI - Indian Army Facebook Page | 23/06/2015 | https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=388558761340759
The book is tightly written and it will make it hard to put down till you have reached the very last page. It brought back memories of the time when all I wanted in the world was to become an Indian Air Force pilot. This flame, however, was snuffed out once I became dependent on optical instruments to bring clarity to my world (not that it helps much). In light of that fact, a change of profession was in order although I still remember trying to figure out a way in to the Armed Forces when I finished school; in vain...sigh...
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