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Book Review: When the Chief fell in Love by Tuhin Sinha

Tuhin Sinha is known for writing political thriller. ‘When the Chief fell in Love’ discusses the political landscape of Kashmir through the point of two lovers. Most likely, the book possesses a question: what is Kashmir issue and how it can be resolved? Under the book title, you will see four word/slogans written in Hindi, namely: Kashmiriyat! Jamhooriyat! Insaniyat! Hindustaniyat!


These four words discuss the overall plot of the book. First three words were given by the former prime minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. And the last one is added by the author himself.

The backdrop of the book mainly shuttles between Kashmir and the rest of the India, with other places in sight as well. The book is bit futuristic, as it covers the timeline from 1990 to 2030. The story is between two people who love each other: Vihaan Shastri and Zaira Bhatt. But they couldn’t get married because of the reasons, like they are torn between India and Kashmir, they practice different religions, they hail from different grooming and background. But still their thoughts match and they both are committed to serve the nation. The story of their love started way back in 1990s when they both were college students. Vihaan when hears the poem of Zaira Bhatt, he instantly feels that that poem has some meaning for his life but more than that he is curious to know more about that beautiful poet with auburn hair, Zaira Bhatt.

Soon typical scenes of college romance begin taking place and they both become friends first and then later lovers, but behind this relationship is hidden a dark and gloomy secret of Zaira.

Twelve years have been past and their ways have now crossed once again. Well, both have involved as a famous personality. Zaira Bhatt as a world renowned author and Vihaan Shastri as a young and dynamic defence mister of India. He is hell bent on solving the Kashmir issue for India. Zaira being a Kashmiri woman understands that Vihaan’s cause for Kashmir is totally correct and purely in the interest of nation building. They both being at the same tenacity level, do their best to bring Kashmir as a part of India. But how they do it? Read on this new political thriller from India’s one of the best writers.

It seems as the writer has done considerable research on Kashmir and its allied geography and culture. Well the only qualm is that Zaira needs to have sounded more obstinate as a beauty and more serious as a social changer. Zaira sounded more like a common modern Indian girl. Well that’s all right as long as the plot is pacy and writing engrossing. Some of the poems mentioned with her character are awe-inspiring which adds a poetic tone to the overall narration.
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