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Book Review: Tanakpur: Reminiscence of a Soldier by Dr. Capt. J. Prasad

There is something charming about memoirs and biographies based on army or a soldier’s life. I am always fascinated by the diversity and the adventure that runs in the backdrop like banter. No matter what the protagonists do or where they go, action and diversity never leaves them. So, I had all the reasons to pick up this book by Dr. Capt. J. Prasad.

It’s a story of a young man, especially covering the timeline when he served the Indian army from 1963 to 1969. The narrator was from Bihar. He joined the Armed Medical Force, as a medical officer from Lucknow. So as you get into the book, you will get to know the insights from his personal lives, his family members, his marriage story and more.

The narrator was a medical student, he wanted to pursue a higher degree in the USA; however that time due to war with China there was shortage of medical staff in the army. Hence, owing to his great love for nation and motherland, he joined the army. His first posting was in Tanakpur, he worked mainly in the mountainous Himalayan region of Pithoragarh and Dharchula. Thus, he kept the title as Tanakpur.

This novel enthralled me most as I like stories built around the Indian army. This is a memoir cum autobiography of a soldier. In fact, the author Dr. Captain J. Prasad narrates his own story of the tenure that he had spent in the Indian army as a medical officer. His journey starts from Tanakpur and stretches between various parts of the country.

The narrative timeline is mainly of 1960s, it covered events of war with China and Pakistan. I liked his passion for the country, but in between he also shuffled to have his own career aspirations, as he wanted to go to the USA and London in 1969 for some education. He could have been satisfied with a career in the Indian Army; however, he was way ambitious.

The narrative puts a sense of surrealism and full of information of that time. I loved the coverage of the mountains like Dharchula, and other parts like North East. In the book, there is more about the army life and his personal scuffles with some of his fellow officers. But life is a balanced palette of bitter sweet memories.

 Indeed…a lovely book to look back into that glorious time when India was struggling in all aspects and people like Capt. J Prasad contributed most in all capability. The writing style is lucid. It is a good book that throws reminiscence of a soldier and by writing this he paid gratitude to the Indian Army. He was in the army for a shorter duration but he did a valuable job as a medical officer wherever he was posted.

Without giving up much, I would urge you to get into the book for more coverage on a great soldier’s life.

Buy the book from Amazon.

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