O.P. Sharma
Name of book : Half Life
Author : Nitu
Publisher : LiFi Publications, Rajendra
Palace, New Delhi.
Year : 2017
Pages : 124
Price : Rs. 180
A Super Women Cop, Ms Nitu of 1991 batch has authored a 124-page book in English entitled “ Half Life” narrating stories of combating terror first in Punjab and subsequently in the strategic and sensitive Jammu and Kashmir State. The narrative is at once informative and instructive. Indeed, it has the soft but stern touch of women Security Officer, who is a real mother and also a fully professional with a high-value strategic skill to tackle motivated terrorists (Fidayeen) operations in Kashmir valley. A vivid account of few of these assaults have been sketched graphically in this book under review.
Ms Nitu has creative faculty and depicted the grit and determination of our security personnel in meeting the grave challenge of Pak sponsord and supported terrorism which is part of the ongoing Proxy War aided and abetted from across the border. Our Security Forces , mostly comprising of men and even competent women like Nitu, trained and dedicated lead from the front the counter-attack and frustrate the evil designs against India. The author of “ Half Life” in English, while giving detailed account of some of the encounters, amply speaks about the bravery and courage of Security Forces and their high sense of any sacrifice in the line of duty. They have twin difficult tasks of neutralizing terrorist element and at the same avoid to the possible extent, any collateral loss of innocent lives and damage to property. Combating terror attacks is a very skillful operation.
And our Security Forces are performing their duty admirably well and now women Security staff too doing proud to the nation.
The author of “Half Life”, Ms Nitu is post-graduate from Punjab Univeristy, Chandigarh and is one of the first Lady Officers to join the Armed Force during 1991 and presently is DIG CRPF. For her noteworthy performance, she is recipient of Police Medal for Meritorious Service, Antrik Suraksha Padak and Kathin Seva Padak. Her Creative faculty and writing in simple and stylish language is admirable indeed. Her anthology on English poetry, “ Resurrection: A Woman Reborn”, is about women realizing her inherent strength and her ability to be complete in herself. This woman in decorated uniform has notable marks of literary merit as well.
“ Half Life” gives a glimpse of the happenings in the Valley; triggering of unprovoked deadly attacks on Security Forces camps or convoys. The terror attacks by radical and motivated Fidayeen who launch attacks at the time and place of their choosing have a bit of advantage but the willpower and strategy of our Security Forces is always much more than equal to nip the evil in the bud. The patriotic spirit of our brave-hearts invariably over-powers the mercenaries.
Going by the accounts in this book in the chapters : “ The Flaming Chinars”, “Oh, Kashmir”, The Mentor”’, “ Observer” and “ War” provide absorbing detailed description how the ferocious terror attacks on our vital installations are effectively countered. The women have proved that they too are quite capable and competent to meet the menace of militancy. The enlightened and empowered women security forces are proving their tough mantle in safeguarding the unity and territorial integrity of our motherland. Our men and women in uniform have written their name in golden letters by making supreme sacrifices in the line of sacred duty for the nation and its values.
The ideal before Ms Nitu is her grand maa whom she has painted in bright colours in the chapter titled “ Undaunted Grandma” who remembered Redcliffe for drawing dividing boundary lines of division of Partition in 1947 between India and Pakistan. She herself boldly faced extreme pain of Partition and lived a service-oriented exemplary life. It is gratifying that Ms Nitu still remembers her grandma’s wish to one day “undo the Redcliffe Line” and also her advice “to always be careful for welfare of women and children”.
The author has very rightly dedicated this book to the “ Families of our Forces”. It is a hard realty that the family members of our gallant jawans considerably suffer and thus render great service to the nation. I do express my word of appreciation to the author for this rare gesture.
It is praiseworthy that the Super Cop, KPS Gill has written the Foreword of this book pointing out : “ Nitu has also brought about the emotional turmoil that women in the Forces face and the sacrifices that she and her family makes as she fulfills her commitment to the nation. Based in Punjab and Kashmir, her stories focus on the people on the ground and the people who get affected”.
The book has been well written in lucid style. This certainly will find its due high place in the literary circles. Terror infrastructure has to be demolished through well-planned and co-ordinated Gobal Action is now being realized worldwide !
This 124-page book in English, I am sure, will be read with much interest by all academicians, students, politicians, prominent persons and also the common citizens especially in the trouble-torn parts in the country. Priced moderately, this book is within the purchasing capacity of the common man.
(Starline Syndicate Service)
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