The Indian Soldier: A story of faith

The Indian Soldier by Sushant Saini
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Synopsis

Arjun is a young boy who dreams of becoming a soldier. But his unexpected selection into IIT throws him in a mix. Soon, his supportive family comes to his rescue and helps him pursue his dream.
During his time at the National Defence Academy, he builds life-long friendships with three other trainees. Soon he is given a chance to join the most covert and lethal team in the Indian Army, Team-A.
He dedicates his life to the country and carries out life-threatening missions on numerous occasions. But one deadly terrorist attack forces Arjun to question all that he has learned and loved. Disillusioned by the actions of his fellow countrymen, Arjun decides to leave his homeland.
Before he can pack up his bags and say goodbye, an airplane carrying over 200 passengers is hijacked by an unnamed group. And he is the only one who can save them. But can an embittered Arjun bring himself to risk his life, and those of his team, one more time?

                                                  Book Review

This story follows Arjun from his foray from childhood to adulthood. This including becoming a soldier and being faced with being put in a precarious situation. Based on the synopsis I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I'm not a big fan of military fiction, but I went in with an open mind. 

Arjun loved his country and wanted to protect and stand up for it. He gets to the highest level of military and joins an elite program and builds relationships with his teammates. However, the actions of some of his countrymen force him to make a decision to leave his beloved home. He's lost his way and his faith. This puts him in a position to put his life on the line to save his fellow passengers in a hijacking attempt. 

I think the author did a great job of giving readers insight into a soldier's life in the Indian military and a glimpse into their government. He Saini does this by taking the reader along with Arjun on covert missions. There was even a bit of humor infused into the story, which was needed as the content could get a bit heavy. I think the story started out strong and even got us to the hijacking quite smoothly. However, I think it started to lose a bit of momentum afterward. 

All in all, I would still recommend the book. Because it is ultimately about faith and finding your way.  You can get your copy below and support the author by leaving a review.