#573 - Men of Steel
by Tanushree Podder and illustrated by Nandini Goel
“Men of Steel” by Tanushree Podder and illustrated by Nandini Goel. Published by Penguin. A set of riveting stories showcasing the immense gallantry and patriotic fervour of the bravehearts of the Indian armed forces.
India has diverse landscapes near its borders ranging from frigid and snow clad Himalayan range in the north to scorching hot desert region in the west to humid wetlands in the east. It is therefore such a challenge for the soldiers of the armed forces to protect the country from the enemy while fighting in the midst of the desolate and unforgiving terrain. We have had significant military events in the past after gaining independence. Every one of these events have seen the rise of incredible heroes who have given utmost priority to the nation even above their own lives.
The stories of eighteen such men have been included in this book. They have received various gallantry awards such as Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Ati Vishisht Sena Medal, Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal. Their names have been etched in glory and deserve to resonate not just within the premises of the Indian Military Academy but the people of India as well. Stories of extraordinary heroes some well known and others forgotten such as Major General Ian Cardozo, Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, Captain Keishing Clifford, Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Naik Digendra Kumar and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan amongst others have been narrated. The book has been divided into five sections based on significant military events - the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the 1999 Kargil War, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the 2019 Balakot air strike and the 2020 Galwan Valley skirmish. Every section has a brief description of the event before getting into the stories of the soldiers. Read the book to get inspired by the courage and resilience of these incredible men.
Aptly named, the book serves as a befitting tribute to the brave deeds and sacrifices made by eighteen extraordinary heroes whose stories need to be read by every Indian. After having watched an awe inspiring web series on special operations by Indian armed forces, my ten and a half year old son has been full of admiration for the armed forces and hooked to the topic. When he got to know about this book, he wanted to read it despite it being targeted for slightly older readers. He found it very engrossing and was amazed by the stories of the bravehearts. The narrative was very crisp and described the sequence of events in an interesting way keeping us hooked right from the preface. Imagining the events itself gave us goosebumps and we couldn’t fathom how it would have been for these men to face in reality. Their guts and grit are truly commendable. While reading the book, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude for these heroes as well as a tinge of sorrow for lives which were lost so young. Living in Bengaluru which has a significant military presence, we have seen many military buildings named after some of these heroes. We now know the stories behind the names given to these military buildings. These heroes through their sacrifices in the line of duty inspire future generations and serve as a guiding light. The illustrations are beautiful and complement the stories very well bringing them to life. Overall the book is a “MUST READ” and a treasure trove for everyone.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 12/13 and above.
Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to Mansi, from Penguin, for sending across the book!