Mukhbir, a collection of short stories based in Jammu and Kashmir has captured the attention of book readers across the country.
The book , written by Brigadier Sushil Tanwar, a decorated serving Indian Army Officer , is an eclectic mix of seemingly true tales.
This fabulous collection of seventeen short stories brings to life the everyday challenges of not only the security forces operating in the conflict zone of Jammu and Kashmir, but also vividly captures the existential dilemmas of local people of the strife torn region.
While the title story ” Mukhbir” is a simple account of the human intelligence operations bringing out the delicate relationship between an informer and his handler , ” Mujahid” is a rivetting tale of the intricate risks which confront a young military intelligence officer as he plans to use a young boy for penetrating in a terrorist organisation.
The richness of emotions, delicate balancing of perspectives, sheer simplicity of prose and layered complexities of the characters makes this book a masterpiece of story telling.
The book also captures the beautiful culture of Jammu and Kashmir and takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of human emotions.
The author is brutally honest in his portrayal of security forces and their relationship with locals population, and , has masterfully stayed away from any rheroric that is usually found in any discourse on Jammu and Kashmir.
Stories like Naya Sawera, Love Jihad, Sena Medal , Twenty Twenty and Yeh Manzil Nahi Asaaan amongst others have a crisp plot which keep the reader guessing about the narrative till the very end.
Overall, it is a thoughtful portrayal of human emotions and will be a valuable addition to any collection of books.
The book has been published by Rajpal and Sons , Delhi and is available at a very affordable price on all major e commerce sites.
