BOOK REVIEW: Operation India One

TITLE: Operation India One
AUTHOR: Shiv Kumar
PUBLISHER: Om Books International
GENRE: Fiction (Mystery- Adventure- Thriller)

THE BOOK

COVER PAGE

The cover design with a man in battle fatigues holding a gun and the title i.e. ‘Operation India One’ depicted in the tricolor is enough to make one realize that this one has got something to do with the Nation’s security. It fits the story-line.

BLURB

Dedicated police officer, ACP Gautam Dhaliwal, takes it upon himself to root out the MAF, a major Naxal organization based in the remote village of Bhagatpur, Bihar, as part of the central government backed, ‘Operation India One’. As his investigations on the ground progress, however, he uncovers behind the official facade of development that he had set out to defend, an ugly nexus of unscrupulous politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen feeding off the oppression of the underprivileged. Torn between his commitment to the Indian State and the sympathy he begins to feel for the miserable plight of the people of the area and the supposed terrorists fighting for them, an agonized ACP Dhaliwal is forced to rethink his earlier views on the meaning of one’s responsibility towards one’s fellow countrymen.

THE HIGHS & THE LOWS

WOWs!!!

Plot: Wonderful and realistic. Deals with a socio-economic topic and the Naxalite menace. One can easily relate with the emotions of the displaced those whose land is acquired for developmental purposes, their agony and anger on not being given adequate compensation or being rehabilitated properly, the apathy of the State towards these poor beings and how muscle-power often forces simpletons to take up arms. ‘Operation India One’ also gives us an insight into the dirty politics played by politicians just to feed their ego, at the expense of the safety of the common man, the security forces and the Nation.

Language: Language is simple, crisp and lucid.

OOPs!!!

Story: Inspite of having a wonderful plot I felt there was something missing in the book or should I say it felt incomplete. That feeling of satisfaction that one feels after having read a fast paced action- packed thriller or a mind- boggling mystery was missing.

Characterization: A little under- developed. A story especially a thriller, is complete only when the characters are able to connect with the reader. Here that was sadly missing. I also felt that the Swamiji could have been given a bigger role in the story to make it more interesting.

RECOMMENDATION & RATING

Overall a simple read which one can finish in just one sitting I give this 3 on a scale of 5.

****************************************************************************************

BUYING LINKS

amazon.com II amazon.in

flipkart II infibeam

‘OPERATION INDIA ONE’ IS THE BRAINCHILD OF

SHIV KUMAR

A commercial tax officer in Government of Bihar(India), Shiv Kumar was previously an engineer in BHEL(A government of India Undertaking). A voracious reader and passionate writer, Mr. Shiv Kumar is interested in subjects that provide an insight into issues concerning contemporary Indian Society. He is also fond of travelogues, thrillers and crime fiction.

To make contact with him just mail to – shiv5180@gmail.com

****************************************************************************************

Disclaimer

This is not a paid review. I was provided a copy of the book by the The Readers Cosmos under their Book Reviewing Programme, in return for an honest review.

****************************************************************************************

I’d like to have your views on the book and the review. Do leave them here in the comment box below.