The Savage Hills

Another fascinating novel by Abhay Narayan Sapru, a third by him, that takes you through the challenges, tribulations, sweat, blood and gore of militancy and counter-insurgency in Kashmir. His characteristic inimitable style will keep you engrossed through to the last page of this narrative based on… Read more “”

A fascinating story written in superb language! It will not allow you to put down the book till it is finished. Having operated in counter-militancy operations along the Shamsabari Range and on either side of Pirpanjal Range in Jammu & Kashmir, I find the description of the terrain, locales and combat activities as authentic as can be. Only a Special Forces officer can go into such… Read more “”

Abhay Sapru’s second book on war from a combat soldier’s perspective is the real McCoy. It catches you by the scruff of your neck and doesn’t let go till the end. A chapter of the Indian Army’s ill-fated adventure into Sri Lanka, fought in dense jungles, against a cornered comrade turned enemy, you can smell the fetid smell of the jungle, mixed with the smell of death, fear, courage and strangely, respect for an enemy who was fighting for its very survival. Only a combat soldier could have written… Read more “Only a combat soldier could have written this!”

The Beckoning Isle is a masterpiece in realistic settings of Sri Lanka during the days of the IPKF. Though it follows the travails of an Indian Special Forces Assault troop crisscrossing the path of an LTTE colonel, it takes you through a bit of history and the whole gambit of politics, intrigue, conflict, human behaviour and the tribulations that surrounded the war between the IPKF and the LTTE. The style of the author who himself was part of the IPKF is excellent and the lucid narration will keep you engrossed to the last… Read more “The lucid narration will keep you engrossed to the last word.”

The Beckoning Isle is the story of the degeneration of a society and the vicious politics of retribution. But it is also a tale of two men, on opposite sides of the battle, united only by the fatalism of their ideologies. Abhay Sapru offers a unique perspective of the Sri Lankan War in an engaging, page-turning account of the clash between the Indian Peace Keeping Force and the LTTE, with voices from both sides of what will go down as one of history’s great… Read more “A tale of two men, on opposite sides of the battle, united only by the fatalism of their ideologies.”

Through his first novel, Abhay shows the class of a seasoned writer. Descriptions of terrain, actions, emotions, drama and violence keep you spell-bound. The tragic reality of Kashmir is so well articulated through this gripping drama, it is guaranteed to win your rapt attention from beginning to… Read more “Descriptions of terrain, actions, emotions, drama and violence keep you spell-bound.”

The aroma of deodar trees mixes with the acrid odour of gunpowder in this taunt adventure story set in Kashmir. The drama is gripping, the characters finely-etched and the plotting authentic. But even as his characters engage in a good-versus-evil battle to the death, Sapru sensitively shows his reader how Kashmir is a tragedy not just for Kashmiris, but equally for the Indian soldier and the Pakistan-backed… Read more “The drama is gripping, the characters finely-etched and the plotting authentic.”

This is the first combat book written in India, by a Spetsnaz, a Special Forces officer who knows the Kashmir Ops the way it really is – no-frills, no armchair theory – straight from the hip. You can smell the cordite and the fear and most importantly you can get into the head of the enemy! Great read especially if you want to know what the fuck is going on in… Read more “No frills, No armchair theory – Straight from the Hip.”

I read both of his books twice. Interesting story delivery. Especially the narration on personality and landscapes. Never expected so many poems from a gun wielding man. Amazing insight into soldiers’ lives. Am sure not everything is shared in the  books but there’s hardly anything written about Indian war experiences. We can’t fathom through Bollywood movies. So kudos to the writer. Thank you so much… Read more “Interesting story delivery.”

Nice read. Strongly recommended. Action-packed riveting Story, keeps you guessing till the end. Good insight into the IPKF operations & Army’s response. Fast-paced, interesting & insightful. Peek inside the life of an SF officer during IPKF ops. Go for… Read more “Action packed riveting Story, keeps you guessing till the end.”

Amazing book.. superbly written! woven a great story about the “almost forgotten war which India fought in Sri Lanka”, Abhay is a great storyteller, vivid description of the jungle and firefights, highly… Read more “Abhay is a great story teller, vivid description of the jungle and fire fights.”

An excellent account, delivered with an intuitive punch. It’s great to have a subject like this narrated in a gripping format that all will find interesting. Coming from Mr Abhay Narayan Sapru, who has seen and experienced the Sri Lankan conflict and situations surrounding it up close and upfront, ‘The Beckoning Isle’ is full of veritable moments of insights about IPKF & LTTE. The book is truly ‘beckoning’ in that sense. A must-read in current times, to get a real peek into the life and workings of our respected armed special forces and their human side. A big thank you… Read more “Full of veritable moments of insights about IPKF & LTTE.”

Rarely have I read a book from start to finish without putting it down. My father commanded an Infantry battalion in the IPKF and would often tell me his version of the battles. The similarity of rhetoric in this book was so similar, it had to come from a seasoned veteran of war, a thinking soldier who understood the futility of war, yet never hesitated from a warrior’s call to arms. Though it’s claimed as fiction, I am sure every incident here is true but for the names of those involved. I have to read Abhay’s earlier book, which I… Read more “I am sure every incident here is true but for the names of those involved.”

How many writers do we have in India who would write a war story or historical fiction on the Indian army and its operations? Not many or nil. However, Sapru is easily stepping into the role with this second book of his. And it’s not the chest-thumping, rhetorics filled stories with a superhero fauji but a normal, thinking though motivated protagonist who makes mistakes, loses some wins some but tries his best. And the enemy isn’t a die-hard, thoroughly black-hearted villain but again a normal person with his own story behind all the mayhem he’s creating. And mind you, he’s… Read more “A thoroughly enjoyable read.”

‘The Beckoning Isle’ is narrated in the same singularly erudite fashion by Major Abhay Narayan Sapru as his first novel ‘In The Valley of Shadows’. ‘The Beckoning Isle’ is in the setting of the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka, while ‘In The Valley of Shadows’ is in the backdrop of countering Pakistan sponsored terrorism in the Kashmir Valley. Abhay, a Special Forces officer, has had extensive experience in counter-insurgency / counter-terrorism including in Sri Lanka and Jammu & Kashmir. How he keeps you engrossed from the first to the last word is because he has operated on every inch of… Read more “This gripping novel would make an excellent feature film both at home and abroad.”

I have often wondered about how jaded a reader I have become in the past decade or so. Fiction seems incapable of engaging my mind anymore, which groans “ been there, done that ”, even at the best-formed twists and turns. And nonfiction is oh, ever so opinionated! It was after decades that I got a book in my hands which I felt compelled to read cover to cover, in two two hour sittings, separated by the necessity of my six-hour beauty sleep. The Beckoning Isle by Abhay Narayan Sapru, part of a four-book set I gifted myself for my… Read more “A Gripping Narrative from the first page”

That was a breathless read, and apart from naming names, you had them all there: the Alampil ops where Col Bakshi left us, Gurkha Bn, the Guards Cdr, Jaspal, 1 Para who died when I was on my second day in Sri Lanka… etc. Thoroughly enjoyed the book, reminiscing about those very fateful days.  And I agree with you about the strategic mistake of the LTTE in holding ground. I also agree with you regarding the Indian Army being unwanted in Sri Lanka… so very unwanted, it was palpable. Thanks for that, I enjoyed it as… Read more “A breathless read”

I can’t say which book had me more captivated…. The Beckoning Isle or In the Valley of Shadows. Being an army brat, I am familiar with both areas of operation by the Indian Armed Forces all thanks to various discussions in my parents’ home. Perhaps that is why my Dad recommended both the books to me. I read The Beckoning Isle first more so because that operation is closer to home. Fortunately, I was able to give my feedback both to Dad and to the very talented author. Unfortunately, Dad passed away before I got around to reading the second… Read more “A page turner all the way”