BOOKS OF THE WEEK

The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries 

by General Manoj Naravane

ABOUT THE BOOK

Did you know that the popular cheer of chak de phatte actually has its roots in the Sikh army of the 17th and 18th centuries? Or that Badluram, the inspiration behind the foot-tapping number ‘Badluram ka Badan’, was killed in action in the decisive Battle of Kohima in 1944? How did the city of Bangalore come to be associated with a weapon that was regarded as a game-changer during World War I?

In The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, General Manoj Naravane (Retired) pulls aside the still-drawn curtains on some of the most riveting and compelling arcana that colour the legends and lore of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Be it the enduring spirit of Baba Harbhajan, the fate of INS Khukri, the extraordinary sagas of airmen and their call signs, or the raw courage of Pedongi, the military mule, you will find it all and more in this thoroughly entertaining yet meticulously researched foray into the underexplored, bizarre and often wildly amusing aspects of our armed forces.

Equal parts accessible, humorous and thought-provoking, and embellished with warm personal vignettes and quirky illustrations, this definitive masterwork from the man who led India’s most revered institution also shines the spotlight on the tenets of every soldier’s life—duty, loyalty, comradeship and pride in deep-rooted traditions—tested by insurmountable odds, hard choices and their lasting consequences.

The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries is a captivating, eye-opening, boots-on-the-ground page-turner that will excite anyone who refuses to settle for surface-level truths.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

General Manoj Naravane served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff from December 2019 to April 2022. Commissioned in the 7th Battalion the Sikh Light Infantry in 1980, he has, in his illustrious career of over four decades, served in active peacekeeping and diplomatic roles abroad and commanded operations along India’s most sensitive frontiers. For his distinguished service to the nation, he has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

After retiring from the Army, General Naravane sits on several advisory boards, and contributes regularly to national discourse through media, industry forums and think tanks. He made his foray in the literary world in 2024 with his debut novel, The Cantonment Conspiracy.

When the General is not tapping away at his keyboard, you’ll probably find him on the golf course or baby-sitting his five-year-old grandson Arvin, who is as much of a handful as a platoon of jawans from his beloved regimen.

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