Combat Chuckles with Ratna Manucha

Ratna Manucha is a prolific Indian author and educationist with over 30 published books to her credit, primarily in children’s literature, English grammar, and humour. Based in Dehradun, she is the founder and principal of the Little Flower School and has over 25 years of experience in teaching and writing. She joins us for a lovely conversation at our Book Cafe.

Key themes discussed:

• Humour in High-Pressure Environments: Ratna Manucha explains that humour is essential in the armed forces. It serves as a way to cope with the stress of service, wars, and deployments. These stories, often humorous only in hindsight, form a part of the cultural fabric of military life.

• The Process of Gathering Stories: The collection contains 21 stories and three poems. Manucha describes the collaborative, “Chinese Whispers” process of reaching out to retired officers from all three services to compile these authentic experiences.

• Humour as a Serious Medium: Manucha argues that humour is often underestimated in literature. She highlights the importance of self-deprecatory humour, which she feels is lacking in Indian culture, and emphasises that taking life lightly is a vital life skill.

• Intended Audience and Impact: The book is written for everyone, but Manucha especially hopes it reaches young adults deciding on their career paths. By showcasing the “behind-the-scenes” lightness of the services, she aims to provide a more humanised perspective of military life beyond the common focus on rigour and discipline.

• Discipline and Strength: Throughout the project, Manucha maintained strict discipline, crediting her background in the armed forces and education for her professional approach to meeting deadlines while working with her contributors.