The Plot – What is ‘If I Have to be a Soldier’ about?
The plot starts with a revelation where the mad witch of the village sends a piercing wail into the night sky and prophecies that hellfire will rain down on the Mizo hills bringing mass destruction. At that same time the Bamboo starts flowering!
It’s set in 1967 with the background of the Mizo uprising after the widespread destruction brought about by the “Mautam”. The Mautam is a natural phenomenon witnessed by the states of North Eastern India every 48 years when the Bamboo forest blooms and bears fruit. The large fruit attracts rats and after consuming the fruit, the rats multiply in thousands.Once the fruit is no longer available these rats then turn to the fields, thus destroying and human lives and bringing about famine. It was this famine and the Indian government’s apathy that caused unrest and disillusionment among the Mizos and they started an armed agitation for independence.
Captain Samuel Rego of 7, Bihar regiment has been summoned to interrogate a rebel Mizo leader who has been captured by the Indian BSF. When faced with the captive prisoner , Captain Rego, is shocked to learn that he is none other than his childhood hero and friend Sammy.
Who is the author of “If I have to be a Soldier”?
Nikhil J ALva is the author of this book and this is his debut novel.Nikhil is a well known and award winning writer, producer and filmmaker and producer.He has spent a good amount of time in the North East India which gave the background for this book.His mother Ms Margaret Alva is a famous reformist and Indian politician and was actively involved in the negotiations between the Mizo rebels and the then Indian government.
Why you should read this book
1. Tribal life in the scenic Mizoram
India’s North Eastern States are scenic and the hills have been homes to many tribes for centuries. The novel is set in the Mizoram of old days, which was a part of Assam till 1972.The book takes us on a journey into the Mizo lifestyle giving fascinating facts about how they live and the traditions and rituals they follow etc. Further it tells us how Christian missionaries converted the alleged savages to Christianity and how that caused a change in their ways of life.The history of the Mizo tribes makes this book a very engaging read as well, highlighting the treacherous but scenic landscape and the tribal culture.
2. The bond of Friendship
At it heart , “If I have to be a Soldier” is the story of the friendship between the half breed boy Sena or Captain Rego who was adopted by the Church preacher and a tribal boy Sammy. Sammy takes the weak Sena under his wing when he sees Sena being bullied and tormented by the tribal boys for being a half caste. Unfortunately some misunderstandings develop between them and both of them go their separate ways.Later when they happen to face each other as enemies, the childhood bond still bind them emotionally.Later, in a dramatic twist , when the commandant gives an order to shoot Sammy in a staged encounter, Sena cannot bear to be a silent witness to murdering Sammy in cold blood.What happens next makes this book a racy thriller that is so compelling that you keep turning pages.
3. A Forgotten War
Not many of us are well versed with the history of the Mizo War. In fact before independence, the Assam region already was a hotbed of many inter-tribal wars with fearful head hunters in every tribe but in the post independence era , the whole region was simmering especially just after The Mautam which brought death and destruction to the tribals and the Indian government by not choosing to send help and relief made matters worse. It alienated the region and the people and the call for independence became stronger. This guerilla war was also termed the Vietnam of India. “If I have to be a Soldier” highlights the plight of the tribals and quite well and this is another highlight of the book for me.
What Could have been better
The Cover design
While the cover design in hues of fire , denotes the turmoil and war zone very well and the backdrop of smoke and fire with bamboo huts and rats in bamboo forests , all help the narrative, still there is something that reduces the impact of the cover, it could be the title design or the two human figures taking up a lot of space on the cover, it is hard for me to point out.
The length of the book
The author should take it as compliment because I feel this was a good book but a bit short and I would not have minded reading more of it specially the sections about the tribal life and the cat and mouse chases in the forest.It took me at the most 3 hours to finish this book so it is a short read.
Book Specifications
Title : If I Was a Soldier
Author : Nikhil J Alva
Pages : 336
Genre : Fiction, War story, Friendship, Thriller
Language : English
Publisher : Harper Collins
Rating : 4/5
Buy the book HERE
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“This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile”
Ok so am a big fan of Nikhil’s bhabhi (Anuja Chauhan) as a writer, so I was interested in what he has written. Your review has certainly increased my interest in the book, hope to pick it soon.
I was highly interested to read this book but missed the chance but Fikar not will grab a copy soon and dig into the story based on your recommendation. I am sure I will love it too.
I particularly appreciate your emphasis on the portrayal of tribal life in Mizoram, shedding light on the traditions, rituals, and landscape of the region. It sounds like the author has done a fantastic job of immersing readers in the rich cultural tapestry of the Mizos, while also delving into the complexities of friendship and loyalty.
You suggestion for a better book cover is worth highlighting because The cover is often a potential reader’s first point of contact with a book, and can ultimately make or break a book’s success in the highly competitive publishing industry.
Something about this book and premise has really intrigued me and I have been wanting to pick it up for a while now. Maybe I should take this as a sign and read it.
I would like to read this one as it is set in the northeastern state. We know so little about the states, so that certainy makes it an interesting read.
The title didn’t interest me and even the cover felt a bit drab! But then this post makes me regret as to why I didn’t go to the blurb to read the premise. As we talk of bringing diversity to our reading palates, this book certainly makes a big tick. Thank you for this post!
Your review for this book was quite insightful.
Hi, Preethi; you’re a champion of book reading, having completed a 336-page book in three hours. I have added this book to my reading list. I am interested in reading about the tribal population in India, which is considered backward and has been going through all kinds of troubles that are still simmering there.
The font was large , it that helps Prasanna!
This is the second positive blog post review of this book I’m reading in a week. I liked how you mention why we should read this book. And that one sentence ‘finished reading in less than 3 hours’ was right up my alley. Thanks for the recommendation 😀
This sounds like a very interesting book about a part of history I don’t know much about. I’ll add this to my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation.
As someone who’s always been drawn to stories rich in culture and history, ‘If I Have to Be a Soldier’ resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Nikhil J Alva’s vivid portrayal of Mizoram’s landscapes and the intricacies of tribal life transported me to a world I’d only glimpsed in books before.
Thank you for the book recco and fantastic review. I am a big fan of stories from the North-East of India and to know the books set in Mizoram, definitely makes me add it to my TBR.
The mizo war based story reminded me of the Bosnian war which has been forgotten in the pages of history. This book also reminded me of what is happening in Ladakh and yet again reminded me there are so many voices that are not heard. Thanks for sharing this review.
This definitely seems to be an intriguing read. Thanks for sharing an honest review I will be picking this up sooner.
It is thanks to stories such as these are the past is not forgotten, and we can learn more about what happened, the people, those times, and the complexities – as with human stories, it never is clearly black and white and only an exploration explains the greys at play. Interesting book.
Your review has piqued my interest since we barely have any mainstream books set in the northeast. I don’t recall reading one on the Mizo War either. Adding it to my TBR.