Balidan: Stories of India's Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives by Swapnil Pandey


Balidan: Stories of India's Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives
Title : Balidan: Stories of India's Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 9356993556
ISBN-10 : 9789356993556
Language : English
Format Type : Kindle Edition
Number of Pages : 296
Publication : Published July 7, 2023

Few possess greater courage, yet remain in oblivion, than the Indian Para Special Forces. To these brave officers, worthy owners of the Balidan badge, is entrusted the safety of the most perilous heights and the annihilation of the darkest underbellies of terrorism. The legacy of these warriors is shrouded in mystery and legend. So secretive are their missions that little is known about them beyond code names like Dagger, Ghost, Viper or Desert Scorpio. In this remarkable collection of tales of valour beyond measure, Swapnil Pandey lifts the curtain on some of the greatest Special Forces officers and introduces readers to Colonel Santosh Mahadik, Captain Tushar Mahajan, Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, Subedar Major Mahendra Singh and others. Based on more than two hundred interviews with the friends and families of these men, conducted over one year and multiple trips to various Special Forces Units near the LoC and the LAC, Balidan seeks to resurrect these men from the shadows for the first time ever.

Balidan: Stories of India's Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives Reviews

  • Nidhi Srivastava

    'Balidan' is one of the first books written ever on the Indian Para Special Forces. I read a couple of books written by Swapnil Ma'am previously. I would thank her for bringing out stories of the National Heroes who wear maroon berets. Before reading this book, I knew about Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat and Captain Tushar Mahajan. With my recent inclination towards non-fiction books, my quest for learning about Indian Armed Forces never subsided. I got occupied with my corporate life. The book consists of 6 stories about the soldiers of the Para Special Forces. As a reader, I would say the book has a lot of offer if you are curious about the Para SF. In my opinion, soldiers can motivate you in life, irrespective of your work environment. The book has been written in simple language, drawing references from prestigious Defence Academies, commanding units, and encounters. I would quote from Chapter 1, "A commando's life dangles on a thin thread, where a split second can decide his fate forever."

    As a civilian, most of us turn patriotic only on two occasions, namely our Independence and Republic Day. However, the stories brought in this book states that there are different race who live by the motto 'शौर्यम..दक्षम..युध्धेय, बलिदान परम धर्मा.' The journey of every Para SF has been well-captured by the author. At every inconvenience at work, people curse their jobs till they leave the organization. But, the book preaches loud that an injured soldier would continue to bleed for the Indian Armed Forces till death and maybe beyond that. Reading this book taught me various things about life that my work wouldn't have taught me. An ustad's statement from chapter 2 says, "Your religion is your boys…. As an officer, you are everything, all of these religions." Indian Army has lots to offer to everyone reading about them.
    You will want to google Brigadier S.S. Shekhawat as you read the book. It would compel the readers to watch his interviews. "One must not lead one's life in fear of death." I read this book at a faster pace. I was curious about Major Manish Singh, Subedar Major/Honorary Captain Mahendra Singh, and the Band of Brothers. Every chapter where the soldiers didn't return safe, it was gut-wrenching.

    Everyone should pick up this book and read about - what it takes to wear a maroon beret, or be associated with a soldier who wears a 'Balidan' badge, and these soldiers who live in dark jungles to sanitize the surroundings for fellow Indians.