The Blurb
Second Lieutenants Deepa Shekhar and Anjali Sharma have an important task at hand: convince their male counterparts that they too are assets to the Indian Army - rather than merely those with assets. When the 22-year-olds are transferred to a remote unit to a remote army unit, several hilarious situations follow, thanks to the stark novelty of a feminine presence in the traditional male army. However with each passing day, the differences in their personalities begin to emerge. Deepa is more 'officer' - she insists on being called 'Sahab' and even takes to swearing like the troops. Anju is more 'lady' - she can't give up her make and Mills & Boons romances. Or resist the charms of a certain dashing young officer, despite her friend's warnings to stay away. The girls frequently fall out and get back together, but face the same dilemma: is any man worth more their uniform.
About
Lieutenants Deepa and Anjali (Anju) successfully graduate from the Officer's Training Academy and are posted to Bengdubi, a remote location in West Bengal. They are the first lady officers transferred to that army unit, so their presence was obvious to gain attention. Though in this immensely masculine profession they are united under a task of proving themselves, both of them have very different personalities. Deepa is intent on proving herself to be of the same standards as that of the male officers whereas Anju is more feminine, also getting very keen attention from other male officers.
As the story unfolds, their personality difference begin to emerge resulting in a lot more fights between the two. The story being centered around the army has its fair share of male characters. Major Prashant Bhat- who seems to have fallen for Anju at the first blush; Lieutenant Sandeep Singh- later named ad Long Nose by the two who cracks impossibly poor jokes; Lieutenant Gairola- who think that army is not the right place for women; Captain Amit Joseph- the main protagonist of the story who has become disillusioned as why he had come to the army. And there are the wives of the senior officers, who think that women should handle lesser masculine jobs and do something that befits the sex.
My Views
Sajita Nair debuts in the world of writing with this novel and she does her job very well. The book is a mix of hardships faced by women in the world of Forces but brings forth also the fact, that no matter how hard it might be, women can and do make a success of it. Although, it cannot be said that the men are all very supportive of them either.
The book has a lot of laughter and is an enjoyable read that keeps the readers engaged for most part of the story. The behaviour of officers around the duo is really funny as they have no clue how to react around them.
The book though has more than a few loose ends. Incidents which would have been hilarious generate nothing but a weak smile. At the end the book flags off generating little interest in the readers. Captain Amit Joseph who pays an important role in the book comes across as one dimensional and stupid.
The book is a great entertainer and is a worthy addition to your bookshelf. Do read for a pleasant change!
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