BOOK REVIEW ON “DESPATCHES FROM SOLDIER’S OASIS”

BY
LT COL SR MISHRA

INTRODUCTION

1. There is a great misconception exists among the common men about life of

the men in uniform who lives in cantonment & Military camps. There is an unique

harmony exists among men and women drawn from rural areas and towns who live

in such cantonments and military camp, despite their multi caste, creed, language

and religion.

2. The author has made an attempt to make our civilian countrymen to recast

their picture about our life and work through this book which consists of incidents

from authors own past and also from lives of some of his friends. The book is a

collection of tales of adventure, relationship of officers among themselves and with

troops written by the author over a period of three decades.

About The Author

3. The book is written by Maj Gen Surjit Singh, AVSM, VSM who was born in

1941. He was commissioned into the corps of EME through National Defence

Academy 1961. He has a Master degree in Electronics from IIT, Delhi. The author

has a vast experience of regimental and command appointments. On a staff tenure,

he has served two long terms in the Army HQ, one in the Directorate of General,

EME and the other in pay cell of the Adjutant General’s branch. For his analysis of

the wage structure, he was commended by the Chief of the Army Staff in 1985. He

has published two novels and a book on salary structure, “Wages Down the Ages”.

The author who is an electronics engineer by training and a story teller by nature and

instinct. This book is a testimony of this fact.

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About The Book

4. “Dispatches from Soldier Oases” is a hardbound book containing 161 pages

and first published in India by Lancer Publishers Pvt Ltd in 1996 and same was also

published simultaneously in England and United states.

5. The Book contains 16 tales woven around real life of men and women whom

the author has known in his military career spanning over nearly four decades. The

stories are eminently readable and will give reader from all walks of life a first hand

account of life as it obtains in cantonments and military camps in India.

The Contents

6. The book contains 16 tales with a prologue and epilogue. Each tales has its

own message. To begin with “Sergent Major Yadav” depicts man management by an

young officer in a typical unit. The life of a Gentleman Cadet in Academy has been

described through “Officer like Qualities”. The “living doll” depicts about corporate

life as seen by an officer. “The Juggi Dwellers” gives one real experience of an

officer traveling in train without reservation and about life of these urchins brought up

in slums. “Honourably Condemned to live” is another fine piece about how an officer

faces death in a military hospital. “My Pilonidal Sinus” depicts about professional

jealousy in the service. “The witch” & “An incarnation of Brahma” shows the belief

and prejudice in Army. “Pakeezah” depicts about the chaste and respect of women

in Army. “The Dogra Top” describes about an unit administration. “A blue

handkerchief” tells us about simplicity of an young officer to select his wife.

“Personal computer” depicts about peculiar personality of an army officer wife. “A

Square Parachute” is an adventure personal experience.

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7. Author has also given out some of dictums for soldiers in form of clues for a

hockey game in his epilogue. He has very rightly compared the “work” with a “ball”

of game and same is applicable to all level of organizations.

Comments On The Book

8. The stories have been written in a simplest of language and each tales give

out a message to the reader. Author has tried to bring out various issues i.e man

management in Army, Belief and Prejudice in service, professional jealousy in

service, lives of army wives, adventure, simplicity of officers, officers and men

relationship and relationship among officers.

9. Each story has been picked up from an experience or an incident. Each one

of us can identify himself with the characters given out in each stories. The lay

reader will no doubt get a first hand account of life obtains in Cantonments and Mil

camp in India. No doubt the stories are eminently readable.

10. The dictums for the soldiers given in the epilogue are equally applicable in all

organization.

11. The quality of printing is outstanding and description of each tale generates
interest throughout.

Recommendation

12. The book is highly recommended for all Officers Mess and unit library. Young
officers may be encouraged to read the book to learn about the officers & men
relationship. Dictums given out in the epilogue are must for all officers serving. No
doubt a pleasure to read.