THE WRONG TURN:
Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji
by
Sanjay Chopra & Namita Roy Ghose
Blurb
1944, Kohima — a small, sleepy town in northeast India. Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army (INA) along with the Japanese, are on the brink of bringing the Empire to its knees and forcing the British out of India. But, inexplicably, the tables turn. The INA’s advance is thwarted and the victory march to Delhi is halted. Seventy years later, the British admit that the Battle of Kohima was the greatest battle they had ever fought. Even more so than the battles of Waterloo and Dunkirk. Was it then that old Indian curse — betrayal? Someone from within Netaji’s own ranks? Were there forces other than the British, waiting in the shadows closer to home, who stood to gain even more from the INA’s defeat? Or was it just love that irrevocably altered the course of India’s destiny? The Wrong Turn: Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji, is a sweeping tale of passion set against the freedom struggle. Debraj, the rakish playboy and scion of a distinguished Calcutta family, and Nishonko, the fiery revolutionary sworn to the cause of the INA, must not only fight their common enemy, but also for the love of Aditi, the rebel with the healing touch. A haunting tale of love, friendship and betrayal of an entire nation, The Wrong Turn veers inexorably towards a poignant redemption.
MY REVIEW
There
are some books you just HATE to review. 'The Wrong Turn' is one of
them, for two reasons.
Firstly, you hate doing it, because reviewing it means you've finished reading them, they've ended; and you just don't want them to end. You want them to go on and on. They're so good!
Secondly,
it's hard to review them. What do you write in praise of a book that
ticks all the boxes for being a masterpiece? Where do you look for
appropriate adjectives?
Alright, I'll give it a try, I have to. 'Love and betrayal in the Time of Netaji', that's what the tagline says. It was enough in itself, to pique my interest. Little did I know that those were just two of the innumerable emotions, I'd encounter in the book. There's drama, action, compassion, loyalty, jealousy, hatred, avarice, greed, pride, and wrath; all skillfully mixed up and presented with the finesse of a french cuisine. Wait, I think I missed something? Oh yes, there's happiness too.
Now,we all might have read one or a few books on Indian history at some point. Trust me, this is not one of them. Although, it talks about one of the most important moments in the Indian freedom struggle- the one that British refer to as the greatest battle they had fought in the last 400 years, the twin battle of Kohima and Imphal- the facts are blended well with fiction, making it an even more interesting and gripping read.
WHAT I LIKED:
The
plot is researched and well-knit. The story flows at a quick and
steady pace; no dull moment there. The characters are relatable and
likeable. The locales are well-sketched and intriguing. The writer
duo has managed to play quite expertly with the emotional
roller-coaster of the reader, hitting them at regular intervals with
a twist here and an unexpected turn there.
WHAT I DIDN'T:
I'm
not sure, if my complaint fits in here or not; because this one has
nothing to do with the writing, editing, or the proofreading. This
has to do with the formatting, which the publisher should have taken
care of. I'm reading a long paragraph about Deb's life and suddenly
the next one starts talking about Nishonko, without any indication
that one part has ended and another is about to start. It wouldn't
have been too difficult to put an ellipsis or some other symbol to
indicate it.
Apart from that, 'The Wrong Turn' is an excellent book that has all the making of a bestselling masterpiece, one that would stay in the minds of the readers for a long time. I strongly recommend this book to.... well, everyone who loves to read a well-written book.
My congratulations to the authors, Sanjay Chopra and Namita Roy Ghose!
I give this book, a full five out of five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a paperback copy of the book through 'The Book Club', in return of my honest and unbiased review.
Grab your copy @
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About the authors
“The Wrong Turn is a story that traverses the cities of Calcutta, Singapore, Rangoon and Kohima caught up in the blaze of the Second World War. It is about the clash of four desperate forces as they come together in Kohima to vie for the brightest jewel in the crown -- India. Victory will come to those who possess not just the coldest steel but even colder hearts.”
SANJAY CHOPRA is an airline pilot and author of two collections of short stories. Said and Done and Tailspin stories . He believes that his office forty thousand feet in the sky and his travels provide him with a view that fuels his vivid storytelling that cuts a wide arc through time and space.
His stories have won the Invisible Ink, the Millennium writers and Southport awards in the UK and USA. In the words of his readers, ‘He is a storyteller like those of the old days, yet his stories are as modern as tomorrow.
He lives in Mumbai with his wife Tisca Chopra, an actress and he is currently working on a film script and a web series.
You can stalk him @
“This was a story waiting to be told. So much about Netaji was smoke and mirrors, partial views foisted on us by the British and other vested interests. Here was a man who was a personal hero, who was part of the lore of my childhood. And here was a chance to set the narrative straight - through the lens of a very human yet universal story of love.”
During a school project on ‘The most memorable day of my life’, NAMITA ROY GHOSE wrote about a Russian girl on the day WW2 ended. She got her first rejection slip from the teacher for making things up. Ever since, Namita has established her storytelling skills through her scriptwriting, screenplays poetry, fiction, legendary advertising campaigns, and as a renowned advertising film director. A Creative Director with HTA, she left after 13 years to start her own film company, White Light, one of India’s top ad film outfits. A social activist, she is the founder of Vanashakti, an NGO that works to protect the environment. Namita has done pro bono work on issues like domestic violence, child welfare, sexual harassment and forest preservation. She is an avid traveller, a photographer, foodie and teacher.
During a school project on ‘The most memorable day of my life’, NAMITA ROY GHOSE wrote about a Russian girl on the day WW2 ended. She got her first rejection slip from the teacher for making things up. Ever since, Namita has established her storytelling skills through her scriptwriting, screenplays poetry, fiction, legendary advertising campaigns, and as a renowned advertising film director. A Creative Director with HTA, she left after 13 years to start her own film company, White Light, one of India’s top ad film outfits. A social activist, she is the founder of Vanashakti, an NGO that works to protect the environment. Namita has done pro bono work on issues like domestic violence, child welfare, sexual harassment and forest preservation. She is an avid traveller, a photographer, foodie and teacher.
Vidya Balan: "I like historical fiction. This one is just gripping, racing along like a thriller. I am sure people will love it and I wish Namita and Sanjay all the best for the book".
Shekhar Gupta: “Gripping reading. This is one writer duo with story-telling imagination and uncluttered turn of phrase”.
Jug Suraiya: “A sweeping saga of war, love and betrayal, set at a climactic point of India’s fight for freedom”.
Lord Meghnad Desai: “An absorbing and indeed thrilling story of one of the most crucial events in India’s history”.
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