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Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Memoirs of the Indian Army's First Ethnic Gorkha Lieutenant General
Breaking the Glass Ceiling is the story of the first ethnic Gorkha officer’s rise to the highest echelons of command in the Indian Army. Commissioned into the Grenadiers in the Indian Army where Gorkhas usually do not serve, he rose to become a colonel to then command a frontline corps along the Line of Actual Control and finally retired as the military secretary.
Full of anecdotes and vignettes, the book is the story of his lived life and world view. It talks about who the Gorkhas are, their customs and traditions, how they came ‘along with the land’ to become a part of India. It delves into the crisis of identity of the Indian Gorkha community, their numerous sacrifices and their quest for a homeland. It also takes an unbiased look at India–Nepal issues.
Having served extensively in counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations in J&K and India’s Northeast as well as in lesser-known Myanmar as the defence attaché, Lt General Shakti Gurung covers in this book a wide landscape of issues of the region not tread upon earlier by anyone.
From a community known more for its valour than its cerebral acumen, the book walks the path of him having served thrice in the MS Branch, the challenges he faced and how he overcame them, swimming against the tide and revelling in the competition.
Full of anecdotes and vignettes, the book is the story of his lived life and world view. It talks about who the Gorkhas are, their customs and traditions, how they came ‘along with the land’ to become a part of India. It delves into the crisis of identity of the Indian Gorkha community, their numerous sacrifices and their quest for a homeland. It also takes an unbiased look at India–Nepal issues.
Having served extensively in counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations in J&K and India’s Northeast as well as in lesser-known Myanmar as the defence attaché, Lt General Shakti Gurung covers in this book a wide landscape of issues of the region not tread upon earlier by anyone.
From a community known more for its valour than its cerebral acumen, the book walks the path of him having served thrice in the MS Branch, the challenges he faced and how he overcame them, swimming against the tide and revelling in the competition.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 16, 2025
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August 26, 2025
Breaking the Glass Ceiling is a memoir by Lt General Shakti Gurung, the first ethnic Gorkha Lieutenant General. The memoir traces the life of General Gurung from his childhood in Malaya, his boarding school days in Dehradun, his college life at NDA, his training at IMA, and his subsequent life as a celebrated officer.
The narrative gripped me from the beginning, and despite the considerable length of the book, I never felt bored. General Gurung employs simple, lucid language and peppers the book with personal vignettes and subtle humor, enhancing the readability. He also sprinkles the narrative with important Nepali culture and traditions and delves into the significant sacrifices made by the Indian Gorkha community. General Gurung also includes some boxed sections wherein he offers valuable tips and learnings to students aspiring to pursue a career in the military, which is appreciable.
I loved the portrayal of his school and college life; it is innocent, relatable, and shows the inquisitiveness, ambition, and resolve of General Gurung as a young boy, which contributed to his immense success in his life as an army officer. Another episode that I thoroughly enjoyed was the way he narrates the history of Gorkhas through a heartfelt conversation between him and his father. It was innovative, beautifully executed, and extremely informative.
The story then moves on to his postings in various brigades and infantries, his significant role in countering terrorism, and how he rose to become a Lieutenant General and retired as the Military Secretary.
I admire how, despite facing obstacles and challenges throughout his military career, he confronted them with unflinching grit and calmness and rose through the ranks with flying colors. Personalities like him serve as sources of immense inspiration for youngsters of the Indian Nepali Community, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and achieve success.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling is an important book. I would highly recommend it to youngsters aspiring to join the military profession, all army officers and cadets, and general readers interested in learning about the military profession and the inspirational success story of a man from an underrated community.
4.5 stars from my side.
The narrative gripped me from the beginning, and despite the considerable length of the book, I never felt bored. General Gurung employs simple, lucid language and peppers the book with personal vignettes and subtle humor, enhancing the readability. He also sprinkles the narrative with important Nepali culture and traditions and delves into the significant sacrifices made by the Indian Gorkha community. General Gurung also includes some boxed sections wherein he offers valuable tips and learnings to students aspiring to pursue a career in the military, which is appreciable.
I loved the portrayal of his school and college life; it is innocent, relatable, and shows the inquisitiveness, ambition, and resolve of General Gurung as a young boy, which contributed to his immense success in his life as an army officer. Another episode that I thoroughly enjoyed was the way he narrates the history of Gorkhas through a heartfelt conversation between him and his father. It was innovative, beautifully executed, and extremely informative.
The story then moves on to his postings in various brigades and infantries, his significant role in countering terrorism, and how he rose to become a Lieutenant General and retired as the Military Secretary.
I admire how, despite facing obstacles and challenges throughout his military career, he confronted them with unflinching grit and calmness and rose through the ranks with flying colors. Personalities like him serve as sources of immense inspiration for youngsters of the Indian Nepali Community, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and achieve success.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling is an important book. I would highly recommend it to youngsters aspiring to join the military profession, all army officers and cadets, and general readers interested in learning about the military profession and the inspirational success story of a man from an underrated community.
4.5 stars from my side.
Displaying 1 of 1 review