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1965 Turning the Tide: How India Won the War
Fifty years in a nation's life is a small period of time. However, it is quite likely that collective memory will have faded about several eventsÂ?and so it is with the 1965 war that India was dragged into by Pakistan's chronic insecurities and territorial ambitions. This time in the form of a forcible attempt to annex Kashmir. Today, the details of the war that came between the tragedy of 1962 and the triumph of 1971 are hazy in the memory of the country.
But it is a story that needs to be retold. Caught by surprise at the Pakistani offensive, India, then struggling as a nation, responded with extraordinary zeal and turned the tide in a war Pakistan thought it would win because of its superior weapons and tactics.
But as the outcome of the 1965 war tells us, Pakistan not only failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives but had to suffer a massive setback, thanks to a combination of resolute political leadership, the brave Indian soldiers and determined citizens. This then is the account of the war that India has largely forgotten. In this meticulously researched and fast paced book, journalist and national security analyst Nitin A. Gokhale, has produced a formidable and comprehensive evaluation of the events and aftermath of the ferocious Indo-Pak war of 1965.
But it is a story that needs to be retold. Caught by surprise at the Pakistani offensive, India, then struggling as a nation, responded with extraordinary zeal and turned the tide in a war Pakistan thought it would win because of its superior weapons and tactics.
But as the outcome of the 1965 war tells us, Pakistan not only failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives but had to suffer a massive setback, thanks to a combination of resolute political leadership, the brave Indian soldiers and determined citizens. This then is the account of the war that India has largely forgotten. In this meticulously researched and fast paced book, journalist and national security analyst Nitin A. Gokhale, has produced a formidable and comprehensive evaluation of the events and aftermath of the ferocious Indo-Pak war of 1965.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2015
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219 people want to read
About the author
Nitin A. Gokhale
13 books38 followersNitin A. Gokhale , one of South Asia’s leading Strategic Analysts, is a renowned author, media trainer and founder of a specialised defence-related website BharatShakti.in.
After working for 32 years as a media practitioner across print, web and broadcast mediums, during which he reported on India’s North-East, focusing on the different insurgencies there, the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan and the Sri Lankan Eelam War IV to name a few, he is now a full-time author and part-time media entrepreneur since December 2014.
Author of five books so far on insurgencies, wars and conflicts, he is visiting faculty at all Indian Defence training institutions like the National Defence College, all the three war colleges, the College of Defence Management and the Defence Services Staff College, besides being a popular speaker at various seminars and symposiums on civil military relations, insurgency/terrorism, Asian security Affairs and military-media relations. His previous books include Beyond NJ 9842:The Siachen Saga, 1965 Turning the Tide: How India won the War and Sri Lanka: From War to Peace.
Gokhale also appears on News Channels as a commentator and writes regular columns for various publications besides hosting a television show—India First—for India’s national broadcaster, Doordarshan.
After working for 32 years as a media practitioner across print, web and broadcast mediums, during which he reported on India’s North-East, focusing on the different insurgencies there, the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan and the Sri Lankan Eelam War IV to name a few, he is now a full-time author and part-time media entrepreneur since December 2014.
Author of five books so far on insurgencies, wars and conflicts, he is visiting faculty at all Indian Defence training institutions like the National Defence College, all the three war colleges, the College of Defence Management and the Defence Services Staff College, besides being a popular speaker at various seminars and symposiums on civil military relations, insurgency/terrorism, Asian security Affairs and military-media relations. His previous books include Beyond NJ 9842:The Siachen Saga, 1965 Turning the Tide: How India won the War and Sri Lanka: From War to Peace.
Gokhale also appears on News Channels as a commentator and writes regular columns for various publications besides hosting a television show—India First—for India’s national broadcaster, Doordarshan.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 17, 2017
It's a great book! The author has done a fantastic amount of research on what happened during the war, what circumstances led up to it, and how the different people thought, what they did etc. It presents it all in a layman's format which I really liked since I don't normally read this genre.
In between he presents quotes from different people, their interviews. I feel that that adds to the engagement of the book.
However, one thing that I did not like about the book was the lack of a proper map to refer the locations. While reading, there are a lot of city/village names that popup. And if you google them then you don't get them on Google maps or anywhere else. So you have no idea which area/location exactly he is talking about. It isn't described either. For example, you can still get a reasonable idea and continue reading if the author says "the army then moved to X city. And then they moved to Y because Y was the most obvious choice geographically". But he doesn't mention where exactly X and Y were situated. And when you google them / check on google maps they're not mentioned anywhere else. Googling those villages refers you back to his book based on google's book search. In the long run this becomes annoying as you feel that you're investing time into it without gaining a proper understanding.
Instead, the author could present it as "the army then moved to X city, which is right in the centre of B state. Then it moved to Y which is somewhere near the west border (or whatever the description)". This way, I don't have to keep consulting a map every time a new name comes up.
Moreover, there is a map provided in the book. But that map felt useless because I didn't find a single village (that was mentioned in the book ), available on the given map.
However, it is commendable that this book got me up till the 35% mark. It helped develop some interest in me. I will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
In between he presents quotes from different people, their interviews. I feel that that adds to the engagement of the book.
However, one thing that I did not like about the book was the lack of a proper map to refer the locations. While reading, there are a lot of city/village names that popup. And if you google them then you don't get them on Google maps or anywhere else. So you have no idea which area/location exactly he is talking about. It isn't described either. For example, you can still get a reasonable idea and continue reading if the author says "the army then moved to X city. And then they moved to Y because Y was the most obvious choice geographically". But he doesn't mention where exactly X and Y were situated. And when you google them / check on google maps they're not mentioned anywhere else. Googling those villages refers you back to his book based on google's book search. In the long run this becomes annoying as you feel that you're investing time into it without gaining a proper understanding.
Instead, the author could present it as "the army then moved to X city, which is right in the centre of B state. Then it moved to Y which is somewhere near the west border (or whatever the description)". This way, I don't have to keep consulting a map every time a new name comes up.
Moreover, there is a map provided in the book. But that map felt useless because I didn't find a single village (that was mentioned in the book ), available on the given map.
However, it is commendable that this book got me up till the 35% mark. It helped develop some interest in me. I will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
January 24, 2018
Excellent and much needed introduction to India's recovery from 1962 debacle and how it become the world class force by 1971. The seeds of their glorious performance in 1971 lies in 1965. Essential to understand this important chapter in Indian history and shed light on brief but superb leadership that Lal Bahadur Shashtri was.
October 20, 2017
A good book if you enjoy a documentary style war history. The book gives a bird's eye view of political and strategic moves India and Pakistan made before, during and after the 1965 war. It would have been better if the author gives a little more details on the emotional and personal aspects of the fighting force. Also it miss to give appropriate credit to the Indian Air Force (IAF) though the role of IAF is mentioned superficially. At some places I get bored and confused due to the elaborative and exhaustive account of army deployment and maneuver during the war. I really appreciate the references to documents and other related books.
October 12, 2021
Insightful Overview
The book covers all the facts with the backdrop linked to instances corroborated through multiple sources.
Despite the tight deadline on which this book has been written, the author has done an amazing job of bringing the battlefield & situations leading to the Second Indo-Pak war to life.
Commendable work!!
The book covers all the facts with the backdrop linked to instances corroborated through multiple sources.
Despite the tight deadline on which this book has been written, the author has done an amazing job of bringing the battlefield & situations leading to the Second Indo-Pak war to life.
Commendable work!!
July 29, 2020
Good book on the 1965 war..however a detailed descriptions of the battles and the meb whi fought them would have made it more enjoyable
December 25, 2020
Nitin at his usual best,won't suggest for someone not aware of the jargon,else a gripping read!
August 10, 2023
A good read, it does a good job in refreshing memories and events of the 1965 war.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews