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Operation Khukri: The True Story behind the Indian Army's Most Successful Mission as part of the United Nations
Did you know that 233 soldiers of the Indian Army were cordoned off for almost three months without food in the jungles of Africa?
How did a UN peacekeeping mission turn into a war for dignity, a war for the Indian tricolour?
The year was 2000. Sierra Leone, in West Africa, had been ravaged by years of civil strife. With the intervention of the United Nations, two companies of the Indian Army were deployed in Kailahun as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Soon, the peaceful mission turned into a war-like standoff between Major Punia's company and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Kailahun, with the Indian peacekeepers cordoned off for seventy-five days without supplies. The only way home was by laying down their weapons.
Operation Khukri was one of Indian Army's most successful international missions, and this book is a first-hand account by Major Rajpal Punia, who, after three months of impasse and failed diplomacy, orchestrated the operation, surviving the ambush of the RUF in a prolonged jungle warfare twice, and returning with all 233 soldiers standing tall.
How did a UN peacekeeping mission turn into a war for dignity, a war for the Indian tricolour?
The year was 2000. Sierra Leone, in West Africa, had been ravaged by years of civil strife. With the intervention of the United Nations, two companies of the Indian Army were deployed in Kailahun as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Soon, the peaceful mission turned into a war-like standoff between Major Punia's company and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Kailahun, with the Indian peacekeepers cordoned off for seventy-five days without supplies. The only way home was by laying down their weapons.
Operation Khukri was one of Indian Army's most successful international missions, and this book is a first-hand account by Major Rajpal Punia, who, after three months of impasse and failed diplomacy, orchestrated the operation, surviving the ambush of the RUF in a prolonged jungle warfare twice, and returning with all 233 soldiers standing tall.
- GenresWar
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2021
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60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 10, 2021
India has been the largest troop contributor to UN peace keeping missions since its inception. One such mission is OPERATION KHUKRI. The term KHUKRI, I quote from page 146 of the book, which was synonymous with the Gorkhas, who constituted half of the soldiers at Kailahun. Historically, “Khukri” denoted a strong character; it symbolised bravery and valour and hence it aptly depicted every Indian soldier in Kailahun.
Indian army’s motto: सेवा अस्माकं धर्मः; Service before self was well put into practice by General Punia and his team at various situations.
UN peace keeping helps countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. Peace keeping by United Nations is a role held by the department of peace operations as “unique and dynamic instrument developed by the organisation as way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace.” Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself, with troops serving under UN operation control. In these cases, peacemakers remain members of their respective armed forces, and do not constitute an independent “UN army” as the UN does not have such a force. UN peace keepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets. A United Nations peace has three power centers. The first is the special representative of the secretary General, the official leader of the mission. This person is responsible for all political and diplomatic activity, overseeing relations with both the parties to the peace treaty and the UN member- states in general. They are often a senior member of the secretariat. The second is the force commander, who is responsible for the military forces deployed. They are a senior officer of their Nation’s armed services, and are often from the nation committing the higher number of troops to the project. Finally, the chief administrative officer oversees supplies and logistics, and coordinates the procurement of supplies needed.
The term “OPERATION” in terms of Indian armed forces is a coordinated action of a state or a non- state, in response to a developing situation. Operation may be a combat or non-combat nature and may be referred to by a code name for the purpose of national security. The book “Operation Khukri” is written by Major General Rajpal Punia and Damini punia. As part of the “Operation Khukri”, Major Punia was awarded the prestigious Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) by the president of India in 2002. The Author shares his experiences of this mission and the bravery & professionalism displayed by 233 Indian soldiers.
“कौस्तुभमणेः अतिनैष्ठुर्यम्” these words of Great Sanskrit Poet Banabhatta of 7th century A.D, in his work Kadambari describe the cruel nature of the precious stone called Kaustubha (Diamond). In this book, the same precious stone has created all the mess and it showed a bit of its cruel nature by disturbing humans with a thought to accumulate the wealth more and more. I quote from page 46, “Diamond was the root cause for the bloodiest civil war that was fought for over a decade in Sierra Leone, where thousands of people had lost their lives, with an equal number of survivors who had lost their limbs. I was shocked to learn how the luminous shine of the diamonds of Africa had diluted the red stains that painted the nation with the brush of barbarity.”
The book “OPERATION KHUKRI” present before the readers the struggle a soldier undergoes to accomplish a mission. These readers will cheer and understand the depth of the words “JAI JAWAN, JAI KISAN.” They will also get a fair picture of the kind of valour &bravery which a soldier needs and to up keep the same, the moral boost an officer should offer at regular intervals, which General Punia makes it without fail. Above all, the readers will get to see how an officer feels the responsibility for his team, encourages sports, imparts faith, appreciates accuracy, highlights the importance of flexibility and insists on a disciplined lifestyle.
Indian army’s motto: सेवा अस्माकं धर्मः; Service before self was well put into practice by General Punia and his team at various situations.
UN peace keeping helps countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. Peace keeping by United Nations is a role held by the department of peace operations as “unique and dynamic instrument developed by the organisation as way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace.” Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself, with troops serving under UN operation control. In these cases, peacemakers remain members of their respective armed forces, and do not constitute an independent “UN army” as the UN does not have such a force. UN peace keepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets. A United Nations peace has three power centers. The first is the special representative of the secretary General, the official leader of the mission. This person is responsible for all political and diplomatic activity, overseeing relations with both the parties to the peace treaty and the UN member- states in general. They are often a senior member of the secretariat. The second is the force commander, who is responsible for the military forces deployed. They are a senior officer of their Nation’s armed services, and are often from the nation committing the higher number of troops to the project. Finally, the chief administrative officer oversees supplies and logistics, and coordinates the procurement of supplies needed.
The term “OPERATION” in terms of Indian armed forces is a coordinated action of a state or a non- state, in response to a developing situation. Operation may be a combat or non-combat nature and may be referred to by a code name for the purpose of national security. The book “Operation Khukri” is written by Major General Rajpal Punia and Damini punia. As part of the “Operation Khukri”, Major Punia was awarded the prestigious Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) by the president of India in 2002. The Author shares his experiences of this mission and the bravery & professionalism displayed by 233 Indian soldiers.
“कौस्तुभमणेः अतिनैष्ठुर्यम्” these words of Great Sanskrit Poet Banabhatta of 7th century A.D, in his work Kadambari describe the cruel nature of the precious stone called Kaustubha (Diamond). In this book, the same precious stone has created all the mess and it showed a bit of its cruel nature by disturbing humans with a thought to accumulate the wealth more and more. I quote from page 46, “Diamond was the root cause for the bloodiest civil war that was fought for over a decade in Sierra Leone, where thousands of people had lost their lives, with an equal number of survivors who had lost their limbs. I was shocked to learn how the luminous shine of the diamonds of Africa had diluted the red stains that painted the nation with the brush of barbarity.”
The book “OPERATION KHUKRI” present before the readers the struggle a soldier undergoes to accomplish a mission. These readers will cheer and understand the depth of the words “JAI JAWAN, JAI KISAN.” They will also get a fair picture of the kind of valour &bravery which a soldier needs and to up keep the same, the moral boost an officer should offer at regular intervals, which General Punia makes it without fail. Above all, the readers will get to see how an officer feels the responsibility for his team, encourages sports, imparts faith, appreciates accuracy, highlights the importance of flexibility and insists on a disciplined lifestyle.
September 20, 2022
The story of courage and sacrifice by Indian Army, but some reasons I felt the writing was average so 4 stars!
October 4, 2022
A brilliant story but some average and repetitive writing. The book highlights the emotional turmoil a soldier goes through during battle. Though the jingoism is a little over the top.
November 8, 2024
Indian Army executing UN peace keeping missions, sound’s easy for an army, this book has the story of why where and how they achieved it. Brilliantly portrayed
November 23, 2021
I recently came across one of the posts in Instagram in which First point to grab my attention was an army officer who was good enough to touch the ceiling with his hands, the second point was the book which he was holding "Operation Khukri". I was very curious to know what was the secret of his height firstly, but after looking to the book which he was holding it zip passed the first curiosity. I purchased that book and was eager to go through the Op but subconsciously I was looking to find the tips for the height growth somehow, but eventually ended up with the great height of respect to the act of courage and turmoil that they came across. If a man lasts and wins the operation we may call him as RAMBO, but what to call a man who has saved 233 people in a hostile zone?, we shall yell out Maj Gen Rajpal Punia Sir's name. As an officer he may not only need to tackle the expected but also he should be able to tackle the worst which is unexpected, this story(Operation) is an Epic example for this statement, in which our INDIAN ARMY always stands tall like our Punia sir. The attitude of never surrender what come what may!. Even though it happened miles away, grabs a huge attention and affectionate towards our INDIAN ARMY Soldiers who lay down their life for a cause to protect you and me. A Must to Read book by every Indian,
October 2, 2021
A very well written never heard before story of Indian soldiers' courage, bravery and sacrifices for UN peacekeeping mission in civil war torn and poor country of West Africa, Sierra Leone. I've visited Sierra Leone couple of years back and have heard of various heart wrenching stories about the civil war from locals. Pleased to know that the Indian army has a significant contribution in making Sierra Leone what it is today.
Major General Punia and Damini Punia have done a great job in bringing forward his first hand experience. It's a gripping and emotional story giving insights to the mission. It's also a story of bitter sweet ending which I wish was just sweet and not bitter. Good read!
Major General Punia and Damini Punia have done a great job in bringing forward his first hand experience. It's a gripping and emotional story giving insights to the mission. It's also a story of bitter sweet ending which I wish was just sweet and not bitter. Good read!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews