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For Love and Honour
Even as Kapil Dev lifts the 1983 World Cup, thousands of miles away, in the dense jungles of Mizoram, a secret mission stands compromised. At a terrible cost. Forced to engage in fierce combat with a group of insurgents, Captain Akhil Mehra loses his right hand. Leaving the army, he arrives at Carlington tea estate, owned by the dignified and wealthy Rai Bahadur, hoping to start a new chapter. His troubles, though, are just beginning. Here he meets Norden, the Rai Bahadur’s reticent and faithful assistant, the beautiful Indrani and wheelchair-bound Ipsita, the Rai Bahadur’s free-spirited daughters, whose cloistered lives are turned-upside down upon his arrival.
360 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2015
5 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Anand Ranganathan
10 books173 followersAnand Ranganathan obtained his BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi after which he left on a Nehru Centenary Scholarship for Cambridge, UK, where he obtained his BA (Tripos) in Natural Sciences, his MA, and his PhD. After a post-doctoral stint at Cambridge, Anand returned to India to join International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Delhi where he ran his lab for 16 years.
In 2015 he joined Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, as an Associate Professor. His laboratory works in the area of Directed Evolution and Pathogenesis, with special emphasis on Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Anand is a Consulting Editor and columnist for Swarajya. He has written previously for Newslaundry, DNA, and The Newsminute.
In 2015 he joined Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, as an Associate Professor. His laboratory works in the area of Directed Evolution and Pathogenesis, with special emphasis on Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Anand is a Consulting Editor and columnist for Swarajya. He has written previously for Newslaundry, DNA, and The Newsminute.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 17, 2017
I follow the author on twitter and I am pretty impressed by his breadth of knowledge. He is a scientist, journalist and a writer of fiction. I had to pick this book, despite its title.
This novel has flaws. It seems Bollywoodish and sometimes manipulative. But the plot and writer's craft more than make up for the overdose of drama, and makes the whole experience very entertaining. However, this book is more than just entertaining. To begin with, the set-up (Tea-Estate, North-East) is both refreshing (far away from the maddening crowd of mainstream India) as well as claustrophobic (in the dreamy blanket of mist & fog of hills) and the characters are believable yet mysterious. As the plot moves along, there are moments so profoundly visceral you won't easily be able to forget the experience. The feeling will stay with you for a while. Besides, you don't really have to read this book, it's written in a way you kind of see the story unfolding before your eyes.
Do I recommend it? - yes.
This novel has flaws. It seems Bollywoodish and sometimes manipulative. But the plot and writer's craft more than make up for the overdose of drama, and makes the whole experience very entertaining. However, this book is more than just entertaining. To begin with, the set-up (Tea-Estate, North-East) is both refreshing (far away from the maddening crowd of mainstream India) as well as claustrophobic (in the dreamy blanket of mist & fog of hills) and the characters are believable yet mysterious. As the plot moves along, there are moments so profoundly visceral you won't easily be able to forget the experience. The feeling will stay with you for a while. Besides, you don't really have to read this book, it's written in a way you kind of see the story unfolding before your eyes.
Do I recommend it? - yes.
November 29, 2015
What strikes you about the book is the deep imagery and scenery that has been embedded into it. Nothing seems out of place or artifical in this story. The setting, the people and their motivations seem perfectly reasonable. And when this is combined with the strong, lively and extraordinary characters that you meet, this book becomes an irresistible read.
The story might fade from your mind. But the characters will not. They will remain your long lost friends for ever now. You will realise that you have learned a lot from them. And neither will you forget the images. Aizwal. The estate. The school. And your next breakfast under a tree will surely feel different.
The story might fade from your mind. But the characters will not. They will remain your long lost friends for ever now. You will realise that you have learned a lot from them. And neither will you forget the images. Aizwal. The estate. The school. And your next breakfast under a tree will surely feel different.
November 25, 2018
Opportunity Lost.
Starting with north-east, the novel appears engrossing, however soon becomes clear it's reaching nowhere owing to the poor sketching of characters. Then, comes the abrupt killing. Was there love or just a portrayal of love? Can't say.
You have to have strong characters, be it for Love or Honour!
Anand promises a lot but loses the plot very soon.
Having said that Anand deserves accolades for the wonderful plot and unique amalgamation of army activities, Miso lives & tea estate.
The novel remained event-based primarily throughout rather than character-driven contrary to the book cover and headline.
Starting with north-east, the novel appears engrossing, however soon becomes clear it's reaching nowhere owing to the poor sketching of characters. Then, comes the abrupt killing. Was there love or just a portrayal of love? Can't say.
You have to have strong characters, be it for Love or Honour!
Anand promises a lot but loses the plot very soon.
Having said that Anand deserves accolades for the wonderful plot and unique amalgamation of army activities, Miso lives & tea estate.
The novel remained event-based primarily throughout rather than character-driven contrary to the book cover and headline.
September 20, 2015
Worth a read. The place where the story unfolds makes it more interesting. It happens in the North East of India, Mizoram to be precise. It also has the 1966 Aizwal bombing as its backdrop. Majority of the Indians are unaware of this incident and the experiences the Mizos had to go through: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/08/06...
November 2, 2015
Picked this up for the sole reason that a part of the story is set during the Mizoram Air Strikes of 1966 (the only time India carried out Air Strikes against its own citizens). There is authenticity with respect to the air strikes, with references from “The Mizo Uprising: Assam Assembly Debates on the Mizo Movement”, by Dr JV Hluna and Rini Tochhawng and there is some imagination in how some central characters are burdened with the baggage of that piece of India’s history. Thankfully, that is not just a fancy premise but an actual aid in how complex human conditions are explored (pity, being one).
The author, I felt, is more adept at narration than constructing a lively conversation between characters.
The author, I felt, is more adept at narration than constructing a lively conversation between characters.
May 6, 2017
It starts off great! The Premise, the setting (Army, North-East India, Tea-Estate), the build up of the characters is engrossinging. The imagery of north east India created is beautiful. Something you don't see too often in english literature. But the author is unable to keep up the same level of excitement throughout the book. I think, more justice should have been done to the Rahul Schimer character. The title is heavy and one expects more drama than one is served. And was it really love?? or just the idea of love? Its a quick read though.
November 3, 2015
thik thak h!! kuch jyada maza nhi aaya:P!. normal story, kinda love triangle.. the way story ended.. i didnt lik it .. it cud have been better!
September 28, 2015
I personally am not a big fan of the romantic genre of books, and therefore this book didn't quite work for me. Will put up a detailed review on my blog sometime soon.
September 12, 2016
A nice read that throws to light the insurgency in North East and attacks by Indian army.
Not compelling through out and lots of drama towards the end, but has its moments.
Not compelling through out and lots of drama towards the end, but has its moments.
June 18, 2020
Excellent narration of events. Have watched his interviews and stuffs. Completely different guy when it comes to storytelling.
December 9, 2015
For love and Honour is a heavy title. It predisposes one to expect great things from the pages that follow. Plus, when you bring in the very tantalizing prospect of an Army Officer as the main protagonist you have effectively hooked an army brat into reading the book with unbridled enthusiasm. So, if it falls short even by a little bit here and there, it leads to major disappointment. I loved the almost neon yellow background with the stark black illustration of a gun filled in with flowers (or are they tea-buds) - suitable accompaniment to the title it seemed.
Spoliers Ahead
The story kicks off with a battalion of army officers and soldiers moving out on a mission against Mizo insurgents while the rest of the country is hooked on to the final moments of the 1983 Cricket World cup. Our main protagonist Captain Mehra and his senior on the mission Major Rahul Schimer get separated from their platoon while jumping off the plane and what follows was altogether an incomprehensible and baffling turn of events. Whether Mehra was concussed or just too drunk on his youth is a little difficult to glean, but his actions at that point lead to him getting his hand chopped off and Schimer shooting down insurgents - one of whom turns out to be a long lost (forgotten?) childhood friend.
By the end of it, Mehra is out of the army as a result of his disability and has been carted off to a tea estate owned by a friend of his obliging commanding officer to take up the post as security officer, while Schimer has begun a slow, unnoticed but steady slide into depression. Mehra already begins to lose his sheen as the army officer one has in mind. Instead, he comes across as someone with hardly any idea of what he is doing or why or even what repercussions he may have to face for his actions and his inability to understand his own limitations and shortcomings.
Mehra lands in a tea estate that is beautiful, looks peaceful enough, has a benevolent old master who in turn has two pretty daughters. The estate manager is the extremely taciturn and hostile Norden. The love triangle that follows is so filmy and so monumentally disappointing that it is painful to even recall. Mehra behaves more like an adolescent with raging hormones instead of an army officer with some sense and decorum. Within a couple of days of arriving on the scene he has bedded one sister, and declared undying love to the other. It is excruciating when a man tells a woman he has 'always' loved a her 5 days after meeting her and 3 days after sleeping with her sister.
The Schimer storyline is actually more interesting, although it is not explored in as much depth as it should have been. The author took the bold step of bringing up a piece of history I had never heard about and was completely taken aback by - the air strikes at Aizwal in 1966. I wish he had concentrated on that bit a lot more than the filmy romance. Schimer's response to the death of a long lost childhood friend also seems too severe at times. But then he is portrayed as the silent, brooding type of person and maybe that explains it.
The author's writing style is actually very suave and sophisticated, but I wonder whether he actually set out to make his main protagonist as unlikable as he eventually turned out to be. Schimer embodied the 'Honour' part almost to the tee, but Mehra's contribution to 'Love' was a complete letdown. In all honesty, I suppose that any non-army-associated readers would maybe like it much better since they will not be weighing the actions of the main protagonists with innumerable other young men in uniform, for there is no question in my mind that an army man is a breed apart and is expected to behave as such at all times.
Also, are we considering stories set in the 1980's as Historical Fiction now?? Comes as a bit of a shock to someone who has been reading historical fiction set only in or before the regency era.
Spoliers Ahead
The story kicks off with a battalion of army officers and soldiers moving out on a mission against Mizo insurgents while the rest of the country is hooked on to the final moments of the 1983 Cricket World cup. Our main protagonist Captain Mehra and his senior on the mission Major Rahul Schimer get separated from their platoon while jumping off the plane and what follows was altogether an incomprehensible and baffling turn of events. Whether Mehra was concussed or just too drunk on his youth is a little difficult to glean, but his actions at that point lead to him getting his hand chopped off and Schimer shooting down insurgents - one of whom turns out to be a long lost (forgotten?) childhood friend.
By the end of it, Mehra is out of the army as a result of his disability and has been carted off to a tea estate owned by a friend of his obliging commanding officer to take up the post as security officer, while Schimer has begun a slow, unnoticed but steady slide into depression. Mehra already begins to lose his sheen as the army officer one has in mind. Instead, he comes across as someone with hardly any idea of what he is doing or why or even what repercussions he may have to face for his actions and his inability to understand his own limitations and shortcomings.
Mehra lands in a tea estate that is beautiful, looks peaceful enough, has a benevolent old master who in turn has two pretty daughters. The estate manager is the extremely taciturn and hostile Norden. The love triangle that follows is so filmy and so monumentally disappointing that it is painful to even recall. Mehra behaves more like an adolescent with raging hormones instead of an army officer with some sense and decorum. Within a couple of days of arriving on the scene he has bedded one sister, and declared undying love to the other. It is excruciating when a man tells a woman he has 'always' loved a her 5 days after meeting her and 3 days after sleeping with her sister.
The Schimer storyline is actually more interesting, although it is not explored in as much depth as it should have been. The author took the bold step of bringing up a piece of history I had never heard about and was completely taken aback by - the air strikes at Aizwal in 1966. I wish he had concentrated on that bit a lot more than the filmy romance. Schimer's response to the death of a long lost childhood friend also seems too severe at times. But then he is portrayed as the silent, brooding type of person and maybe that explains it.
The author's writing style is actually very suave and sophisticated, but I wonder whether he actually set out to make his main protagonist as unlikable as he eventually turned out to be. Schimer embodied the 'Honour' part almost to the tee, but Mehra's contribution to 'Love' was a complete letdown. In all honesty, I suppose that any non-army-associated readers would maybe like it much better since they will not be weighing the actions of the main protagonists with innumerable other young men in uniform, for there is no question in my mind that an army man is a breed apart and is expected to behave as such at all times.
Also, are we considering stories set in the 1980's as Historical Fiction now?? Comes as a bit of a shock to someone who has been reading historical fiction set only in or before the regency era.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews