I wrote ‘Through Orphaned Eyes’ in the period 2013 – 2015. The book germinated in my mind, first as a story of India, as told through the eyes of an ordinary Indian. Then the story developed its own momentum and took on another shape to encompass the story of Pakistan as well. This historical novel tells the story of India and Pakistan; their birth, their love-hate relationship, their battles with each other and the conflicts within the respective nations.
The story is seen through the eyes of two main characters- brothers divided in the trauma of Partition, like the two nations. One, the hero(who remains nameless throughout, since he could be any ordinary middle class Indian)comes to India on 15 August 1947, in the communal madness of Partition.The other is his brother who is born on 14 August 1947, left behind and adopted by a Pakistani Army officer. He eventually goes on to become the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Through their eyes the story of the two nations emerge. We see the trauma of partition and the effect on the psyche of both nations. We see the wars the two nations have waged with each other, 1947, 1965, 1971 and the Kargil War. We are see the conflict within the nations. In India the dark years of the Emergency come hauntingly alive, as does the attack on the Golden Temple in 1984, the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots that followed. We trace the path of the nationright till 2015, see its years of economic success and decline and witness some of its most epochal moments.
The story of Pakistan similarly emerges, through its Army coups, its dismemberment in 1971, its involvement with the Mujahidin groups in Afghanistan and their use to foment insurgency in Kashmir. How the groups then turned against Pakistan, and then engaged the same forces that once cultivated them is also dramatically developed. Pakistan’s dangerous war within itself, and the slow realization that “the enemy was not India whom we had been fighting all these years – the enemy lay within”.
The interplay of the lives of the two heroes is the central theme of the plot and forms a fascinating story line which is grippingly narrated. This fast-paced novel takes us from 1947 to 2015, bringing alive the psyche of the two nations, capturing their history and even exploring their cricketing rivalry and culture. In one of the most powerful chapters the hero’s daughter performs a dance recital at a ‘Festival of Peace’ between the two nations, while the Pakistani hero’s wife sings the score for the dance – all this while the planning for the 2008 Mumbai attacks are underway. The book takes us deep in to the emotions of the people and the frustration that both sides have with their political leadership. Infact, the author says the book has been entitled ‘Through Orphaned Eyes’ not so much because the two principle characters are orphans, but in reference to two nations orphaned by their leaders.
It is a gripping and enthralling novel replete with historical fact and symbolism and takes us on a sweep of the sub-continent in 278 fast-paced pages. A definite ‘must-read’ by all.
About the Author
Ajay Singh served in the Indian Army for 28 years. Many of the events described in the book are based on personal experiences during his military career.
He is the author of the books, ‘The Battles that Shaped Indian History’ (released in October 2011) and ‘A Spectrum of Modern Warfare, (released May 2013) and is a renowned public speaker who speaks extensively at international seminars and forums.
He is presently the CEO of an IT company based in Delhi.
Release
The book was released on 23 Oct 2011 at Kota House in New Delhi, by Gen Ata Hasnain and Gen G D Singh. The presence of over 200 of my friends and family, made it even more special.
Reviews
REVIEW BY FIZA PATHAN IN ‘INSANE OWL’
Through Orphaned Eyes: A story of two people, two nations, written by Indian author Ajay Singh, is an amazing story of two countries or rather two brothers who were ‘almost’ born one after the other; one was born on the 14th of August 1947 while the other ‘seems’ to think that he was born on the 15th of August 1947…which we respectively celebrate as the Independence Day of two countries…Pakistan and India. Ajay Singh through his remarkable style has managed something that no author has managed to really do, that is, to tell the parallel stories of how both India and Pakistan, newly independent countries have developed in the past 69 years of independence through the eyes of two brothers, one who grows up in India and the other in Pakistan; blood brothers indeed and yet just like the countries themselves, so far apart. This is the magic of the tale spun masterfully by accomplished author Ajay Singh, who has also served in the Indian army for 28 years and who has a vast repertoire of knowledge about the political, military, economic, religious, social etc., affairs of both the aforementioned countries.
The author skillfully uses two styles of creative writing to tell the story of India and Pakistan. For India, he uses the first person narrative, while for Pakistan, he sticks to the third person narrative style. Both these styles complement each other which make the saga of India and Pakistan a great informative read, but also a good mix of fiction and non-fiction to a certain degree.
The characters in this story are well formed and very lifelike so a reader can empathize with all of them. The unnamed hero of India, the wise Masterji, the talented Shazia, the resourceful Shahnawaz, the fanatic BitullahWazir, the martyr Gaurav etc., are few of the characters which make this book a sparkling treasure house of contemporary history in prose form.
Through Orphaned Eyes: A story of two people, two nations, makes the reader think and analyze situations from contemporary history. It also highlights to a great extent the life in the military section of each country which makes the book very interesting and fast paced. Emotions are felt and battle scars of old are made to bleed afresh with the question of in reality…who is the real enemy…Pakistan?…India?….You need to read the book to find out.
With that I must say that Through Orphaned Eyes: A story of two people, two nations, by Ajay Singh is a cut above the rest, and I hope to read more of his literature very soon.
Copyright © 2016 FizaPathan
This book should be widely read by all generations on both sides of the border. If Pakistan decides to ban it, its sale will only shoot up.
Book Reading at Delhi Gymkhana Club on 11 March 16
Reading at the GRANTH BOOK STORE in MUMBAI on 23 Jan2017
DO YOU WANT TO BUY THE BOOK ?
Just go to Amazon or Flipkart and type ‘Through Orphaned Eyes’ and procure it online
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Or just send me a mail. I will have a copy sent to you
HOPE YOU WILL ALL ENJOY IT.
HAPPY READING