An old world warrior in a new world battle

Title: Second World War Sandwich

Author: Digonta Bordoloi

Cover: Haitenlo Semy

Pan Macmilan India

Price: 399/-

Pages: 231

First published: 2021

ISBN: 978–93–89109–52–8

Thanks are due to Digonta Bordoloi, Pan Macmilan India, Sunny and Swati.

 Background

During my first visit to Nagaland, silly enough, I missed out a visit to the war memorial. The second trip, however, I made amends. The place is special. Every subsequent visit I made it a point to visit it with - time on hand. There, sitting in silence, amidst the graves, I felt a strange calm. Calm I have experienced only at a few other places.

This book took me there. It again told me why the war memorial exists. What all a place which emanates peace and serenity today has seen in the past. The horror of violence and brutality at close quarters.

It reminded me how little I knew of the battle that could have possibly altered a lot – including our map - had the result been otherwise. This book, a work of fiction, is a well-researched account on this battle.

Nagaland

This book takes us deep into the life in Nagaland like it used to be. It also presents fleeting glimpses of what it possibly is today. The tone brings out the fervour and essence of the state. For example, the characters and situations have that affinity for humour and lack of fear, traits that stuck me during my visits. Traits that make Nagaland stand-out even from its neighbouring states.

Nagaland is special to me. I got to visit multiple locations across the state, chat with people and walk in the forests. I was fortunate to also come across few wonderful human beings during my trips. It was largely fun.

The book took me back to my trips. Few lines in the book reminded me of certain experiences there. Crude brutality of the Naga dao – for example. Dao had enlightened me to the range of actions people can put a single tool to use for. Of the deftness of their hands. Not only could people cut long, strong and heavy bamboos into small pieces but they could also peel potatoes with it. And, both of these in almost no time. During a walk, in the central part of the state, with a friend, we were repeatedly told how the dao is a crucial element of the local culture, the Naga life.

The author has also interestingly used multiple terms to elucidate Kohima’s changing contours - sleepy garrison town, hill station, small town, and city!

I cringe on coming across these terms – head-hunter and savage. These usually are wanton reinforcement of the stereotypes by people, especially outsiders, including people who claim to work for forests and people. Here, however, these terms have a context. This is true for a lot else in the book as well – there is a context.

Initial pages

The author sets the tone for the book in the prologue itself. The reader feels in safe hands and is encouraged to read more. The characters, introduced one after the other, are rivetingly woven into the story.

The story

This story, based around the Second World War revolves around its protagonist. Mongseng. A Naga from a village far from Kohima. It focuses on his actions as he gets caught up in the war. It also takes us to his life in the village – including his family, their customs and a Padre who taught him English. English which helped him interact with people he got caught up with. This is also a story about people from varied cultural and social milieu including Captain Timothy Hastings, Sandra - his wife, Subedar Chetri and Orderly Raan Singh. Brought together by circumstances they bear the brunt of the battle from close quarters. A battle which was gruesome and gory, and would change their lives forever. Lives of those who would survive.

One liners

This book is also about lines that stay with the reader. These are less about the language and more about the universality of the issues, the situations which the characters encounter. Metaphorical, they hold possibility of a different, a larger interpretation. They make the reader stop, think and at times get lost in thoughts.

Sample these:

No matter how much you prepare for an eventuality, when it does materialize, it catches everyone by surprise.

A commonality in language can make a stranger seem acquainted. A savage civilized.

The mundane kept their minds off the looming threat. It gave them some assurance to be in touch with the normal.

Garrison town people never imagined to be a part of the battle.

Questions

A book I enjoy usually has me wonder on what additional or different I would have loved to see in it.

These questions arose:

First, of course, for a tale this dramatic, could the cover have been more exciting?

Secondly, could the book have delved more into the grandfather – grandson conversations?

Finally, couple of characters appear one-dimensional and atypical – and the narrative, especially in select parts, gets black and white. Could these have been done differently?