Balidan: Stories of India’s greatest Para Special Forces Operatives is an exclusive Book written especially on India’s most lethal arm PARA Special Forces of Indian Army. The book is written by Swapnil Pandey and published by Harper Collins India. The book is a non fiction based on real life stories of one of the most legendary names from the world of Para Special Forces; Colonel Santosh Mahadik SM: SC (posthumously) Brigadier Sauarbh Singh Shekhawat KC, SC,SM, VSM from 21 PARA Special Forces (The Wagnakh), Subedar Major honorary Captain Mahendra Singh KC, SM , Captain Tushar Mahajan SC (posthumously), Major Manish Singh SC and Mrs Astha Panwar from 9 PARA Special Forces (the ghosts of the valley) and the author has covered Operation Rangdori Baihk from 4 PARA SF (the fourth of the North) . The book had been written after interviewing more than 200 operatives, friends and family members of these SF operatives from across the world and various SF units.

The book starts with a dedication

“For all the nameless, faceless, fierce and righteous owners of the Balidan badge; the legendary Para Special Forces operatives who have given their all to the nation, and to their families who have stood by these real-life superheroes, in times of war and in times of peace.“

and proceeds to famous statement of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery,
1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein on What manner of men are these who wear the maroon beret? It states at the end

men-apart every man an Emperor

The book starts with a brief description on history legacy and origin of Parachute regiment and para Special forces in India. THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT of the Indian Army is primarily an airborne regiment, specializing in parachute operations and quick deployment behind enemy lines. It is an arm of the infantry forces while Special forces are an arm of Parachute regiment, a relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. These exclusive units rely on stealth, speed, self-reliance and close teamwork, as well as highly specialized equipment. Traditionally, the mission of the SF are in five areas: counterterrorism, unconventional warfare, facilitating the internal defence of foreign countries, special reconnaissance and direct action against specific targets. This highlights the difference between both Paratroopers and Special forces operatives.

Then the stories of the legendary one of its kind book on Special Forces begin. A book on Indian Special Forces was much awaited. While we had accounts of individual heroism of Para Special Forces officers and soldiers in India this is for the first time that an entire book is written exclusively on the heroes from the Para SF from most iconic and legendary battalions; 9 Para SF, 21 Para SF and 4 Para SF.

The author says that it is her attempt to give real superheroes to people. Why follow the ideals of Superman or Captain America when we have our own real superheroes in India.

The first story is based on the life of Col Santosh Mahadik titled as ‘Commando who lived and died for the nation’ The story narrates the tales from his childhood ,his probation period and how his military career was launched from Kargil war. His exceptional qualities as a combat underwater diver and his thrilling operations. His family life his wife Captain Swati Mahadik, his children Kartikee and Swaraj had also been featured most beautifully. The last plots when Col Santosh Mahadik makes supreme sacrifice moisten the eyes.

The next story in the Balidan features Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat The author Swapnil Pandey has aptly titled his story as The man, The myth and The legend. The story shares the anecdotes from his childhood in Rajasthan, narrated by his family and childhood friends. The story also talks a lot about his academy days in IMA when he rolled and was punished maharaja style to when he ran on the whistles of his ustads. The author also narrates the anecdotes shared by his famous close friend and coursemate Major Guarav Arya (retd) who mentions how Shekhu had always been a fitness freak. The author takes forward the story of Brig S.S. Shekhawat through his probation days and also features his famous operations in which he had earned medals and awards. His family life had also been revealed for the first time and mentions the courage sacrifice and resilience of his wife Mrs Renuka Rathore, his mother Dr Shraddha Chauhan and his father Dr Jaswant Singh Shekhawat in order to support every endeavor the legendary Para Special Forces officer Brig Shekhawat had ever taken on. Great many anecdotes from his mountaineering expeditions and adventures of Paratrooping had also been written nicely. The only first hand authentic account on the life and endeavors of Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat can be read in Balidan.

The next story is the first hand authentic account of Subedar Major Mahendra Singh who is considered a revered figure in 9 Para Special Forces. The title in the book is highlights his stature in the unit ‘The great mountain of 9 Para SF.’ His life from the rural hinterland of Rajasthan where he grows amidst extreme poverty to rise to become one of the greatest Para Special forces Operatives of all times is inspiring . His recruitment process through which he joins Indian Army and eventually joins Special Forces is also insightful and gives youngsters a great insight on how to join Special Forces and become a Paratrooper. Then his thrilling operations since the time of rise of terrorism in Kashmir to the time when he got shot in his spine during Operation Sutsalyar in which he also lost his beloved Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami and the pain of losing him has also been narrated in the book. The writer Swapnil Pandey also mentions about his simple family filled with love and how his daughter today has taken forward the legacy of Mahendra Saab by joining Indian Army. The story also gives an authentic account on the life and job profile of a Paratrooper in Special Forces. The daring slithering helicopter exercises make interesting par of the story.

Then the next story ‘The Enigma Who Went Too Soon’ is based on the life of iconic Special forces officer Captain Tushar Mahajan from 9 Para SF. This one is the thrilling tale of valour beyond measure of the 23 year old youngsters who made supreme sacrifice for mother India. He was perhaps one of the best covert operatives India ever had. With his Dogri looks from jammu and Kashmir and multi linguistic abilities with complete proficiency on Balti language which is spoken in Gilgit Baltistan Tibet region, to Urdu Arabaic, Dogri along with his lethal weaponry skills trained by the best of ghosts from 9 Para (SF) made him invincible. Unlike most SF operatives who prefer to use Tavor Tar the daring commando loved his M 4 assault rifle. He was the best building intervention expert in 9 Para (SF) that time and as fate would have it, he made the supreme sacrifice after elimination of terrorists in Pampore operation of JKEDI building. His story will fill your heart with tears of pride. The story also features the pain and pride of his parents Mrs Asha Gupta and mr Dev Raj Gupta and his childhood friend Shwetketu Jamwal. Reminded me of Shershah movie.

The other two stories are based on lives of Major Manish Singh titled as Love Story of a Commando and presents before the world a thrilling tale of true love of a real Para Special Forces Officer from 9 Para SF rare in today’s time. The other story features Operation Rangdori Baihk which narrates about the soldiers in that operation and the women behind them. The thrilling operation and their emotional relationships with their mothers and wives will make you nostalgic by the end of the story. truly ‘Band of Brothers’ as the story is titled.

This is a must read book for all Indian Armed forces lovers to know what it actually means to be a Para Special Forces operative and also to experience the thrill and adventure that this arm has to offer to Indian youth, from adventures of Para trooping and sky diving to mountaineering to combat diving you get a deep insight in lives of Para Special Forces officers and soldiers. The book also dispels lot of rumor, myths and legend spread across the covert SF units and Special forces soldiers and provide a true insight in their lives. An authentic glimpse. If you want to join Special Forces Balidan should be your must read book. The book aims to inspire children and youngsters to make a career in Indian Army especially Special forces and create many more Brigadier Shekhawat, Sub Major Mahendra Saab, Col Santosh Mahadik, Sub Sanjiv Kumar, Hav Devendra like Braveheart. The book also talks a great deal about courage and resilience of families wives and parents of Special Forces Operatives which is often neglected by people of India.

Balidan is a book on Superheroes of India.

A book to be read by every Indian Army lover, Gift it to your children, narrate the stories as bedtime stories and give them the right idols. Jai Hind!