Who Dares Win: A story of bravery & resilience, coming straight from heart
Author Lt Gen (retd) YK Joshi and his book, ‘Who Dares Win’
Rajkumari Sharma Tankha
Personal struggles, decisive moments – both on and off the battlefield, and the responsibilities that come with being a leader- Who Dares Win, by Lt Gen (retd) YK Joshi speaks about all these and more.
Published by Penguin Veer, the book has many inspiring anecdotes, but the whole journey which made a young lad from a modest middle-class home go on to become a General in the Indian Army is the most impacting of all. Through his own life, Gen Joshi tells us how discipline, determination and dedication are the three most important ingredients for achieving success in life. And, in the process, the book doesn’t remain the Kargil War Hero’s life story alone, it goes on to become a guide book for the youth – it gives them a roadmap to reach their goals in life. In fact, even other age groups can take a lesson or two from this book on how to rise above their existing circumstances and achieve excellence.
Candid, evocative and emotional, written in simple English without any jargons, Who Dares Win, is a mix of author’s civilian and fauji life. The book has a healthy mix of detailed incidents from author’s personal life as well as his military actions and operations, which keeps the interest of readers, both general readers and Army-lovers, intact.
When Kargil War happened, Joshi was a Lt Colonel, commanding the 13 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles (he was later awarded Vir Chakra). Two men from his battalion – Captain Vikram Batra and Riflemen Sanjay Kumar – are well known as they were awarded the Param Vir Chakra for their bravery in the war. But there were several other soldiers as well – heroes in their own right – who helped India win, and Joshi has brought out their names too with equal warmth and salutation. The book surely provides a first-hand account of the bravery, determination, and strategic acumen that define the Indian Army. He has also explained the troubles, trials and many a tricky situation that he faced while being the Commanding Officer during this war. And in the process, he has given important leadership lessons to his readers – both Armymen and Civilians.
I must say Gen Joshi has great storytelling skills. Coming straight from the heart, his accounts of the harrowing battles of the Kargil War, including the daring assault on Tololing, Point 5140 and, later, Point 4875, gave me goose bumps. His words have very easily captured the indomitable spirit of the soldiers. The tear-inducing stories of loss of personnel from his unit, including that of Capt Batra of Yeh Dil Mange More fame, sting at heart. And while he has also written about his own leadership and strategic skills that led to decisive victories in Kargil War, there is no self-idolatry at all – and that speaks volumes about not just his writing skills but the strength of his character.
For all those boys and girls who want to join the Indian Defence Forces, especially those who don’t have an Army legacy in their own family, the book is a must read. For, Joshi too comes from a non-Army background. How he not just entered the Forces, but made his way to the top echelons is a story worth reading and imbibing. And for all else, who are interested in military history, leadership, and inspirational stories of military life, the book is a delightful read.
