Press Release

If I Have to be a Soldier by Nikhil J. Alva

is proud to announce the release of

 IF I HAVE TO BE A SOLDIER
by   NIKHIL J. ALVA

 

‘…a vital reminder of the challenges facing Indians living on the margins of the nation’s consciousness… If I Have to Be a Soldier marks an impressive debut.’

SHASHI THAROOR

Noted writer and Member of Parliament

Releasing 26th January 2024| 336 pp | Rs 499

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

It is 1966 and Mizoram is burning.

The Mizo National Front has launched an armed rebellion in their quest for an independent nation, and Delhi is pushing back with all its might.

As a brutal war rages, Indian Army Captain Samuel Rego, the son of a Baptist preacher, finds himself returning to the land he ran away from to interrogate one of the most feared MNF commanders in custody. Except, the Mara tribesman everyone knows as ‘Che’ is Sena, Samuel’s childhood friend. When confronted with a grave moral dilemma, the choice Captain Samuel makes causes him and Che to become fugitives. While being hunted across the rugged Mizo Hills, the two men must face events from their bitter past that scarred their friendship, even as they struggle to stay alive and redeem themselves.

Drawing on the dark truths of one of India’s most secretive wars, If I Have to Be a Soldier is a gripping story of identity, survival, betrayal and, above all, love.

___

Nikhil J. Alva, author, says, ‘When I first read about the incredible causality between the once-in-fifty-year flowering of the bamboo in the Mizo Hills, the plague of rats, and the brutal twenty-year long insurgency that followed, as a storyteller, I was hooked! I first wrote a movie screenplay based on the idea. Along the way I fell in love with the characters I had created, and decided that only a novel could do justice to them. It took four years. But I’ve enjoyed every minute of it!’

Rashmi Menon, Executive Editor, HarperCollins India adds, ‘Seamlessly blending history and fiction, If I Have to Be a Soldier thrusts readers into the heart of Mizoram’s tryst with insurgency and struggle for independence in the 1960s. Building on this, Nikhil J. Alva, in this brilliantly crafted debut novel, delves into the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and the devastating costs of war. A gripping tale set against the backdrop of a forgotten and turbulent period from India’s history, it challenges us to confront the haunting choices made in the name of survival.’

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nikhil J. Alva is an award-winning producer, director and writer. His work has been screened on major broadcast networks and platforms all over the world.

Nikhil earned a BA (Hons) in Mathematics from St. Stephen’s College and later an MBA from the London Business School. He is a serial entrepreneur, a climate-change warrior, a communications and social media maven, a national shooting champion, a pianist and an avid golfer. He’s a rebel without a pause, a chronic supporter of underdog causes, and loves the challenge of trudging off the beaten path.

This is his first novel.

***

For reviews, excerpts, author interviews and more information, please contact Nandini Tripathi at nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in

harperbroadcast

Recent Posts

Read an Excerpt from ‘The Keeper of Desolation’

Surreal yet gritty, violent yet poetic – such is the world of Chandan Pandey’s fiction.…

5 months ago

Mitali Mukherjee’s Favourite Books

From books on financial frauds to a graphic novel based in Gaza, Mitali Mukherjee reading…

5 months ago

Between the Lines with Mitali Mukherjee

Mitali Mukherjee's chilling and unputdownable new book Crypto Crimes traces the murky underbelly of the…

5 months ago

Mastering Money: Essential Reads in Finance and Business Books

Hey there readers! For today’s blog we have brought you a collection of finance and…

5 months ago

Explore The World of YA Novels Perfect for Teens

Hi readers! In this week’s blog we have some Young Adult recommendations perfect for teens.…

5 months ago

India’s #1 crime writer S. Hussain Zaidi is back with a riveting thriller – The Black Orphan

is proud to announce the release of THE BLACK ORPHAN   Inspired by true events,…

5 months ago