Book Review #121 : Calling Sehmat

Calling Sehmat was published a while ago, it has served as the plot for the Alia Bhatt starrer – Raazi. I'll be honest here. I only heard about this book when I went to watch Raazi - the Bollywood make of this book. I had loved Raazi. The hardships she had to face in order to save her nation were well, hard. All that she did for the country was impeccable.

Sikka spends the first few chapters establishing that Sehmat is a vehemently patriotic woman. The story is excellent – and being based on a real story of a young lady who takes huge risks for her country, it is also inspiring.

The story unfolds with the love story of Sehmat’s parents – Tej and Hidayat Khan. Tej visits Kashmir and is charmed by Hidayat. The story then picks up when Sehmat is in college and very gifted. Hidayat as part of his trade connections has contacts in Pakistan, and supplies crucial information to Indian Intelligence. He falls greviously ill, at the time when tensions between India and Pakistan are rising in 1971. The situation in East Pakistan is grim and troublesome for Pakistan, and they are keen to launch a pre-emptive attack on India. Hidayat comes to conclusion that there is no alternative except for Sehmat to take his place. 

Sehmat has to sacrifice her love for Abhinav and instead marry Iqbal, son of an influential officer in the Pakistani armed forces. She runs into a number of stressful situations but emerges as a splendid source of information for Indian Intelligence. 

The book adds more context to the college life of Sehmat, her love life, her hopes, as also what happens after she completes her assignment, as compared to the movie.

The story speaks for itself. Sehmat and her quest will draw you right into the pages of the book. Calling Sehmat is a poignant tale, of a girl with two contrasting sides- sensitive and passionate as well as heroic and ruthless.

Patriotic. Brave. Epic. Recommended!

Rating - 4.5/5

Book Review #120 : Dare Eat That

Title - Dare Eat That

Author - Divya Anand

Genre - Non-Fiction

Publisher - Penguin Random House India

ISBN - 978-0-143-44466-4

The cover page and content of this book are unique. A couple Divya & Vivek take us through a surreal journey of the food chain where Vivek has relished eating most of the living things which are classified under :

Invertebrates which is sub classified into Mollusc, Echinoderms, Coelenterates and Arthropods and Vertebrates which is sub classified into Pisces, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.

Each chapter's title is interesting and intriguing in its own way. The experience was classified into Taste and Fear Factor which give you a fair idea as to where those food items stand at. The book has pictorial representation - both in B&W and color. It has also included few recipes at the end of the chapter.

The book has covered the couple's journey in Americas, India, U.K, Luxembourg, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia presenting us with different cuisines and delicacies from around the world. This book is a genuine journal of wanderlust - through the lens of a foodie. It is a good collection of the world's most daring dishes. The narrative is extremely refreshing with easy to read language.

You may go ewwwww while reading about some of them, it has stuff you never in your wildest dreams would've thought anybody ever eats! The book has got generous amounts of humour, some very Masterchef like descriptions and observations and also makes you look at travel from a very interesting POV.

If you like travel OR food OR humour then you will love this book. The book while being interesting and funny is educative without being in your face.

Verdict : If you are a foodie and a globetrotter and is always in the lookout for something adventurous, unique and strange, do not miss reading this book. It is a quintessential read as it gives you a fair idea as to what to look out for in the above mentioned places. But keep in mind that it definitely is an adventure and it isn't for those with a faint heart or a weak stomach!

Rating : 4/5