Book Review on
Vinay Kumar’s
Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak
by Nishant
This novel by the novelist Vinay
Kumar tells the life story of an Indian Navy soldier from Himachal Pradesh.
Vinay Kumar is a former Petty Officer in the Indian Navy and currently
serves as an Assistant Professor of Hindi at Government College Bhoranj,
Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh.
In the preface to the novel, the
author writes that he was inspired to write this novel by the work
'Dashakumaracharitam' composed by the great poet Dandi. In the Navy, young
people from all states of the country live together like a family. The armed
forces truly embody the statement "unity in diversity" in our country. The
main theme of Vinay Kumar's novels has been military life. 'Hindmahasagar Se
Himalaya Tak' is an epic saga of a soldier's life. In this novel, he has
depicted the life of a soldier with great subtlety and from every angle. The
author's objective is to give the Indian soldier the place he deserves in
Indian
In
'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak',
the helplessness, loneliness, internal struggles, mental conflicts, and
changing mindset of the new generation of soldiers are depicted. The Indian
soldier is searching for his social identity and striving for independent
selfhood. Whenever we hear the word soldier, an image of a strong and
powerful man comes to mind. A man who is strong and has fought many battles.
In villages, the word "Fauji" (soldier) reminds family members of ATM cards
and relatives of cheap bottles of liquor available at the defence canteen.
Every year, many soldiers commit
suicide in the army. But society turns a blind eye to this issue. In the
eyes of society, a soldier's life and his hardships hold no value. If a
soldier is depicted in Hindi literature and cinema, he is usually a colonel
or a general. As for the ordinary soldiers, it's simply said that nine out
of ten soldiers are fools. The novel 'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak' is the
first work of fiction to address the soldier's perspective. This work by the
young writer Vinay Kumar is crafted in the form of a novella – neither a
long story nor a short novel, but a form in between, known as a novella in
English and upanyasika in Hindi. It was published by B.F.C. Publications,
Lucknow, in 2024. This is the author's first work, yet it is comprehensive
and well-researched. In India, becoming an officer in the army is a matter
of pride. An army officer and his family live a life of luxury. But becoming
a soldier in the army is the opposite. A poor child who isn't good at
studies is often told that he will grow up to be a soldier. A boy from a
poor family has to join the army as a soldier at the age of seventeen or
eighteen to earn a livelihood. There, he has to perform menial tasks like a
servant (butman) at the officer's house. He has to polish the officer's
shoes and even wash the clothes of his family members. In a way, he lives
the life of an indentured laborer at the officer's house. He is harassed at
every turn. Because he leaves home at a young age, his family's affection
for him diminishes. They see him only as a source of income. Villagers and
relatives only care about him for the cheap liquor he can get from the
defence canteen. His words are given no importance among four people because
he is a soldier. He is mocked for being a soldier.
Vinay Kumar himself was a soldier. He
has lived the life of a soldier. He has firsthand experience of military
life. In his novel 'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak', he has tried to glorify
the Indian soldier. In the novel 'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak', Vinay
Kumar emerges as a representative of Indian soldiers. Until lions have their
own historians, the stories of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. A
soldier fulfills his duty to his family and country, and this is beautifully
depicted in the novel. Despite going through hellish circumstances, a
soldier maintains his awareness. He remains conscious of his surroundings.
He faces difficulties with courage.
At the end of the novel, the Indian
soldier emerges as a hero. The author of 'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak’ has
crafted the soldier's character on a psychological basis. He has expressed
the helplessness, misery, and limitations of a soldier's life through this
novel. In fact, he has portrayed Jagannik as a soldier of the modern age.
The one who is a hero also becomes a villain according to the needs of the
time. 'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak' depicts the helplessness, loneliness,
inner struggle, mental conflict, and changing mindset of the new generation
of soldiers. The novel 'Hindmahasagar Se Himalaya Tak' has successfully
highlighted the struggles of a soldier's life. Considering the author's
effort and the publication quality of the book, it will undoubtedly prove to
be interesting and worth collecting for readers.
Title:
Hindmahasagar Se
Himalaya Tak
Author:
Vinay Kumar
Available: Amazon