This book is a classic example of 'good intentions coupled with poor execution'. Sehmat Khan's story is truly remarkable and it needed to be told but the entire experience of reading the novel is so disjointed, it doesn't feel like you are reading one
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This book is a classic example of ‘good intentions coupled with poor execution’. Sehmat Khan’s story is truly remarkable and it needed to be told but the entire experience of reading the novel is so disjointed, it doesn’t feel like you are reading one continuous story.
A lot of unnecessary time is spent at the beginning of the book to show Sehmat as this cross between Mother Teresa and Sita and well, basically every good Indian women role model. The most interesting part of the book starts in Pakistan, once Sehmat weds Iqbal Syed and begins to play the part of a spy. I wish instead of describing her college life in detail, it would have been better if more time had been spent on her training, and her actual transformation from a young, naive girl to an amateur but smart agent.
Equally disappointing is the end. It abruptly moves to describing the Indian Navy’s role in the 1971 war and sinking of the Ghazi then switches back to Sehmat’s life and ends just as unsatisfactorily.
There are so many unsung heroes out there and Sikka has done a great job in introducing us to this new heroine. It is a good and inspiring story but a mediocre novel, at best. I think, one is better off watching Alia Bhatt’s Raazi than reading this.
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