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Calling Sehmat

A worthy tribute to one of the greatest daughter of India.

I came across the book after watching Raazi movie and wanting to know more about this girl and her family who sacrificed so much for India. The novel is based on the real-life story of a young Indian Kashmiri girl who sacrificed everything to serve her motherland by becoming a spy for India’s external intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) by marrying into a high ranking Pakistani army family.

The girl's father had been working for RAW for some time setting up the network in Pakistan to gather intelligence and send it across the border. But when during a routine health checkup is informed of having cancer and knowing he has very time left decides to ask his daughter to finish the mission he started. His wish becomes stronger when he realises that Pakistan is preparing for something big for war.

Sehmat is married to the Pakistani army family where she quickly gains the affection of all the family members. She starts innovating to get information about the meetings and secret documents her father in law has. During such intelligence gatherings missions, her cover is almost blown but is saved by her courage and quick thinking. There are many such instances where her intelligence and daring saved the mission.

The intelligence gathered and passed by her proves critical for India to win the war while Sehmat puts herself in grave danger while passing on the information. The information passed by her helps India to safeguard INS Vikrant India's sole aircraft carrier.

She is able to escape Pakistan in nick of time with the help of her Indian handlers and is given state honours on returning to India. But all the things she had to do to get and pass intelligence takes a toll on her and she slips into depression from which she later heals with help and recovers.

The book is a great spy novel and leaves you inspired by the men and woman of the intelligence community who work behind enemy lines and risk so much to serve their country, all the while knowing if they are ever caught the country will deny knowing them since a country cannot be embarrassed.

Book Details:
Title: Calling Sehmat
Author: Harinder Sikka
Genre: Spy Novel
Publisher: Penguin
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-10: 0143442309
ISBN-13: 978-0143442301
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