A life worth reading

It’s always interesting to read about the lives of men and women who have not just excelled in life but who have had a colourful journey and have unending stories to share with readers.

The story of Lt. General Inderjit Singh Gill, PVSM MC, is one worth telling and senior journalist S. Muthiah’s effort makes for a readable biography dotted with stories, anecdotes and tales of bravery, intrigue and an honest officer’s journey. Apparently, General Gill never wanted a biography of himself since he felt he didn’t deserve one and that biographies always ended up being boastful accounts.

His life story, however, puts such doubts to rest. For a royal engineer who joined the British Indian army during the Second World War and went on to become the GOC-in-C Western Command before he retired, General Gill comes across as a fun loving, down to earth officer who never let his rank go to his head. He shared a common platform with the likes of the legendary Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw and rubbed shoulders with Prime Ministers and Presidents, but he also was known as someone who shared a meal with jawans and wasn’t averse to taking part in an impromptu jig with them as well. A master para-jumper, General Gill dived even when he was in his 70— just to show how fit he was.

Muthiah writes the account of General Gill’s life with a mastery which made him one of the most readable journalists of his time. The narrative is easyflowing and interspersed with anecdotes while dedicating entire chapters to the big stories—General Gill’s role when India was born on the night of August 15, 1947, or his earlier days when he fought the Axis powers on the battlefields of Greece.

{mosimage} The photographs tell a story of their own—rare snaps of the General as a child, with his family, passing out as an engineer in the armed forces, his parachute jumping days and some nostalgic pictures of old friends from the armed forces meeting up after 50 years. For those interested in the history of the Indian Armed Forces and the political situation in India from the late ‘40s to the ‘70s, this is a must read, as it is for everyone who loves a good biography.

Born to Dare: The life of Lt. Gen.
Inderjit Singh Gill by S. Muthiah
Price: Rs 495 Pages: 298 (With permission from Penguin Viking)