Book review - Calling Sehmat

"Calling Sehmat" a debut novel by Harinder Sikka portraying the courageous act of an Untold hero who saved our nation from 1971 Indo-Pak naval war. Born to a Kashmiri Muslim father and hindu mother, Sehmat have been taught about being helpful to our country thus leaving no opportunity to be in help to our motherland. Her father had told her that there is nothing more disgraceful than being disloyal to the motherland.

The book starts engaging us about Sehmat's early life and about her family. Sehmat's father Hidayat, a business man who travels across the border and was instrumental in setting up a spy network in Pakistan. At college in Delhi, Sehmat performs as her favourite and worshipped women Meerabai, her act was so serene that she even didn't considered her bleeding leg during the performance. She worked so long in library to study about the character. her act earned her immense respect and appreciation from her college's trustees and also from her heart wished man. Sehmat's life was perfect for any college girl of her age.

But fate isn't satisfied to see Sehmat living her best life. It had a other plan to make her life upside down.

Her father was diagnosed with cancer and his well built spy empire was on verge of collapsing, A new candidate is needed. Sehmat was the only candidate to fill her father's shoe. Sehmat accepted her father's choice. Soon, she was married to Captain Iqbal Sayeed, son of Brigadier Sheikh Sayeed, Pakistani household welcomed her with open arms.

Soon, her life was shifted to being a lovely and favourite daughter in law of the household. With her charm and friendly nature, she held onto the hearts of Sayeeds. Sehmat was focussed on disguising as a perfect spy under the mask of perfect daughter in law. However, she couldn't able to gain the trust of Abdul, who have been serving the Sayeed family for over 20 years. This made Sehmat be cautious all the time. In those days, with minimum technology, sending confidential information isn't anyone's cup of coffee. Sehmat being trained before and with her thirst to serve her motherland, Sehmat could perfectly act as a spy and she has been regularly sending viral information about the submarine positions which was being sent to target Indian aircraft INS VIKRANT. How she gets that information across to the Indian side comprises a major portion of the novel. Sehmat Khan’s indispensable information, the relaying of which costs lives, becomes the reason why at the end of the war, the Indian Navy controls the seas around both sides of Pakistan, and is saved from an embarrassment. We are reminded of why the INS Vikrant is such a symbol of Indian pride.

After which she escapes from a bomb blast and returns to India. Amidst all these, the author silently weaves a love story between Sehmat and her husband, who was ignorant about her activities. He let her go to her motherland, when he was happened to know everything about her, which highlights his love for her more than his position.

After her return she delivers her baby, but suffers from PTSD which was showed by the godlike imagery that paints a picture of an angel of a hymn singer who happens to pass along her house, the descriptions and meanings of birth from the holy scriptures, and so on.

"Calling Sehmat" was made into a bollywood film in 2017 on the name "Raazi" casting Alia bhatt as the main lead.

This book also portrays the beautiful relationships with more maturity than intimacy, which includes Sehamat's relationship with her father, lover and husband.

Above all, the patriostism of Sehmat ate everything. Born from a typical Indian family being a normal girl with dreams and wishes to becoming a spy for her father's words, the transition curve of Sehmat's life has been incredible and inspirational too.

If you're heart beats India now, get a quick read on "Calling Sehmat"