Shooting Straight is the gripping biography of a skilful soldier and an outstanding leader from the Indian Army—Lt Gen Rostum Kaikhushru Nanavatty. It recounts the exhilarating journey of a decorated and accomplished infantry officer who saw action in Nagaland, Sri Lanka, Siachen and J&K; it also tells the story of a military leader known for his operational acumen, stellar leadership qualities and the ability to speak ‘truth to power’.
Meticulously researched and objectively written by Arjun Subramaniam, an accomplished military historian, Shooting Straight offers a close look at soldiering, command and leadership in turbulent times. Stretching across five decades—from the 1960s to the 2000s—the book offers insights into several avatars of contemporary warfare. These include counterinsurgency and counterterrorist operations, operations by Special Forces, high-altitude operations and ‘No War No Peace’ contingencies. Finally, the book offers a sweeping landscape of the Indian Army from the perspective of one of its most respected commanders in recent times.
For anyone interested in India’s contemporary military history, Shooting Straight is a must-read.
Arjun Subramaniam says, ‘It has been a privilege and an honour for me to write about a contemporary Indian military leader as accomplished as Lt Gen Rostum Nanavatty. His repository of carefully preserved diaries and notes and razor-sharp memory have offered significant credibility to the narrative. I am confident that this book will be an invaluable addition to the rather scanty repository of contemporary Indian military history.’
Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher, HarperCollins says, ‘The story of Lt Gen Rostum K. Nanavatty — a much-admired figure of the Indian Army known for his stellar leadership qualities — is a fascinating one, and as told by Arjun Subramaniam, makes for a gripping narrative. Shooting Straight adds to the select list of must-read works on Indian military history, of which Arjun Subramaniam’s two-volume account of India’s Wars is an important part. We at Harper Collins are proud to be able to bring this gripping new work from Arjun Subramaniam to readers.’
PRAISE FOR SHOOTING STRAIGHT
‘A beautifully written book on military leadership, filled with lessons that are relevant across domains and disciplines.’
INDRA NOOYI
corporate icon and author
‘An extraordinarily researched, lucid, authoritative and objective biography of a senior Indian military leader who “led from the front”.’
GENERAL V.P. MALIK
former chief of army staff
‘Essential reading for all military officers, politicians and bureaucrats involved in the functioning of the national security apparatus.’
N.N. VOHRA
former governor of j&k, union home and defence secretary
‘At once an account of the making of a distinguished military commander and a window on the transformation of the Indian Army over the past six decades.’
SRINATH RAGHAVAN
professor of international relations and history, ashoka university
‘A sharp look at the personal and professional journey of one of India’s finest military leaders.’
NITIN A. GOKHALE
author and national security analyst
‘A compelling read on the complex challenges of soldiering and leadership in an era of grey zone warfare.’
SYED AKBARUDDIN
dean, kautilya school of public policy, and former permanent representative of india to the united nations
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Air Vice Marshal ARJUN SUBRAMANIAM is an accomplished military historian and the author of the two-volume India’s Wars: A Military History. Subramaniam was the President’s Chair of Excellence in National Security Affairs at the National Defence College, New Delhi from February 2021 to March 2023, and a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Asia Center and the Changing Character of War Programme, Oxford University, and Visiting Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is currently a Visiting Faculty at Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad and several war colleges across the three services.
Published by HarperCollins
Hardback | Non-fiction | Military Biography | 400 pp | INR 699
