As Per Our Very Own Wiki:Dragon Fire is a 2000 novel by BBC political and foreign correspondent Humphrey Hawksley about a 2007 war between China, India and Pakistan, which draws in Australia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Tibet, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and threatens to escalate to nuclear war.
While a work of fiction, the novel attempts to raise awareness of real geopolitical issues in the region.
The Plot starts from Special Frontier Force (SFF) of Tibet. Formed and (supposedly) supported by India for the independence of Tibet.
A religious leader of Tibet named Lama Togen, just like Dalai Lama, is imprisoned in Drapchi prison of Tibet. SFF troop steal a helicopter and some guns from Dehradoon base, paint it in Chinese Army colour with all the necessary signs and details. Then in a very daring operation that causes heavy casualties they free Lama Togen from Drapchi prison.
Its depiction of the possible future of South Asian international relations lead to a significant amount of media coverage, especially in India, including favorable comments from George Fernandes, the then Indian Minister for Defense.
When we Say FUTURE , we must state the fact that this novel was written in 2000, keeping the timeline pointed to 2007 and beyond.
On that line , if you look back into the events being depicted, the novel seems moe a work of facts rather than fiction:
Though starting on a heroic and far fetched note , the book assumes pace , reality , passion , and gradually develops interest in serious as well as fiction readers like me.
A great deal of research can surely be felt amongst the pages. Some of the key notes Which might interest you and correlate with current scenario are:
DRAGONFIRE explores the three-edged war so dreaded in Asia. India and Pakistan have been in conflict for half a century.It is a very gripping novel and a realistic one at that, of the next war. Written by a person who has command over his subject, this is a very thought provoking novel and it raises certain questions in your mind. It is written in a thriller style, a page turning novel.
Following Links might interest you and help find more info:
A religious leader of Tibet named Lama Togen, just like Dalai Lama, is imprisoned in Drapchi prison of Tibet. SFF troop steal a helicopter and some guns from Dehradoon base, paint it in Chinese Army colour with all the necessary signs and details. Then in a very daring operation that causes heavy casualties they free Lama Togen from Drapchi prison.
A lone Antonov-32 transport aircraft flies through dawn light over the Himalayas and approaches the Tibetan capital Lhasa. Far to the west, Pakistani multi-role combat aircraft roar across the Line-of-Control in Kashmir...Being a veteran BBC journalist and China expert, a lot of what Hawksley writes is actual reality. He uses the political scenario of today to extrapolate what may happen seven years hence.
Its depiction of the possible future of South Asian international relations lead to a significant amount of media coverage, especially in India, including favorable comments from George Fernandes, the then Indian Minister for Defense.
When we Say FUTURE , we must state the fact that this novel was written in 2000, keeping the timeline pointed to 2007 and beyond.
On that line , if you look back into the events being depicted, the novel seems moe a work of facts rather than fiction:
- April 1999 -- the Kargil war broke out.
- October 1999 -- the Pakistan coup.(General Hamid khan Aka General Musharraf)
- January 2000 -- the escape of the 17th Karmapa Lama to India.(Lama Togen)
- March 2000 -- Taiwan votes in the pro-independence DPP amid military tension with China.
- March 2000 -- President Bill Clinton's historic visit to India underlines the US' support of democracy over military governments.
- Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 culminating in the Tiananmen Square Massacre (referred to in Chinese as the June Fourth Incident, to avoid confusion with two other Tiananmen Square protests) were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square led by labour activists, students, and intellectuals in the People's Republic of China (PRC) between 15 April and 4 June 1989.
- The Chinese authorities have consistently banned Hawksley's going to Tibet
- Tibet and Kashmir simmer. Territorial disputes remain unresolved. Military modernization, particularly missiles, submarines and nuclear delivery, continues in both India and China.
Though starting on a heroic and far fetched note , the book assumes pace , reality , passion , and gradually develops interest in serious as well as fiction readers like me.
A great deal of research can surely be felt amongst the pages. Some of the key notes Which might interest you and correlate with current scenario are:
- SINO - Pak Relationship
- Dual Faced behaviour of CHINA and its agressive marketing approach.
- Realization and invard looking transformation of th BIG BOSS (Uncle SAM).
- LapDoggish approach of british government, and gradual fight for an upper hand.
- Japan as a rising power.
- Russia with his Burnt yet prevailing ego.
- India and its consistent approach towards peace, non violence, and non aggressive mode.
- India's Non Committal Support to Dalai Lama and Krampa Lama.
DRAGONFIRE explores the three-edged war so dreaded in Asia. India and Pakistan have been in conflict for half a century.It is a very gripping novel and a realistic one at that, of the next war. Written by a person who has command over his subject, this is a very thought provoking novel and it raises certain questions in your mind. It is written in a thriller style, a page turning novel.
Following Links might interest you and help find more info:
1 comment:
Haven't read the book yet.. but after the review.. seems like should give it a thought :-)
Post a Comment