Colonel Hemant Saxena is a soldier-scholar and an Indian Army veteran. A civil engineer by education, Col. Saxena started his career as a Sapper Officer in the Indian Army in 1984 and later during 1991, he transited to Military Intelligence branch and served till his superannuation in 2015. This stint helped him get a rare insight into the finer nuances of the world’s second oldest profession shrouded in the mystery of cloak and dagger, which is also reflected in his writings. His interest in writing developed during the early phase of his student life where he experimented with stories, poems, and theatre scripts for school/college festivals and magazines. His first book, Olive Diaries, is a collection of seven stories.
I chat with him about his book Olive Diaries, how the book came to be, book recommendations, and much more.
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am an Indian Army veteran and have spent over three decades in the olive greens. ‘A traveller on the quest to become an author’ is what describes me best. In that sense, I am a citizen soldier.
I am a passionate individual, not ashamed to wear patriotism on my sleeves, if the situation so demands. I am also proud of my culture, its rich heritage and above all the value system that we have inherited.
I studied Civil Engineering from Government Engineering College Jabalpur before joining the Indian Army as a Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1984. Streaks of adventure lured me to test choppy waters of Military Intelligence, where I shifted during 1991 and then continued to serve there in multiple roles, fighting mainly the proxy war with our internal/ external adversaries, at times persona non grata. I have received citations and commendations for my work during my Army tenures. I finally hung my combat boots in 2015.
The culmination of military service also marked the beginning of my second innings with one of India’s largest corporate houses, Reliance Retails Limited. Here I headed the Vigilance Management and Risk Mitigation vertical of the North Zone till November 2020, during which more sparks of curiosity were ignited and new learnings happened.
If you could only describe your book ‘Olive Diaries’ in five words, what would they be?
Unorthodox, transformative, tender, unassuming, and feisty.
Now tell us a little more about the book! What can readers expect?
Olive Diaries is a collection of seven stories from the ‘military fiction’ genre that brings forth precious moments from the lives of ordinary people. This is not just a saga of extraordinary deeds, courage and exceptional bravery, but a sensitive account of trials and tribulations of common people who work with or without wearing a uniform, and face strong mental, physical and emotional adversities while handling challenges much beyond the call of their duty.
These stories are born out of some very personal and intimate experiences that I had when I was a commissioned officer in the Indian Army for over three decades, between 1984 and 2015.
What inspired you to write this book?
The soul of the stories in this collection is in the heart of my personal diaries from 1984 to 2015. This was the same period when I had proudly donned the olive greens. I must admit that this journey spanning over three decades was chequered with many mundane things ensconced in a rigid routine of military duties, which also gave me a perfect excuse to let the inertia prevail upon my better sense of judgment. Blissfully distracted, I forgot about the beautiful moments that I had shared with some wonderful people as I travelled through the length and breadth of the country in the course of my duty.
After superannuating from the corporate sector which were my second innings, when I was packing up to move back to my humble abode, I accidentally hit upon my treasure trove and came face to face with my long-forgotten diaries. It did not take much rummaging through its pages to unlock a deluge of precious memories overwhelming me instantly. At that moment, I realized that I owe these people so much more than just a few strokes of a pen in my personal diaries. How can I not acknowledge the impact these people had on me to make me what I am today? They had touched me gently, deep inside, in more ways than words can describe. In my moments of solitude, I realized that no school, college, or training institute could have taught me these life lessons in such a subtle yet effective way as these wonderful souls had.
I realized that deep down we all are extraordinary, but only a few of us rise to the occasion when confronted and challenged by adversity. Transforming these threats into opportunities is not always possible but how gracefully one could accept this was something that I learnt from them.
What was your creative process like behind writing the stories in this book?
I primarily wanted to make an honest effort of bringing some of my memories alive and to protect their true souls, using crutches of fiction. I also wanted this book to be my tribute to those who are always willing to walk with you an extra mile without any song and dance, just to make sure that you find your way in a pitch-dark, stormy night. If we are receptive, it is not difficult to identify real life heroes but most of us miss these moments because we are too engrossed in our own life struggles, however serious or mundane these may be. It was for this reason that I wanted these stories to assist my readers in identifying their own ‘Heroes’ when they come face to face with them, because not all ‘Superheroes’ wear a cloak and masks while at work.
What is the message that you want readers to take away from this story collection?
All the stories in this book have different flavours. Some regale in the complexities of life that cannot be put in a simple framework of rationality, while others gracefully accept the fatality of life but do not accept the limitations imposed. All the stories essentially celebrate human endurance and the ability to accept temporary setbacks, while describing the spirit of bouncing back when the opportunities present themselves.
How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?
Without intending to undermine the tragedy associated with this pandemic, I have to say that it has been a blessing in disguise for me. I could do two things during this time that I would have never done otherwise.
First, I decided to write this book, dedicated myself to it and diligently completed it. I had delayed writing this book since a few years, not knowing how and when to start the serious work of transferring my inner thoughts on to the paper.
The second thing that I did during the pandemic was even crazier. I adopted a two-months-old homeless puppy from a shelter home. Pablo was rescued by an NGO from the streets of Faridabad, after he had suffered from multiple infections and serious malnutrition. I have never seen his parents but perhaps he gets his lovelorn looks with exaggerated separation anxiety from his Golden Retriever father and an immense fighting spirit of never say die from his street-smart Indie mother. He is my best buddy now and although I cannot match his youthful spirits while being on the other side of the slope of my aging curve, he has accepted me for what I am.
I cannot stop writing nor can I stop growing old with my wife Pratimam and Pablo. So, trust me dear readers, post-pandemic, I am going to buy a motor cycle and travel with Pratimam and Pablo, if they are okay riding with me. It is a tall order knowing the relationship Pablo and Pratimam share. They are fond of each other but in a different way. It will be an interesting experience and I cannot wait to write about my escapades.
Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I am reading three different books these days, and I may come out as a fickle minded reader when I reveal the titles.
The first book is The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young. This book was gifted to me by my daughter. It is an interesting take on tragedy, with an underlying idea of acceptance in life, though not without questioning about it.
The second book is Breaking India: Western Interventions in Dravidian and Dalit Faultlines by Rajiv Malhotra and Aravindan Neelakandan. This was offered to me by a dear friend from my Army Training days. I had recently visited him after a span of 35 years and it was wonderful to get his perspective on many contemporary issues of concern in our society like radicalisation, polarisation and other similar threats. I think that in my role as a citizen soldier, it is important that I understand the subtle, yet dangerous threats to the fabric of our wonderful society.
The last book that I am reading is The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace by A.S. Dulat, Asad Durrani and Aditya Sinha. Despite the focus shifting to China nowadays, I still find it interesting to get the perspective of two former spy chiefs from opposite sides, who headed the Intelligence organisations of India and Pakistan. This book is purely to satisfy my professional calling as an Intelligence man. Having spent over two decades in Military Intelligence, I know how our energy gets consumed in fighting the invisible ISI hand in everything that we find going wrong with our country’s safety, security and sovereignty.
I must add here that these days, I am also writing a blog on my newly launched website, which is my way of taking my readers through the life of a soldier and its finer nuances. Readers may find my posts interesting, so I will share the link here:
Happy reading.
The book ‘Olive Diaries’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.
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