There is nothing more enjoyable than to read a book on contemporary military history. "Lost Victory : The Rise and Fall of LTTE Supremo-V Prabhakaran", is one such book, which is a most timely publication on the subject by Maj. Gen. (Retd) Raj Mehta, AVSM, VSM. Having edited three books on war fighting subjects in the past the author exhibits his skills, in simple and palatable language, which are aimed at getting through to the full spectrum of readership. The depth of his research is evident and this volume can be regarded as comprehensive, encapsulating the widest possible chronological data on the subject of V. Prabhakaran, published so far. The book, running to 431 pages, takes a de novo look at the various dimensions of the ethnic, political, social compulsions vis a vis the ground realities which heralded the inception of the LTTE. The background and chronological activities that made LTTE and its dreaded leader-V. Prabhakaran, one of the most controversial actors in the conflict has been covered very well. This "multi-faceted book" is devided into five discrete parts wherein the author traces the rise and fall of the LTTE and its leader, the "myriad complexities of the Ealam wars", significant details of the Indian intervation by way of Operation PAWAN and last but not the least it also covers several miscellaneous issues like "regional diplomacy, innovative war fighting strategies, lessons that could and should have been learnt as also the way forward with special reference to the Indian sub-continent". In my opinion, this is a book that is not only an excellent read, but a first rate piece of academic research as well. It is meticulously documented with endnotes / bibliographies and has been imaginatively illustrated with a treasure trove of maps, drawings and photographs - which could have been reproduced better by the publisher - for ease of assimilation. It is ingeniously structured and is profusely supported by data tables. In short a very well written book - a labour of love - and one that deserves to be read by not only all students of military history, but also by those researching international relations and doing country specific studies, as also any casual observer of contemporary world affairs.
Posted By:Newspaper - The Excelsior (21 Feb, 2010)
