Param Vir  (English, Paperback, Cardozo Ian)

Param Vir - Our Heros In Battle tells the story of those brave Indian souls who spend most of their lives under fire, fighting for their motherland.

About The Book

War is an extension of politics, but the outcome depends not on politicians, but the brave soldiers fighting it out in the warfront. They are the unsung heroes, who risk their lives for honour, pride and an unflinching love for the country they call home.

In Param Vir - Our Heros In Battle, Major General Ian Cardozo narrates his chilling account of the bloody Indo Pak war of 1971, The Battle of Basantar. A tale of courage, bravery and patriotism of twenty one recipients of the India’s highest military decoration, that is the Param Vir Chakra. The tale of how three tanks from the Indian Poona Horse armoured regiment ripped apart fourteen tanks from the opposition.

The books focal point is the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal. Faced with the seemingly impossible task of taking on three Pakistani tanks with only one tank under his command, Khetrapal made his country proud but at the loss of his life. Arun Khetrapal is also the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.

There’s also the story of how senior Khetrapal, who also fought for the Indian army comes to visit the Pakistani Brigadier K.M. Nasir, who later confesses to having killed his son in the battlefield. However, both the veterans emerge as winners in this Major General Ian Cardozo’s portrayal of plain human courage.

About Major General Ian Cardozo

Major General Ian Cardozo has had a highly decorated and illustrious career in the Indian army.

He has also penned the book The Sinking of INS Kukri - Survivors Stories.

He writes from his own, very personal experiences during the many battles that he has fought and overseen during his stint at the Indian Army.
Ian Cardozo was born and brought and brought up in Mumbai. He trained at the National Defense Academy, where he was the first cadet to win the gold medal for the best all round cadet and silver medal for being the first in order of merit. He was wounded and disabled in the battle of Sylhet, Bangladesh but overcame the odds to become the first disabled Indian officer to command an infantry.