The Story Behind 'RAAZI'

“Ae watan, watan mere, aabad rahe tu,
Main Jahan rahoon, jahaan mein yaad rahe tu
Ae watan, mere watan!”

Chaitre Apte, SY BAJMC

Former navy officer Harinder Sikka visited Kargil during the Indo-Pak war after prematurely retiring in 1993. It was there that he learned about Sehmat’s sacrifice and laid the foundation for the story. He was employed by Piramal Enterprises at that moment. His first and only book 'Calling Sehmat', has also been made into the major Hindi film, Raazi, in which Alia Bhatt portrays Sehmat to perfection. 

The setting nearly seems unbelievable. Calling Sehmat recounts the true story of an Indian spy who was singlehandedly responsible for keeping her nation from losing the 1971 Indo-Pak naval conflict. We all know how the narrative ends because it is based on a true event; nonetheless, the book manages to keep you interested and have you on the edge of your seat. 

The opening few chapters are devoted to establishing Sehmat as a fiercely nationalistic woman. Sehmat, who was raised by a Kashmiri Muslim father and a Hindu mother, was taught from an early age that loyalty to one’s country is the ultimate form of worship. To the dismay of her mother Tej, her father Hidayat, is instrumental in setting up a spy network before sending in his most lethal weapon, the amiable Sehmat. 

Understanding why the young Sehmat agreed to marry a high-ranking official in Pakistan, although she loved someone else, is extremely crucial to the plot of the story and is explained in the initial chapters. Also, noteworthy is the fact that Sehmat never submits to coercion and proudly makes that decision; which was presumably influenced by her patriotic upbringing. 

In order to acquire information, the book eventually delves into the specifics of Sehmat’s time in Pakistan and her marriage. The INS Vikrant, Indian Navy’s pride, is eventually mentioned in the blueprints that Sehmat discovers. A significant section of the novel delves into how she conveys that knowledge across the border. 

By relaying Sehmat Khan’s vital information, which costs lives, the Indian Navy is able to maintain control over the oceans around both sides of Pakistan at the end of the war and avoid disgrace. We are reminded of the reason that the INS Vikrant is such a representation of Indian pride; because of its might, INS Rajput, INS Khukri, and other ships were able to construct a naval blockade that was crucial to the liberation of East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). 

What makes for an interesting read is Harinder Sikka’s third-person account of what happens after Sehmat is decommissioned. It’s impressive how well he manages to combine a love tale about a valiant spy who gives her life for her country while the war is going on with the naval battles fought by the Indian Navy. 

The spiritual scenario that occurs after Sehmat returns to her old life in India might have been avoided rather easily. Calling Sehmat seems out of place with its godlike imagery, depictions of an angel of a hymn singer who just happens to pass by her house, biblical descriptions, and interpretations of birth, etc. Sehmat clearly has severe PTSD, yet what could have been conveyed in a few paragraphs, drags on for a bit. 

Overall, Calling Sehmat is a breathtaking read for every Indian. It takes the readers through the gravity of sacrifices our unsung heroes have made for the freedom we enjoy right now. While celebrating our ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, we must also pay ode to the heroes of our nation and do everything in our power to make sure that their sacrifices don’t go in vain.