Did you know that the popular cheer of chak de phatte actually has its roots in the Sikh army of the 17th and 18th centuries? Or that Badluram, the inspiration behind the foot-tapping number ‘Badluram ka Badan’, was killed in action in the decisive Battle of Kohima in 1944? How did the city of Bangalore come to be associated with a weapon that was regarded as a game-changer during World War I?

In The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, General Manoj Naravane (Retired) pulls aside the still-drawn curtains on some of the most riveting and compelling arcana that colour the legends and lore of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Be it the enduring spirit of Baba Harbhajan, the fate of INS Khukri, the extraordinary sagas of airmen and their call signs, or the raw courage of Pedongi, the military mule, you will find it all and more in this thoroughly entertaining yet meticulously researched foray into the underexplored, bizarre and often wildly amusing aspects of our armed forces.

Equal parts accessible, humorous and thought-provoking, and embellished with warm personal vignettes and quirky illustrations, this definitive masterwork from the man who led India’s most revered institution also shines the spotlight on the tenets of every soldier’s life—duty, loyalty, comradeship and pride in deep-rooted traditions—tested by insurmountable odds, hard choices and their lasting consequences.

The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries is a captivating, eye-opening, boots-on-the-ground page-turner that will excite anyone who refuses to settle for surface-level truths.