A General Remembers

Satyawant Mallanna Shrinagesh (1903-1977) served as the army chief between 1955 and 1957. Post-retirement, he served two stints as governor of undivided Assam in the 1950s, and early 1960s, and also served as governor of Mysore State (1964-65) and of Andhra Pradesh (1962-64).

- DEVANGSHU DATTA

Satyawant Mallanna Shrinagesh (1903-1977) served as the army chief between 1955 and 1957. Post-retirement, he served two stints as governor of undivided Assam in the 1950s, and early 1960s, and also served as governor of Mysore State (1964-65) and of Andhra Pradesh (1962-64). In between the periods when he was ensconced in sundry Raj Bhavans, he served as the principal of the Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad.

This book was put together by his grandson, Gaurav Shrinagesh, presumably by curating the late general's diaries and memorabilia. It reads like a series of breezy anecdotes written in the late 1960s or early 1970s—certainly most of it, if not all, before the Bangladesh War. Think of it as stories told to friends and family, seasoned with the general's views and opinions. It is written in a simple, lucid style that allows the general's observations to be assessed and digested without distractions.

Given the wealth and breadth of the author's experiences, it's not surprising the book offers sharp insights into what is now history. The general was both a participant in, and a keen observer of, military and political events across the first two decades of Independence.