General Naravane's book is released. No, not that one

Former Army Chief General MM Naravane (Retd) has returned with a new book, but this time he is not lifting the lid on matters that could rattle politicians. Within three months after making headlines over his unreleased book, Four Stars of Destiny, the General has returned with a new non-fiction work. Despite having said that fiction was the road ahead, it seems the Indian Army still had too many stories marching around in his head, and he's back, with an insider perspective.

Titled The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, the book explores the lesser-known corners of India's armed forces — its traditions, folklore, quirks, and enduring legends like Baba Harbhajan Singh.

The USP of books by military chiefs is the BTS view they bring, and that is exactly what he offered in Four Stars of Destiny too. But things escalated rather quickly when he did so. While the publisher of the book that sparked controversy was by Penguin Random House, the new book has been published by Rupa.

The latest release comes exactly 80 days after Naravane's memoir got embroiled in a controversy in February. That book, which examined his four-decade career, including the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff and defence policies during his tenure as Army Chief (2019–2022), remains unpublished after spending years under review by the Ministry of Defence.

Though Penguin Random House claimed it wasn't released, a published copy of the book was seen with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament House. India Today Digital was the first to question the existence of an "unpublished" book that hadn't been cleared by the government.

The episode drew national attention and raised questions about clearance protocols for military memoirs, though Naravane has maintained that the matter rests with the publisher and the government.

In the aftermath, the General had indicated he might steer clear of non-fiction. Yet his evident interest in writing has clearly persisted.

He first tested the waters with fiction, releasing the military thriller The Cantonment Conspiracy in 2025.

WHAT IS GEN NARAVANE'S NEW BOOK ABOUT?

Now, with The Curious and the Classified, Naravane has returned to non-fiction, but this time with no controversies in tow.

The book delves into the colourful arcana of military life. It traces the 17th- and 18th-century Sikh army roots of the popular cheer "Chak de Phatte", recounts the story of Badluram — killed in action during the 1944 Battle of Kohima and immortalised in the song "Badluram ka Badan" — and explains how Bangalore (now Bengaluru) became linked to a weapon that proved decisive in World War I.

The book also explores the story of Captain (Hony) Baba Harbhajan Singh, the fate of INS Khukri, the call signs of airmen, and even the exploits of Pedongi, a brave military mule who saved his platoon by sniffing his way out of a minefield.

Interestingly, the blurb of the book has a comment by General VP Malik (Retd), who also wrote a blurb for Naravane's Four Stars of Destiny.

The new book is a pivot of sorts, as after writing about many complex and controversial issues in Four Stars of Destiny, Naravane has seemingly chosen terrain where the focus shifts from contested historical accounts to shared cultural heritage and lighter lore.

Gen Naravane has spoken about the satisfaction he derives from writing, describing it as a natural extension of his lifelong habit of reflection and observation. His new book arrives at a time when the buzz around Four Stars of Destiny has largely faded. At a literature festival in Kasauli in late 2025, he quipped about his delayed memoir "maturing like aged wine". His new book could be like freshly brewed beer.

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