The Hawk Hunters - Softcover

Singh, Pushpendra

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9352013395 ISBN 13: 9789352013395

Publisher: Platinum Press, 2015

Synopsis

"High on the Imamgarh battlements, Jalal-ud-Din, Mughal Commander of Samana Fort, was hauled by Khalsa soldiers to the massive cannon and lashed to its muzzle. His insolent glare dissolved into dread at the order ‘Fire!’ His eyes dilated – white pupils starkly visible for an instant. Then he was blown to smithereens.This was the first assault against the tyranny of foreign invaders in over five centuries. As the cannons blew the condemned criminals to oblivion, their roar thundered in Wazir Khan’s council chamber and reverberated thoughout Muzzam’s Mughal Empire. Several years earlier, Wazir Khan, the Mughal Governor of Sirhind, had snared and then brutally executed Guru Govind Singh’s two young sons, sending a shock-wave of revulsion that ignited a raging inferno in the Punjab.The Guru had commanded Banda Bahadur to liberate the Punjab from the Mughals’ tyrannical yoke. Banda set out from Nanded with only twenty-five soldiers, but as he entered Punjab, thousands thronged to rally the Nishan Sahib. Banda Bahadur hurled these unstrained Punjabi volunteers against Wazir Khan’s powerful army.Among them was Shamsheer, a Sikh peasant-warrior, who too threw himself whole-heartedly into the fierce struggle for freedom; going on to become a celebrated Cavalry Commander of the Khalsa Army. Amidst the strife and turmoil Shamsheer and a young Muslim nobleman from Sirhind fell deeply, helplessly in love.Would he succeed in winning her hand? Would Banda Bahadur’s raw, ill-equipped sparrows be able to hunt down the mighty Mughal hawk?‘The Hawk Hunters’ tells their story in this fast-paced, action-packed saga of great courage, nobility and supreme sacrifice.Above all, it is a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over ruthless brutality and personal tragedy."

About this title

About the Author

Maj General Pushpendra Singh is a retired Army officer who lives at 'Harshabadpuri' in Panchkula (Chandigarh). He was educated at the Lawrence School, Sanawar and St Columba's, New Delhi.
A national- level horseman, he is also keen on wildlife. Both these passions resonate throughout the story. He is married with children and three grand-children. In 2012 he teamed up with his artist-wife to publish "The Magic Degh" (KW Publishers, Delhi) a book of short stories for children. During one of his tenures in J & K he happened to visit the birthplace of Banda Singh Bahadur in Rajouri. Fascinated with this hermit's military success in liberating most of present Punjab and Haryana from the Mughals, he decided to delve deeper into this brilliant military feat which "The Hawk Hunters" portrays.

From the Back Cover

High on the Imamgarh battlements, Jalal-ud-Din, Mughal Commander of Samana Fort, was led by Khalsa soldiers to the massive cannon and lashed to its muzzle. He glared insolently at his captors and his expression remained impassive. However, at the order 'Fire!' his eyes dilated with dread, white pupils starkly visible for an instant before he was blown to smithereens.

This was the first assault against the tyranny of foreign invaders in North India in over five centuries. As the cannons blew the condemned criminals to oblivion, their roar thundered in Wazir Khan's council chamber and reverberated throughout Aurangzeb's Empire.

Several years earlier Wazir Khan, the Mughal Governor of Sirhind, had snared and then brutally tortured, then executed Guru Gobind Singh's two little boys, sending a shock-wave of revulsion that ignited a raging inferno in the Punjab.
Meanwhile a Sikh farmert-warrior, had fallen hopelessly in love with a young Muslim noblewoman from Sirhind.
The Guru had commanded Banda Bahadur to liberate the Punjab from the Mughals' tyrannical yoke. Banda set out with only twenty-five soldiers, but as he entered Punjab thousands thronged to rally round the Nishan Sahib. Banda Bahadur hurled these untrained Punjabi volunteers against Wazir Khan's powerful army.
The farmer-soldier was inexorably drawn to the fierce fight for freedom. But through the violence and fury of war, his heart kept yearning for his lady-love.
Did he succeed in winning her hand? Were Banda Bahadur's raw, ill-equipped sparrows able to hunt down the mighty Mughal hawk?
'The Hawk Hunters' tells the story in a fast-paced, action-packed saga of great courage, nobility and supreme sacrifice. Above all, it is a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over ruthless brutality and personal tragedy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Platinum Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 9352013395
• ISBN 13: 9789352013395
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288