A rare, deeply human chronicle of war and resilience—through the eyes of a lone battlefield surgeon.

The story begins not with the sound of gunfire, but with the soft murmur of the Suru River as it winds through the Zanskar mountains. In the opening chapter, The Suru and Its People, author-surgeon Arup Ratan Basu offers a lyrical tribute to a remote Himalayan valley where life flows gently around orchards, monasteries, and shepherd communities. This meditative opening captures the rhythm of peace that once defined the region.

But by May 1999, that peace is shattered. The Kargil War breaks out, and the small town of Kargil becomes the epicentre of conflict. Dr Basu, then a young army surgeon, is the sole surgical specialist posted at the frontline field hospital. Over the next two months, he performs more than 250 surgeries—treating Indian soldiers, civilians, and even an enemy combatant—often with limited supplies and under constant threat.

What makes this memoir exceptional is its emotional depth. Based on real-time notes scribbled in a notebook bought from a local bazaar, the book doesn’t focus on military strategy. Instead, it chronicles the quiet courage, fear, humour, and heartbreak experienced by medics and soldiers alike. Dr Basu writes with clarity and compassion, capturing not only the visible wounds of war but also its silent, psychological toll. His story is one of camaraderie, resilience, and the extraordinary human spirit that persists in the bleakest of conditions.

More than just a war memoir, The Kargil War Surgeon’s Testimony is a profound meditation on what it means to heal amidst destruction. It captures the pulse of a people and the soul of a soldier—bound by duty, shaped by the land, and held together by a shared hope for peace.

About the Author

Dr Arup Ratan Basu is a decorated army surgeon and war veteran. He earned his MBBS from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, and joined the Army Medical Corps in 1989. During the Kargil conflict, he was posted as the only surgeon at the field hospital and was awarded the Yuddh Seva Medal for his service.

In 2001, he served in post-Taliban Kabul and was recognised by the Afghan government for his contributions. Throughout his military career, he held postings in various top command hospitals before returning to his hometown, Jamshedpur, in 2013.

Dr Basu is also an accomplished Bengali writer with three books to his name. The Kargil War Surgeon’s Testimony is his first book in English—a rare, firsthand account that offers an intimate glimpse into the untold side of war and those who bear witness to it.