Commissioned into the Grenadiers in the Indian Army where Gorkhas usually do not serve, he rose to become a Lieutenant General to then command a frontline corps along the Line of Actual Control and finally retired as the Military Secretary (MS).

Replete with anecdotes and vignettes, this book is the story of his lived life and world view. It talks about who the Gorkhas are, their customs and traditions, how they came along with the land' to become a part of India. It delves into the crisis of identity of the Indian Gorkha community, their numerous sacrifices and their quest for a homeland. It also takes an unbiased look at India-Nepal issues.

Having served extensively in counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and India's North-east, as well as in Myanmar as the defence attaché, Lt General Shakti Gurung covers in this book a wide landscape of issues of these regions not tread upon earlier by anyone.

From a community known more for its valour than its cerebral acumen, this book walks the path of him having served thrice in the MS Branch, the challenges he faced and how he overcame them, swimming against the tide and revelling in the competition.