Q. You’ve lived multiple lives — soldier, author, ultrarunner. How would you introduce yourself today, and what part of your journey defines you the most?
Basically I have had only two professions. Soldiering and the Corporate world. Ultra running, writing, skiing etc are my hobbies. By far if there is anything I am proud of, it’s that I served in the Special Forces (SF). For the simple reason that it's very hard to pass selection and even harder to sustain the tempo of high risk life. As they once said for Clint Eastwood, perhaps is appropriate for the SF too, ‘ that every boy dreams of becoming and every man regrets, he never was.’
Q. Serving in the Special Forces involves extreme mental and physical conditioning. What mindset shifts do you think civilians can adopt from combat training to face everyday challenges?
There were many learnings. However, a lot of them can only be learnt if one has gone through the process and grind of the SF. Nevertheless, adaptability and attitude, two of the most important traits that were in abundance in a SF operator would certainly be useful in a civilian profession. They believed in discipline over talent and that motivation was internal and not external. They followed what Huxley said, ‘do what you have to do, when you have to do it, even if you don’t like doing it.’
Q. Your books often draw from real experiences in conflict zones. How do you balance authenticity with the responsibility of storytelling, especially around sensitive themes like war and trauma?
The trilogy follows my operational service across the sub-continent. The books are based on basically my own experiences and incidents that happened with friends and acquaintances. I have only connected the dots and spun a tale to make it interesting. If they hadn’t gone out as fiction, I would have had to take clearances from the army. In narrating I have tried to be as faithful to the facts as possible without disturbing the overall plot. Basically, I have followed what Marco Polo said, “ I saw what I saw, and I heard what I heard. And I wrote it all down.”
Q. Serving in the Special Forces involves extreme mental and physical conditioning. What mindset shifts do you think civilians can adopt from combat training to face everyday challenges?
There were many learnings. However, a lot of them can only be learnt if one has gone through the process and grind of the SF. Nevertheless, adaptability and attitude, two of the most important traits that were in abundance in a SF operator would certainly be useful in a civilian profession. They believed in discipline over talent and that motivation was internal and not external. They followed what Huxley said, ‘do what you have to do, when you have to do it, even if you don’t like doing it.’
Q. Your books often draw from real experiences in conflict zones. How do you balance authenticity with the responsibility of storytelling, especially around sensitive themes like war and trauma?
The trilogy follows my operational service across the sub-continent. The books are based on basically my own experiences and incidents that happened with friends and acquaintances. I have only connected the dots and spun a tale to make it interesting. If they hadn’t gone out as fiction, I would have had to take clearances from the army. In narrating I have tried to be as faithful to the facts as possible without disturbing the overall plot. Basically, I have followed what Marco Polo said, “ I saw what I saw, and I heard what I heard. And I wrote it all down.”
Q. You’ve transitioned from elite military service to the corporate world. What’s the biggest lesson the battlefield taught you that still applies in boardrooms?
There is a saying, which was sacrosanct in SF, “the desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.” The man on the ground is always right, unless proven wrong. Don’t take decisions sitting behind a desk with no real time experience or knowledge of the market. The Toyota management has a motto, “Genchi Genbustu” (Go and See). In the corporate world decisions are often taken by leaders who have no experience or real time info, of the market or a situation that may be brewing or in the offing.
Q. In an age of digital distractions and instant gratification, how can young people cultivate resilience and depth of character?
The SF firmly believed in what the Stoics followed, that character is built through suffering. And physical suffering strengthens the mind. For the mind is the axis-Mundi which controls everything, emotions, intent, desire etc. A weak mind invariably struggles to reason correctly, especially in trying times where discomfort of any kind, physical or mental is involved. Instead of reasoning it often responds negatively and therefore can only be trained.
The SF firmly believed in what the Stoics followed, that character is built through suffering. And physical suffering strengthens the mind. For the mind is the axis-Mundi which controls everything, emotions, intent, desire etc. A weak mind invariably struggles to reason correctly, especially in trying times where discomfort of any kind, physical or mental is involved. Instead of reasoning it often responds negatively and therefore can only be trained.
My suggestion is to commit yourself to small achievable goals, time specific. And with each success, as your confidence increases to raise the bar. For example, start with a 5k run and then slowly graduate to half and full marathons. For success in the game is the greatest incentive to subdue fear of the unknown. Reminds me of what an ultra runner once said, “ever tried, ever failed. No worries. Try again, fail again. Fail better.”
Q. You’ve operated in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. What’s something surprisingly human or tender you’ve witnessed in such harsh places?
Well there were many such occasions. I recall a woman in the throes of her labor pains as we searched her hut in Sri Lanka. They were very poor and she, despite being in pain, tried to cover herself in her embarrassment. A parachute jump in the desert, where I landed in the middle of a flock of goats. A young Gujjar girl offering me a glass of goat milk, awe struck at the spectacle of men coming down from the sky.
Q. If you could gift one book (other than your own) to every 18-year-old in the country, what would it be and why?
I will name a few. All depends on the 18 year old's reading maturity. PG Woodhouse to learn the language of English and enjoy crisp British humour. Born To Run and of course he can always try my books. The 4th book hopefully should come out by the end of the year and talks about lessons I learnt from SF. Something quite useful to the youngsters today.
Bio
Well there were many such occasions. I recall a woman in the throes of her labor pains as we searched her hut in Sri Lanka. They were very poor and she, despite being in pain, tried to cover herself in her embarrassment. A parachute jump in the desert, where I landed in the middle of a flock of goats. A young Gujjar girl offering me a glass of goat milk, awe struck at the spectacle of men coming down from the sky.
Q. If you could gift one book (other than your own) to every 18-year-old in the country, what would it be and why?
I will name a few. All depends on the 18 year old's reading maturity. PG Woodhouse to learn the language of English and enjoy crisp British humour. Born To Run and of course he can always try my books. The 4th book hopefully should come out by the end of the year and talks about lessons I learnt from SF. Something quite useful to the youngsters today.
Bio
Abhay Narayan Sapru Graduated from Delhi University and subsequently joined the prestigious Indian Military Academy. Commissioned in 1988, he volunteered for the elite Special Forces. During his decade-long stint with the Indian Army, he served extensively in almost all the insurgency-ridden areas in the subcontinent-Sri Lanka, Assam during the ULFA insurgency, Kashmir and the North-east of India.
He is a recipient of the Sena Medal awarded for gallantry in operations in Sri Lanka and of the Army Chief’s Commendations Card for exemplary service.
Post his army career Abhay worked in the corporate world for various private and MNC banks and companies, finally retiring as Senior Group President from a private bank.
He is the author of three best selling combat novels based on his personal experiences while in service. The books are ‘In The Valley Of Shadows’ ‘The Beckoning Isle’ and ‘The Savage Hills’
Abhay has also contributed articles to the national Tehelka magazine and short stories for the outdoor journal magazine.
He has been invited on various podcasts as a guest and one of his podcasts ‘The Beer Biceps Show’ by Ranveer Allahabadia garnered over 1.7 Million views.
He is fond of distance running, climbing and is a keen skier.
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Interviewed By Rupal
He is a recipient of the Sena Medal awarded for gallantry in operations in Sri Lanka and of the Army Chief’s Commendations Card for exemplary service.
Post his army career Abhay worked in the corporate world for various private and MNC banks and companies, finally retiring as Senior Group President from a private bank.
He is the author of three best selling combat novels based on his personal experiences while in service. The books are ‘In The Valley Of Shadows’ ‘The Beckoning Isle’ and ‘The Savage Hills’
Abhay has also contributed articles to the national Tehelka magazine and short stories for the outdoor journal magazine.
He has been invited on various podcasts as a guest and one of his podcasts ‘The Beer Biceps Show’ by Ranveer Allahabadia garnered over 1.7 Million views.
He is fond of distance running, climbing and is a keen skier.
Interviewed By Rupal
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