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News Topical, Digital Desk : Many brave soldiers have sacrificed their lives for our country, and even today, many soldiers risk their lives to protect the nation on the border. There are also many protectors of the nation who have risked their lives to serve the nation, yet today they remain anonymous.
Among them was a girl who worked as a spy for a country across the border, even marrying a man from a neighboring country. Yes, this brave girl's story didn't go unnoticed; it was even written into a novel and later made into a film.
Got married after crossing the border
The former Indian Navy lieutenant commander published his book in 2008, which tells the story of a Kashmiri woman who was married to a Pakistani officer to gain insight into the enemy country's war strategy. She provided intelligence to India during the Indo-Pakistani War.
Intelligence was provided for the country
The most crucial information this girl provided while living with her Pakistani husband was about the impending attack on INS Viraat. The author explains that it was because of her that India was able to save its greatest pride.
India won a big battle
The sinking of INS Viraat would have been a major blow to the Pakistani military's actions against the Indian Army. The warship served as a helicopter carrier, anti-submarine warfare vessel, and was equipped with a wide range of electronic equipment used by the military during wars. This information proved to be a turning point in the Indo-Pakistani War.
A film has been made on this in Bollywood
The good news is that we can see this story adapted into a film. The film is called Raazi, starring Alia Bhatt in the lead role. Vicky Kaushal plays her husband. The fact that Raazi is based on a true story from the 1971 Indo-Pak war makes it more interesting than anything else. It's based on Harinder Sikka's novel, “Calling Sehmat.”
Who agreed?
In an interview with The Hindu, Harinder Sikka recounted how he met Indian spy Sehmat (name changed), whose story inspired him to write the novel.
During the war, Sikka went to Kargil to report on a media report on the Army's alleged intelligence failure, which he had learned about. He doubted the patriotism of the country's people, but his beliefs were completely transformed when he met Sehmat, an ordinary Indian who risked her life to provide intelligence to the Indian Army.
He said, "I was very angry at the time and even questioned the patriotism of some in the Intelligence Department. During one such discussion, an army officer told me that not everyone is the same. I didn't believe it, so he cited his mother as an example, which surprised me greatly."
Kargil is over, but I often thought about the courageous act of this undercover woman who returned to the country pregnant with her Pakistani husband's child and gave a good officer to the Indian Army.
How different was Alia's character from real life?
"She didn't talk much," Harinder Sikka said. “Gradually, she started talking, but I still don't know how she managed to extract so much intelligence from Pakistani intelligence. Whatever information she provided matched the Indian intelligence reports here.”
Son serves in the Indian Army
Sehmat is no longer alive, and her son serves in the Indian Army. It took Sikka eight years to fictionalize her story and create a compelling narrative. He said, "It was important to fictionalize it because it could have been dangerous for her family."
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