The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur by Rahul Pandita
Review: The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur by Rahul Pandita is a gripping and heartbreaking account of the Pulwama terror attack of 2019, where forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers lost their lives, and the web of events that led up to it. Pandita, known for his sensitive yet hard-hitting reportage, reconstructs the story with a journalist’s precision and a storyteller’s empathy, weaving together the personal lives of the soldiers, the lapses in intelligence, and the rise of extremism that culminated in the tragedy. What makes the book powerful is its ability to humanize the victims—ordinary men with families, dreams, and futures—while also exposing the systemic failures and political undercurrents surrounding the attack. Written in a clear, compelling style, the narrative doesn’t sensationalize the violence but instead compels the reader to confront the reality of terrorism, loss, and the sacrifices borne by soldiers and their families. At once investigative and deeply emotional, Pandita’s work stands as both a tribute to the fallen and a reminder of the complex challenges facing India in its battle against militancy.
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