Operation Sudarshan chakra by Prabhakar Aloka

​"Operation Sudarshan chakra" by Prabhakar Aloka -Not a page turner!

This book is published by Penguin Random House India in 2022 and has 288 pages. This is sequel to ‘Operation Haygreeva’.

At the end of previous book, the mastermind of the terrorist plot has escaped to POK. Now he is plotting an operation on a very large scale. Operation K2. K2 for Kashmir and revival of Khalistan. Head of Central Counterterrorism Command (C3), Ravi Kumar gets a tip off from agent Takshak. Mihir, Cyrus and Jose are assigned separate tasks. Mihir is exposed, his cover is blown. 

What is K2? Exactly how will it be executed? Is Mihir expelled from IB for failure? Can Cyrus get his girl back? How is Operation Sudarshan Chakra executed?

The story starts well, becomes complex, increases in complexity. You start thinking that this is going to be a complex ending, a lot of entanglement, a lot of action. But nothing of the sort happens. The climax is anti climactic. The big plot fizzles out. Author couldn’t bring it to a grand conclusion. 

For major part it is IB Vs ISI. Buy at the end IB is happy with naming the mastermind from Kerala. They kind of avoid confrontation with ISI. Why?

A few threads are left loose. Why does Rukmini become Rukhsana? What happens to the Pakistani arms dealer? What happens to Pakistani diplomat? Author doesn’t conclude them. What about Sulu from previous book?

The story is not compact. It’s scattered and not very effective. Although readers don’t lose interest, it’s not a page turner either.  A little tucking, a little sewing would have given the story a face lift. 

Some attention to details was in order in this book too. This book was published after Osama Bin Laden was killed but the book mentions that Rauf is blue eyed boy of Osama. He is also summoned by Osama. Osama is mentioned to be alive. Ravi is shown as promoted over others to head of C3 in previous book but at the end of this book he refuses to accept position of head of IB over his seniors. Why?

Story has two surprises at the end. One is about a promotion. This one is on expected lines and isn’t really a surprise. Second is about Mihir. This one is a real surprise. I didn’t see it coming. 

Operation Sudarshan Chakra is named after weapon of Vishnu that can kill all the hidden enemies precisely without a single drop of innocent blood spilled. 

Usually authors narrate the story in past tense. This story, however, is narrated in simple present tense. Something different!

Why did I read this book? First book was good. 

What did I like? The seed. 

What I didn't like? The climax. 

Read if you plan to read the series, otherwise give it a miss.