Balidan: Stories of Indian’s Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives by Swapnil Pandey, published in August 2023, is a heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers of India’s Para Special Forces. The word Balidan means “sacrifice” and perfectly matches the spirit of the men whose lives are shared in this book. Their motto, “शौर्यम् दक्षम् युद्धे बलिदान परम धर्म:”, translates to “Courage, skill in battle, and sacrifice is the highest duty.” This one line captures what these warriors live by every single day.
The book is divided into six chapters, each telling the story of a real hero who served the nation in silence. In Chapter 1, you learn how a commando’s life can change in a split second and how each mission could be his last. These are not just action stories but emotional journeys filled with brotherhood, pain, and loyalty. In Chapter 2, one of the ustads tells a young officer, “Your religion is your boys. As an officer, you are everything, all of these religions.” This powerful line reflects the deep bond between an officer and his men, where trust, loyalty, and responsibility go beyond any personal identity. In Balidan, such moments reveal the true meaning of leadership in the Para Special Forces, where an officer is not just a commander but a guardian, a guide, and a symbol of unity for his team.
What makes Balidan truly special is the depth of research and the emotion with which the stories are told. Swapnil Pandey dedicated over a year to meeting and interviewing more than 200 individuals, including family members, friends and fellow soldiers of the bravehearts, gathering their stories and memories firsthand. The book brings forward powerful stories of men like Colonel Santosh Mahadik, Captain Tushar Mahajan, Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, and Subedar Major Mahendra Singh.
Balidan takes you into the hidden world of Para SF, where soldiers often go by names like Ghost, Viper, Dagger, or Desert Scorpio. These men carry out the most dangerous missions so the rest of us can live safely. While their work is secret, this book brings their stories to light with respect and emotion.
As you read further, you will feel the pride, pain, and power in every page. Some stories end in silence and loss when the soldier does not return home. The sacrifices are real and painful. These stories are powerful and unforgettable.
Balidan is for everyone who wants to understand what it truly means to serve the nation. Whether you are a defence aspirant, a working professional, or someone who feels a deep respect for the Indian Army, this book will inspire you. It shows how these soldiers never give up, even when injured or in pain, and how their loyalty to the nation comes before everything else.
In the end, Balidan is not just a collection of stories. It is a salute to the courage and sacrifices of India’s finest soldiers. It will stay with you long after you finish reading, reminding you of the quiet heroes who protect us every day without asking for recognition.
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Here are the names of the army personnel featured in the book Balidan: Stories of India’s Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives by Swapnil Pandey, along with a brief sentence about each:
- Colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik, SM (posthumous) – A fearless warrior of 21 Para SF remembered as the Waghnaakh who lived and died for the nation.
- Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM – Known as the man, the myth and the legend, Brigadier Shekhawat is one of the most decorated officers in the Indian Army.
- Subedar Major/Honorary Captain Mahendra Singh, KC, SM – Referred to as the Great Mountain of 9 Para SF, his service and strength are legendary in the forces.
- Captain Tushar Mahajan, SC (posthumous) – A brilliant young officer of 9 Para SF remembered as an enigma who left too soon.
- Major Manish Singh, SC, and Mrs Aastha Panwar – Their story reflects the love and sacrifice shared between a commando and his partner.
- Operation Rangdori Baihk (4 Para SF) – This mission, carried out by the Band of Brothers, showcases the courage and unity of 4 Para SF in Northern India.
Book Availability, Formats, and Pricing
Balidan: Stories of India’s Greatest Para Special Forces Operatives by Swapnil Pandey was published by HarperCollins India on 7 July 2023. Written in English, the book spans 248 pages and is available in multiple formats. The Kindle edition is priced at ₹168, the paperback ranges around ₹194 to ₹236 depending on the platform and offers, while the audiobook is currently not available in India. Readers can purchase Balidan from popular online stores like Amazon India, Goodreads, Flipkart, and the official HarperCollins India website. The book takes readers deep into the secretive and courageous world of India’s elite Para Special Forces, sharing stories of bravery, sacrifice, and leadership that are rarely told.
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About the Author of Balidan
Swapnil Pandey is a bestselling Indian author known for her powerful storytelling that highlights the lives and sacrifices of Indian Army personnel and their families. Her books, including The Force Behind the Forces, Love Story of a Commando, and Soldier’s Girl, aim to bring attention to the emotional strength and everyday struggles of soldiers and their loved ones. A graduate of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, she has worked with top companies like Wipro and HDFC, and also served as a teacher at Lovely Professional University and Army Public School.
Married into an army family, Swapnil Pandey has lived in various military cantonments, which gives her a deep understanding of the values, discipline, and spirit of service within the armed forces. Her writing is shaped by personal experience and over 200 interviews with soldiers, especially those from India’s elite Para Special Forces, for her book Balidan. She has visited forward posts near the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control, making her research deeply grounded and authentic.
Apart from her books, Swapnil shares stories through her blog, articles, and motivational content. She is also a frequent panelist on national TV and contributes to defence-related discussions in the media. Recognized for her work, she has been honoured by several reputed organizations, including ISRO. She actively connects with her readers on social media platforms such as Twitter (@swapy6), Instagram (@swapnil_pandey_author), and Facebook (‘Author Swapnil Pandey’), where she continues to be a strong and respected voice from the army community.
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Thematic Analysis of Balidan
- The Meaning of Real Sacrifice: One of the strongest themes in Balidan is the true meaning of sacrifice. The book highlights how Indian Para Special Forces soldiers dedicate their lives to the nation, often without any recognition. These men carry out the toughest missions in complete secrecy, and many of them do not return. Balidan reminds readers that freedom is not free and it is earned with the blood and sacrifice of soldiers whose stories are often hidden from the world.
- Unbreakable Brotherhood and Team Spirit: In Balidan, the bond between the soldiers is more than just friendship and it is brotherhood. These men live, train, and fight together. Their trust in each other is so strong that it becomes their biggest strength during missions. The book shows how their loyalty to their team goes beyond personal survival. As one trainer says in Chapter 2, “Your boys are your religion.” This deep emotional connection is what makes the Para SF unique, and Balidan captures it beautifully.
- Extraordinary Training and Mental Toughness: Balidan gives readers a close look at the extreme training that Special Forces soldiers undergo. The selection rate is less than one percent, and the goal is not just physical fitness but mental strength. These men are trained to survive in mountains, forests, underwater, and deserts. From skydiving to guerrilla warfare, their skills are unmatched. The book explains how the training is designed to break them first, only to rebuild them stronger, with a belief that no mission is impossible.
- Stories of Real Heroes and Their Legacy: One of the most inspiring parts of Balidan is its stories of real-life heroes like Colonel Santosh Mahadik, Captain Tushar Mahajan, Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, and Subedar Major Mahendra Singh. The book does not just talk about their bravery on the battlefield, but also their personal lives, their dreams, values, and struggles. These stories are emotional and powerful, and they help readers understand what it truly means to wear the maroon beret and the Balidan badge.
- Family, Love, and Silent Strength: Balidan also highlights the quiet strength of the families behind these soldiers especially their wives, parents, and children. These family members live with constant worry and pain, but they still support their loved ones with pride. The book gently brings out their emotional world, showing how every soldier’s journey is also a family’s story. The role of women partners of these warriors is shown with respect, compassion, and dignity.
- Patriotism in Its Purest Form: The spirit of patriotism runs deep through every page of Balidan. These soldiers are not driven by fame or money. They come from small towns and humble backgrounds but are filled with an unshakable love for the country. Their sense of duty is powerful and pure. The book makes you reflect on what true patriotism looks like not in words, but in actions and choices made every single day.
- Life Lessons for Everyone: Even if you are not from the defence background, Balidan offers powerful life lessons. It teaches discipline, courage, and resilience. It shows how focus, self-belief, and teamwork can help overcome the toughest challenges. Readers walk away inspired to give their best, to stay grounded, and to appreciate the freedom we often take for granted.
- Secrecy and the Invisible Guardian Role: A new theme in Balidan is secrecy and invisibility. These commandos operate mostly under code names like Ghost, Dagger, or Desert Scorpio, and their missions are hidden for national security. This booklifts the veil on their covert ops near the LoC and LAC areas, capturing how these soldiers are everywhere yet remain unseen protecting the nation quietly, without headlines
- Exceptional Moral Character and Ethical Conduct: Another emerging theme is the exceptional moral fibre of these soldiers. Balidan emphasizes their values bravery intertwined with integrity, humility, and compassion. The heroes earn medals not only for operations but also for their indomitable spirit. The book paints them as modern-day embodiments of sacrifice almost godlike in legend but deeply human in character and conduct.
- Global Standing, Limitations and Room for Growth: While Balidan boldly claims Indian Para Special Forces to be among the best in the world, a nuanced perspective also appears: comparison with units like the US Navy SEALs or US Green Berets shows Indian SF sometimes face limitations in equipment and inter-agency coordination. This theme reflects the reality that though they are elite by skill and spirit, modernization and structural changes can further strengthen them. This acknowledges both greatness and the journey ahead
Why Balidan Deserves Your Attention
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Balidan is not just another military book and it is a powerful reminder of the invisible shield that protects our country every single day. These are the real stories of India’s elite Para Special Forces operatives, who live and die in silence so that we can live in peace. Their tales are usually locked away in classified files, buried in anonymity. But this book opens that door. It gives names, faces, and emotions to the warriors who wear the ‘Balidan’ badge with unmatched pride.
At a time when many of us take freedom for granted or only remember our soldiers on national holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day only, Balidan calls for deeper reflection. It introduces us to young officers who led their men into the most dangerous terrains, families who lost everything but never complained, and veterans who still carry physical and emotional scars but speak only of duty. These stories do not just evoke patriotism but they demand gratitude, respect, and awareness.
Reading Balidan is not only about honouring our soldiers and it is about understanding the cost of the freedom we enjoy. It deserves our attention because it tells the truth, no matter how uncomfortable. It brings us closer to the human side of war, showing us the courage, pain, discipline, and unshakable love for the country that defines these heroes. Their stories must not fade into silence instead they must be read, remembered, and respected.
Final Thought
Balidan stays with you long after you have turned the last page. It is not just a collection of heroic tales but it is a mirror to the spirit of India’s bravest, who fight battles we may never hear about, in places we may never see. This book quietly reminds us that behind every medal is a beating heart, behind every mission is a family waiting, and behind every fallen soldier is a legacy that deserves to be honoured. In a world driven by comfort, routine, and deadlines, Balidan gently shakes us out of our everyday bubble and connects us to a reality we often overlook and the lives of those who choose service over self. This book does not glorify war; it honours humanity, courage, and sacrifice. It reminds us that true strength lies in silence, discipline, and a fierce sense of duty. As you close the book, you do not just remember the missions because you remember the men, their values, and the quiet power of a life lived for others. Let Balidan be your reminder that the bravest stories are often the ones spoken in whispers and remembered in gratitude.
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