Cartoos Saab?is the story of how a young boy becomes an officer of the Indian Army, how he experiences a life of responsibility, adventure and challenges and how he handles the disability of losing a leg in battle. It reveals the feelings of a soldier who is left behind after the army emerged victorious in a savage war that focused on spe...ed of operations with decisive outcomes before external powers could come to the rescue of the enemy.
Although this is his journey through more than three decades of life in the military and his own experiences of three wars, his story could well be the story of many other officers of the Indian Army who lived through those challenging times.
This true story of grit and commitment takes the reader through the myriad twists and turns that soldiers face in their lives and how they take the most testing situations in their stride. It is a life of courage, effort and determination that embodies the spirit of never giving up, which is ultimately the message of this book.
Major General Ian Cardozo was born in Mumbai and studied at St Xavier’s School and College. In July 1954, he joined the Joint Services Wing which later became the National Defence Academy. Here he was the first cadet to win the gold medal for being the best all-round cadet, and the silver medal for being first in order of merit. He was commissioned at the Indian Military Academy into the 1st Battalion the Fifth Gorkha Rifles (FF) in 1958, and was the first officer of the Army to be awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry on a patrol in NEFA in 1959. Wounded in the battle of Sylhet in Bangladesh in 1971, he overcame the handicap of losing a leg and became the first war-disabled officer to be approved for command of an Infantry Battalion. He retired in 1993 from his appointment as Chief of Staff of a Corps in the East.
Author of The Sinking of INS-Khukri: Survivor’s Stories and Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle, he has worked with the Spastics Society of Northern India and was chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India for nine years. At present he is the Vice President of the War Wounded Foundation.
Major General Ian Cardozo was born in Mumbai and studied at St Xavier’s School and College. In July 1954, he joined the Joint Services Wing which later became the National Defence Academy. Here he was the first cadet to win the gold medal for being the best all-round cadet, and the silver medal for being first in order of merit. He was commissioned at the Indian Military Academy into the 1st Battalion the Fifth Gorkha Rifles (FF) in 1958, and was the first officer of the Army to be awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry on a patrol in NEFA in 1959. Wounded in the battle of Sylhet in Bangladesh in 1971, he overcame the handicap of losing a leg and became the first war-disabled officer to be approved for command of an Infantry Battalion. He retired in 1993 from his appointment as Chief of Staff of a Corps in the East.
Author of The Sinking of INS-Khukri: Survivor’s Stories and Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle, he has worked with the Spastics Society of Northern India and was chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India for nine years. At present he is the Vice President of the War Wounded Foundation.
Major General Ian Cardozo was born in Mumbai and studied at St Xavier’s School and College. In July 1954, he joined the Joint Services Wing which later became the National Defence Academy. Here he was the first cadet to win the gold medal for being the best all-round cadet, and the silver medal for being first in order of merit. He was commissioned at the Indian Military Academy into the 1st Battalion the Fifth Gorkha Rifles (FF) in 1958, and was the first officer of the Army to be awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry on a patrol in NEFA in 1959. Wounded in the battle of Sylhet in Bangladesh in 1971, he overcame the handicap of losing a leg and became the first war-disabled officer to be approved for command of an Infantry Battalion. He retired in 1993 from his appointment as Chief of Staff of a Corps in the East.
Author of The Sinking of INS-Khukri: Survivor’s Stories and Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle, he has worked with the Spastics Society of Northern India and was chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India for nine years. At present he is the Vice President of the War Wounded Foundation.
Major General Ian Cardozo was born in Mumbai and studied at St Xavier’s School and College. In July 1954, he joined the Joint Services Wing which later became the National Defence Academy. Here he was the first cadet to win the gold medal for being the best all-round cadet, and the silver medal for being first in order of merit. He was commissioned at the Indian Military Academy into the 1st Battalion the Fifth Gorkha Rifles (FF) in 1958, and was the first officer of the Army to be awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry on a patrol in NEFA in 1959. Wounded in the battle of Sylhet in Bangladesh in 1971, he overcame the handicap of losing a leg and became the first war-disabled officer to be approved for command of an Infantry Battalion. He retired in 1993 from his appointment as Chief of Staff of a Corps in the East.
Author of The Sinking of INS-Khukri: Survivor’s Stories and Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle, he has worked with the Spastics Society of Northern India and was chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India for nine years. At present he is the Vice President of the War Wounded Foundation.
Cardozo’s stories about his training at the JSW and later the Indian Military Academy constitute the building blocks of a compelling meta narrative. The army succeeds as an institution because it is patient with recruits, allows them to grow, understands that people can succeed at different enterprises, and emphasises camaraderie over competition.
It is well known that people from the army eventually become raconteurs. Constant mobility during service years gives them great diversity of experience. They also develop a habit of reminiscing with friends and family. Author of nearly a dozen books, Cardozo’s storytelling skills are more refined than that of his brethren. In this memoir, not only does he tell short stories that carry larger narratives, but he has also condensed unwieldy narratives into neat anecdotes.
‘General Cardozo’s memoirs are as extraordinary as he is. This book chronicles the remarkable journey of a remarkable man. His courage and compassion are the stuff of legend. Except it all happened for real. Cartoos Saab is inspirational reading for every Indian.’
SOM MITTAL, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS;
Published Date:- October 19, 2022
‘This is an amazingly inspirational life story of the evolution of a soldier, leader and a crusader over a lifespan. The story is about valour, grit, emotions and overcoming odds and seemingly insurmountable hurdles. This will surely motivate and inspire a range of readers.’
MAROOF RAZA, FORMER ARMY OFFICER, TV COMMENTATOR AND MILITARY HISTORIAN
Published Date:- October 21, 2022
‘General Ian Cardozo is from that rare breed of men, who marched out of the Academy with a gold medal pinned on his chest only to excel not just as a scholar in uniform but to exhibit courage that defies definition. This account of his life and times tells us why this book must be read by all, especially those who wish to understand what makes soldiers go beyond their call of duty.’
AIR VICE MARSHAL ARJUN SUBRAMANIAM (RETD),
Published Date:- October 13, 2022
‘A riveting account of a lifetime of soldiering and service to the country by an extraordinary soldier, accomplished military historian and a champion for equal opportunity, particularly for soldiers and veterans with disabilities. Written in a lucid and easy style, this is a must-read for those who seek an understanding of what it means to be a part of the profession of arms in independent India.’