Aditi Mathur Kumar stands as a multifaceted figure - an author, a devoted mother, an advertising professional, and above all, a proud Indian Army wife. Her journey into the literary world began with her first book, "Soldier & Spice," a poignant narrative that delves into the intricate and often enigmatic world of Army wives. Since its release in 2013, this book has not only captured hearts but also paved the way for an entirely new genre of stories centered around defense families.
However, it's not just about her past successes. Aditi's latest offering, "Operation Payback," takes readers on a gripping journey through the life of Meera, a character deeply entrenched in the ethos of the Indian Army. Meera's life, meticulously planned with her beloved husband, Capt. Ranvijay, takes an unexpected turn when he is tragically killed in action in the Valley.
Left shattered and alone, Meera finds herself grappling with profound loss and a void that seems insurmountable. Yet, amidst her grief, she finds the resolve to honor her husband's legacy in the most courageous way possible. As a Veer Nari, she decides to join the Indian Army, not merely to pay homage to Capt. Ranvijay but also to embark on a journey of personal redemption.
However, Meera's path to healing and empowerment takes an unexpected twist as she becomes the architect of a bold and audacious plan known as "Operation Payback." Fuelled by her undying love for her husband and a fierce determination to serve her nation, Meera channels her grief into a relentless pursuit of justice.
"Operation Payback" is not just a tale of resilience; it's a testament to the indomitable spirit of a woman who refuses to be defined by her circumstances. Meera's journey epitomizes the true essence of heroism, where bravery isn't just about facing external adversaries but also confronting one's inner demons.
Through Meera's narrative, Aditi Mathur Kumar underscores the profound truth that heroism knows no gender or uniform. It's a universal language spoken by those who dare to defy the odds and rise above their challenges.
In "Operation Payback," Aditi Mathur Kumar invites readers to ponder upon the deeper meaning of bravery and the limitless potential of the human spirit. It's a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there exists an untapped reservoir of strength waiting to be unleashed.
Ultimately, "Operation Payback" isn't just a story; it's a rallying cry for anyone who has ever dared to dream, to fight, and to believe in the power of resilience. And through Meera's journey, Aditi Mathur Kumar reaffirms that true heroism lies in embracing life's uncertainties and forging ahead, one courageous step at a time.
1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Operation Payback"? What led you to explore the story of Meera, a Veer Nari, and her journey towards seeking justice and honor?
>Operation Payback is the story of a Veer Nari (war widow) who decides to join the Army and serve the nation after her PARA SF commando husband is killed in action in a terror attack in Kashmir – and the story covers her enthralling and inspiring journey of being the first lady office in combat, discovering her inner strength and learning about true heroism while getting payback. The story is inspired by real life heroes, a few Veer Naris who joined the Army.
As an Army Wife myself, I often found myself wondering what is it that motivates a Veer Nari to join the Army after – the profession where her late husband gave his life at the line of duty. I wanted to understand the motivation and the drive behind the decision. And then, I got the chance to meet two such brave women who walked this path – and I understood the purpose that is larger than life. Operation Payback is my tribute to not just the Indian Army, but to all Veer Naris who make the courageous choice of joining the Army, and to dedicate their life to the nation’s safety. I applaud their unshakable courage and I salute their spirit via this story.
2. The protagonist, Meera, undergoes a significant transformation from a grieving widow to a determined soldier seeking payback. How did you approach depicting this evolution, and what challenges did you face in portraying such a complex character arc?
>To write about a grieving character is never easy. My approach was to keep it real and raw, so that it evokes emotions in the readers while simultaneously telling them that this is a reality of every army wife’s life as I showed Meera’s evolution from an engineer to an army wife to a war widow. If I’m being honest, it did take a toll on me, emotionally because I personally know fellow army wives who have become Veer Naris and had their entire lives changed in a second. It’s scary, but I tried to stay true to the emotion and built the story with authenticity.
3. "Operation Payback" delves into themes of bravery, heroism, and resilience. How did you ensure that these themes were effectively conveyed throughout the narrative?
>While writing this story, I lived as several characters in the book and styed true to them and only their journey – that is how I tried to ensure that various POVs, emotions and themes were conveyed in a way that’s as real as it gets, unbridled by the need to abide by any social perceptions or the need to be diplomatic. I feel very strongly about the need to tell more army stories, and I believe that passion helped me in writing about demanding and complex themes of heroism, bravery and resilience. I wish I was able to do justice to them.
4. The novel is described as "tech-led" and "strategic." Could you elaborate on how technology and strategy play a role in Meera's quest for justice?
>Technology is at the core of this story – as is strategy. Along with active practice, the army gives a lot of time and effort in planning and strategy, and I wanted to showcase that aspect as well. In Meera’s story, both technology and strategy play a role in her accomplishing the ultimate payback. While technology enabled her to decipher signals, a smart strategy helped her and the entire team in executing their plan.
5. Meera's decision to join the Indian Army to honor her late husband's legacy sets the stage for the novel's plot. How did you balance the emotional depth of her personal journey with the high-stakes action of the story?
>The urge to give in to the catharsis of Meera’s emotions when that one dreadful phone call came, was immense. I wanted to go deeper into her emotions of loss, grief, helplessness and anger in order to do justice to her character. However, I thoroughly enjoy writing action scene that move the story ahead in a show-not-tell manner, and I so I tried to marry the two. To tell the story in the right manner, neither could be compromised. To be honest, I did end up writing about Meera’s emotional journey more that what you read in the final book because during the editing process, I balanced it out. Like every author I know says, it is easy to write but tough to edit your own work – and I felt that here more than my previous books.
6. As an author who has explored the lives of defense families in your previous work, how did your personal experiences and research inform the portrayal of military life and the challenges faced by Veer Naris in "Operation Payback"?
>I am an Army Wife, and I like to create characters for my books based on real-life inspiration. Being a part of the army fraternity has given me an array of rich experiences including life as a military spouse, journey of army kids, emotions of army parents and more. This is what I used as fuel for my previous books like Soldier & Spice. But for Operation Payback, a lot of research in terms of terrain, weapons, op strategy etc was required and I read a lot, spoke to a lot of people and put my head down to get everything right. As I have said a lot of times since the book has been released, while the story and characters in Operation Payback are fictional, the setting is as authentic as it get. I am very proud of this, actually.
7. Meera's journey is not just about seeking revenge but also about delivering justice for the nation. How did you navigate the balance between Meera's personal motivations and the larger patriotic duty she feels compelled to fulfill?
>While there is immense satisfaction in Meera’s personal revenge, the idea of heroism is never selfish. And I wanted to do justice to Ranvijay’s inspiring ideology about what makes a true hero, like every soldier in our forces. Heroism can mean different to all of us, and I did depict the same heavy conundrum in Meera’s head in the second half of the story, but the end needed to be worthy of a true hero, showing the readers a courage on a whole different level and true heroism that puts the larger good before one’s own need. That is what true valour looks like, in my head. And when readers tell me that the end gave them goosebumps and tears, it makes me proud.
8. The title "Operation Payback" suggests a calculated and strategic approach to seeking justice. Can you discuss how Meera's plan unfolds throughout the novel without revealing any spoilers?
>In reality, the title is inspired by Operation Vijay and it’s my little homage to every soldier who was a part of it, and their families. Meera’s payback is bigger than just plain revenge, and that is the beauty of the ending – in my opinion. However, once a story become a book and is out to the readers, it becomes everyone’s story as well, and a lot of readers have told me that they appreciated the way payback was delivered not only by strategic plans and help from other characters/organizations in the story, but also by Meera’s passion and let’s accept it, a little bit of luck. I’ll request readers to buy a copy and read the story, so that I can find out more about how the entire plan made them feel.
9. What do you hope readers will take away from "Operation Payback," particularly in terms of its themes of empowerment and resilience?
>The story has so many takeaways, from the everyday heroism of our soldiers, to resilience of the main character, and from unexpected support to unadulterated trust – but if I were to pick one theme, it would be that of resilience for girls. I wish readers find the story inspiring. I hope this story makes young girls and boys want to join the army. I hope readers know that when a soldier gets ready to do his duty at the borders, an entire family makes sacrifices. And I hope everyone who reads this, realizes that she who wait, also serves.
10. Lastly, what message or lesson do you believe Meera's story imparts to readers, especially those facing their own adversities or seeking to overcome loss and grief?
>The biggest lesson is to rise above your circumstances and be resilient. All of us hear growing up that luck favour the brave, and this story is testament to it. Be brave because, as my favourite artist Piyush Mishra says in the poem, “Yuddh hee toh veer ka praman hai”. Jai Hind.
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