TELUGU
A recap on World War II
P.V.L.N. RAO
DITAVU GUNDELU: by Dmitri Medvedev; Translated by Uppala Lakshmana Rao; Prajashakthi Book House, 1-1-187/1/2, Chikkadapalli, Hyderabad-20. Rs. 75
AS THE title suggests, this volume is about the saga of sturdy hearts of Soviet guerillas during the Second World War. The fascinating events of the war years (1942-48) are recapitulated in 40 chapters, with the Russian Patriot's inspiring motto — “You will never die. Let the fascists know that overpowering our people is as difficult as eradicating the sun” — serving as the backdrop.
Besides Medvedev, Lukin and Kuznetyov play a pivotal role throughout. If the episode where the commandant narrates (in the ‘rehearsals') his early experience of parachuting with an umbrella is somewhat amusing, the one about Kolya, a 12-year-old, whose father was massacred and mother and brother were sent away to Germany, lending a helping hand is moving.
And then there is the case of a unit leader, whose knee bone suffered a fracture when he was hit by an enemy's bullet, being operated upon in an improvised tent with the doctor using alcohol as the disinfectant during surgery.
Truly reflective of the spirit was Kuznetyov's words in his last letter: “You will never die. You are alive in the song of the sturdy hearts”. (Gorky). The book throws light on striking, but lesser known, sidelights of World War II. The translation is smooth and reader-friendly.
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