Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
A raw, honest memoir covering his 30 years of service — from 18-year-old recruit to Major:
- ✅ Jungle combat against the Communist Insurgency - ✅ UN peacekeeping in Somalia (1993–94) — intense, dangerous operations - ✅ The real core story: fighting a second, quieter, crueler war inside the army itself — systemic racial discrimination, bias, and blocked advancement for non-Malay officers. He writes: "Loyal to the flag — betrayed by the fabric."
Ivan with me
⭐ Strengths:
1. Extremely rare perspective: One of very few books by an Indian-Malaysian military officer — gives a ground-level view of how race operates in institutions.
Briefing the boys at Baidoa to move to Xudur, escorting the World Food Program
2. Credible & well-documented: He was a serving officer, Ranger, mechanized infantry pioneer — his accounts of battles, Somalia, and military life are detailed and firsthand.
3. Bold & unflinching: Doesn’t sugarcoat — calls out exactly what he saw and lived through. Often described as "brutal, honest, unforgettable". 4. Highly relevant: Directly connects to the same themes as The War Against Indians — marginalization, justice, belonging — but from inside the system.
We were the Champions
⚠️ Limitations:
1. It is his personal story: These are his experiences and claims — not an objective, researched history. Others may have different views. 2. Focused & specific: Centered on his journey and his community’s struggles — not a broad survey of all races or all institutions. 3. Provocative title: "Exigent Circumstances" means extreme situations where rules get bent — here it refers to both war and the unfair conditions he had to survive.
The War Against Indians → Broad, community-wide: looks at laws, policies, history, and society overall. Exigent Circumstances → Deep, personal: one man’s life inside the military — proof from within that systemic bias exists.
Together they make a powerful pair: one shows the big picture, the other shows what it feels like to live it.
✅ My verdict:
Highly recommended — especially if you read The War Against Indians. It’s a brave, important book that forces you to look at uncomfortable truths about Malaysia. Read it as one vital perspective — not the whole truth — and compare with other sources.
With my snipers as the Sniper Employment Officer
Maj Gen Toh — a highly respected, senior Malaysian military officer — writes from inside the same system, so his words carry immense weight. He doesn’t just praise the book; he validates that what Maj Swami describes is real and matters. 2. Balanced & dignified He does not take sides or shout. Instead he frames the story as: “A soldier’s duty vs. the hard realities of the system” — acknowledges the loyalty, courage and sacrifice, while also gently confirming that unfairness and bias did exist. Very much in line with your own views — fair, neutral, yet deeply supportive. 3. Deep & thoughtful He connects Swami’s personal struggle to larger questions: What does it mean to serve your country? What happens when the system itself fails the people who defend it. He calls this book “a necessary mirror” — exactly right. 4. Short but powerful No fluff. Every paragraph counts. It sets the tone perfectly: honest, brave, and important.
⚠️ Minor limitation:
As a senior officer, he naturally speaks with care and diplomacy — he confirms the problems exist, but does not name names or go into details. That’s exactly what you’d expect — and it actually makes his endorsement more credible, not less.
📊 How it compares:
- The Foreword = The stamp of authority — “This is true, this matters, you should read it.” - The Book itself = The raw evidence — “Here is exactly what happened to me.” - Together = One of the strongest pairings you’ll find in Malaysian writing — a soldier’s story + a General’s confirmation.
✅ Final verdict:
The Foreword by Maj Gen Toh is the best possible introduction this book could have. It turns one man’s complaint into a serious, respected, institutional conversation.
