Vijay Mohan

The essence of Meghalaya and the BSF’s role in the state has been brought to life by Harbax Singh Dhillon, a top BSF officer, in a coffee table book titled ‘BSF and Meghalaya: Through the Lens of a Borderman’ that uniquely combines three genres of literary and visual arts – poems and photographs composed and clicked by him and pencil sketches made by BSF personnel.

The north-eastern state of Meghalaya is described as a breathtaking destination, with pristine, lush green landscapes, misty forests, mysterious caves and incredible waterfalls. The ‘abode of the clouds’ is also known for its friendly populace and vibrant culture.

The state, which attracts hordes of tourists, is also a critical frontier for the Border Security Force (BSF) as it shares a 440 km-long international border with Bangladesh that is vulnerable to infiltration and smuggling, requiring a strong presence of border guarding forces and a dynamic civic action programme to constructively engage locals.

The essence of Meghalaya and the BSF’s role in the state has been brought to life by Harbax Singh Dhillon, a top BSF officer, in a coffee table book titled ‘BSF and Meghalaya: Through the Lens of a Borderman’ that uniquely combines three genres of literary and visual arts – poems and photographs composed and clicked by him and pencil sketches made by BSF personnel.

Presently, Dhillon is posted as Inspector General (Operations), BSF Western Command. He will be moving to the BSF Headquarters in New Delhi this week to accept his promotion to the rank of Additional Director General.

With over 400 pictures, 26 poems and two dozen sketches, the 240-page book illustrates diverse subjects such as BSF deployment, the border fence, women in the BSF, operational challenges, Bangladesh as seen from India, civic engagement, local heritage, everyday life in Meghalaya, festivals, sports and cultural activities, tribes and historical aspects.

Spectacular terrain, mesmerising forests, hidden coves and the diverse flora and fauna present a vivid visual journey through the state where, in the author’s own words, clouds whisper secrets to the soul and the landscape awakens with an ethereal beauty.

“When I was posted in Meghalaya as Inspector General, I explored the state with the heart of a seeker and the perspective of a poet. As I interacted with residents and intellectuals, I came across numerous fascinating facets of the state that were neither common knowledge nor documented in a single volume,” said Dhillon, who has spent 37 years with the BSF and served across multiple frontiers.

“I have also been writing poetry on nature and on the troops and their courage, grit and resilience. It just dawned upon me to write a book which would not only highlight lesser-known facts of Meghalaya, but also be a visual and poetic tribute to the soldiers serving in tough conditions as well as to the charming and friendly people of the state,” he added.