Former Army Chief Gen Manoj Naravane Aims to Become a ‘Modest Storyteller’ After Success of Debut Novel

Retired General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who served as Chief of Army Staff from 2019 to 2022, has expressed his intention to pursue writing fiction as his primary post-retirement pursuit, describing his aspiration to become a “modest storyteller” following the positive reception of his debut military thriller.

According to details received by The Chenab Times, the former Army chief made the remarks during a ‘meet and greet’ and book signing event on Friday at Express Book Service, a heritage bookshop in Pune, Maharashtra. The event was held to promote his novel The Cantonment Conspiracy: A Military Thriller, which was published last year by Penguin Random House India. Naravane highlighted the book’s relative success for a first-time author with no prior professional writing experience, noting that the journey of transitioning from a military career to storytelling had been enjoyable and fulfilling.

The book, a murder mystery set in a military garrison, follows two young lieutenants—Rohit Verma and Renuka Khatri, fresh graduates from the National Defence Academy—who investigate the murder of a witness in an assault case. The plot unfolds against the backdrop of a laid-back cantonment on the banks of the Ganga River in western Uttar Pradesh, blending elements of intrigue within a military environment. Naravane has indicated that the novel’s performance has encouraged him to focus exclusively on fiction writing moving forward, aside from occasional contributions of military-related articles to academic journals.

Speaking to reporters at the Pune event, the retired general shared that he had written short stories earlier in life, including one published in a magazine, but returned to creative writing only after retirement. He completed a PhD before dedicating time to the novel. Naravane described the writing process as an “interesting journey” from soldier to storyteller, adding that he is now committed solely to fiction. The comments came in response to questions about his unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, which has faced delays in clearance from the Ministry of Defence and remains unreleased.

The event in Pune, a key military and educational hub in Maharashtra, drew attention to Naravane’s shift to literary pursuits after a distinguished career that included leading the Indian Army during a period of heightened border tensions. His decision to embrace fiction has been viewed positively in literary circles, with the debut novel receiving appreciation for its authentic portrayal of garrison life and procedural details drawn from his extensive service experience.