India, Nov. 12 -- It was an emotional Tuesday evening at the 220-year-old Asiatic Library's Durbar Hall. A discussion on Penguin Random House's book, 'The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II-Surrender, Loyalty, Betrayal and Hell', released in September, left many in tears.

Banker-turned-author Gautam Hazarika's debut novel delves into the lives and sacrifices of the thousands of Indian soldiers who became war prisoners of the Japanese during the fall of Singapore in February 1942, and eventually went on to become the Indian National Army (INA) that joined Japan to fight the British with the aim of freeing India from colonial rule. "My book is about their sacrifices, their life and bravery and the hardships they faced on the battle...