Cactus Country chronicles the dispute between two separate entities India and Pakistan over the new Bangla state. It does make the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, very real in human terms and highlights the tragedy of sub-continent torn as under more than once in less than three decades. By presenting in a scrupulously historical manner the sequence of events, by recording the human fallout of dull and drab situations and last but not least by giving historical forces a human habitation, Manohar Malgonkar plays to perfection the role of true historian.