Published by Kolkata Press Books, Brezhnev’s Gamble is written by a 14-year-old student, Rishan Sen Gupta, at GEMS Modern Academy in Dubai, who is passionate about history.

Brezhnev’s Gamble examines the Soviet Union’s disastrous 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, which was motivated by ideology, paranoia, and geopolitical pressure, against the backdrop of the Cold War. The strict Brezhnev Doctrine held that once a country adopted socialism, it could never be permitted to abandon it. Moscow intervened when internal strife and leadership disputes caused chaos in Afghanistan, anticipating a prompt and well-managed operation.

The story follows pivotal moments like the brutal military campaigns of Panjshir VII, the dramatic assassination of Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin in Operation Storm-333, and the emergence of fierce resistance spearheaded by Mujahideen fighters. What started as a “limited intervention” quickly turned into a protracted and catastrophic conflict that exposed the Soviet military to the harsh realities of foreign-backed insurgency, challenging terrain, and guerrilla warfare. Afghanistan turned into a “notorious trap” as the war dragged on, depleting Soviet resources, morale, and international prestige. In addition to accelerating the USSR’s internal deterioration, the war also played a role in the system’s eventual collapse.

The book portrays the invasion as a pivotal moment that altered the balance of power in the world through political miscalculations, human casualties, and strategic blunders. In the end, Brezhnev’s Gamble is a compelling tale of ambition, poor decision-making, and the high cost of empire that had a profound impact on both Afghanistan and the Soviet Union.

According to Rishan Sen Gupta, he wants to pursue his higher studies in Global Politics and Economics.

“Brezhnev’s Gamble is compelling, pressing, and hard to ignore. It reveals how fear, ideology, and conceit drove a superpower into a catastrophic conflict. This is a must-read that will stick with you for a long time if you want to comprehend how power and miscalculation cause history to repeat itself. Spread the word”, said Sumana Chatterjee, Chairperson and Mentor of Team UAE for the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships.

He has competed in public speaking events since he was very young, such as the Model United Nations (MUN) Conferences and the World Scholars Cup (WSC). As a member of the UAE WIDPSC National Squad (2026–2027), Rishan hopes to use his teenage years to effect positive change.

Priyanka Dutta