Book Review [161] : After The Prophet

After The Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia - Sunni Split in Islam by Lesley Hazleton is another well researched book on the history of Islam. After the death of Muhammad in Media in June 632 AD, a Shura was held and after much debate and heated argument Abu Bakr of Quraysh tribe was declared as Caliph i.e. deputy of Muhammad. Ali did not attend the Shura as he was present with the body of Muhammad inside the chamber of Aisha. This created the the basis of future schism in Islam. Abu Bakr was followed by Umar as Caliph and Umar was followed by Uthman. Uthman was assassinated by disgruntled rebels who thought Uthman was giving more power to the Ummayyad clan. Ummayyad clan had been the arch rival of Muhammad since the days of revelation. The rebels declared Ali the next Caliph but he was challenged by Aisha in the battle of Camels. Ali emerged victorious but he was further challenged by the son of Abu Sufyan and another Ummayyad leader Muawiya. Muawiya was the Governor of Syria. The battle results in the victory of Ali but he could not decisively defeat his enemy. By diplomacy and shrewdness Muawiya managed to declare himself as Caliph, and Ali was assassinated in a Mosque in Kufa. His eldest son Hasan was poisoned in Medina. 

Ali's youngest son Hussain decides to press his claim to the Caliphate. He was buoyed by the letters of support that he received from Iraq. He starts with his family and 72 armed companions from Mecca in sept 680 AD. The support from Iraq never came and he, his family and his 72 companions were cut down by the army of Yazid and Ubaydallah in Karbala over a period of 10 days. Even his three months old infant son was killed. It was a huge tragedy and it permanently sealed the schism of Islam into Shiat Ali and Sunnis. Its a nicely written book and the tragedy of Karbala brought me in tears. Its a huge calamity and a great sacrifice.

Must read book. Highly Recommended (10/10)

Book Review [160] : The First Muslim

The First Muslim : The Story of Muhammad by Lesley Hazleton is a masterly written book on the life of Prophet Muhammad. 

It describes in great detail about the society of pre-Islamic Mecca and also dwells on the circumstances and tragedies that made an Orphan boy one of the most influential human being ever lived. 

Muhammad was the only son of Abdulla of Hashim clan of Quraysh tribe. This tribe controlled the resources of Mecca as well as holy Kaaba. Muhammad's father died much before his birth. He was raised by a Beduin wet nurse and was returned to his mother Amina when he was 5. Amina would die a year later.

Muhammad started working for his uncle abu Talib as his caravan agent. He built his reputation as an expert and honest agent. He asked the hand of abu Talib's daughter in marriage but he refused. Muhammad then marries a rich widow Khadija. She was 15 years senior. 

Quran was revealed to him starting 610 AD. He started preaching those revelations but was expelled from Mecca in 622. He found refuge in Medina (then called Yathrib). From here he changed the history of the world within next 10 years. 

There were three Jewish tribes in Medina that time. After the battle of Badr (624 AD) he expelled Qainuqa tribe from Medina. After battle of Uhud (625 AD) he expelled Nadir tribe from Medina and after the battle of Trench (627 AD) all men (600 to 900) of Qurayz Jewish tribe were beheaded in a trench. This created a terrible precedent but those were times of tribal warfare even then it was unprecedented.  

 

By 630 AD he opened up Mecca and the Quraysh leadership of Mecca accepted Islam without major bloodshed. Muhammad continued with all the ancient customs including circling of Kaaba, shaving of head, washing, sacrifices, wearing Ihram etc. The tribal totems were smashed and Kaaba was rededicated to one God. After that he returns to Medina and there he dies in June 632 AD without categorically declaring his successor.

Must read book. Highly Recommended (10/10)

Book Review [159] : Let Me Say It Now

'Let Me Say It Now' is an autobiography of highly respected and decorated Indian Police Service Officer (now retired) Mr. Rakesh Maria Sir. During my training in SVPNPA in 2016 i saw him at lunch but was not lucky enough to interact with him. But i knew at that point of time that Kay Kay Menon did his role in the movie Black Friday made on Bombay attacks of 1993. He was cult hero.

Three main incidents or rather tragedies defined Maria's highly decorated Police career - Bombay blast and brilliant detection of conspiracy behind it, 26/11 Attacks and Sheena Bora case. Bombay blasts detection made him a great hero, 26/11 attacks and various associated insinuations reduced some sheen and the Sheena Bora case controversy applied sudden brake to his career as he himself suggests in this book.

The events surrounding 26/11 attacks forms major part of this book. The heroic sacrifice of Mumbai Police is well known and well documented. Maria  himself got overwhelmed once when he asks Ajmal Kasab to say Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Kasab says it. His attention to the minute details of planning and team management is something even very great leaders can envy. He was unfairly attacked by fellow Police Officers for his actions during 26/11 attack. He was made incharge of Control Room by CP Mumbai and he was responsible for mobilization of force on ground and co-ordination among various teams. He regrets even now that he was not on ground during those attacks. He regrets for not dying in those attacks.

He became Commissioner of Police Mumbai in 2014. During his last few weeks as CP Mumbai he was unfairly attacked by media for allegedly botching up Sheena Bora murder case. He was unceremoniously shunted from the post of CP Mumbai to DG Homeguards in Sept 2015. He retired in Jan 2017. 

He himself writes that Transfers and Postings are prerogatives of the State. There are no ill feelings. 

Overall its a very nicely written book covering various aspects of legendary Police Officer Rakesh Maria.

Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [158] : Rama and Ayodhya

From my childhood i have heard and read a lot of stories about Bhagwan Ram and Krishna. Its indeed a painful experience to see one's holiest shrines topped by religious structures of another faith. Mahmud Ghazni destroyed many such great temples including Shri Krishna Temple at Mathura and Somnath Temple in Saurashtra. Since then and till the decline of Mughal empire it never stopped. Many many temples were destroyed and over those temples many Mosques were erected; Kashi, Mathura are two such prominent examples. Destruction of Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath temples are very well documented. 

Shri Ramjanmbhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute is one of the oldest running disputes over a religious place anywhere in the world. Its well known that Ayodhya is the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram but no body knows the exact location where Ramji was born. Babri Masjid was located at a place which was very sacred to Hindus and there were hardly any Muslim habitation there. Who would built such a Mosque there at a mound which is surrounded by sacred Hindu shrines. Meenakshi Jain's Rama Ayodhya answers many such questions.

The worship of Rama is not a recent phenomenon as the leftist intellectual tell us. More than 2000 years old Bhagwan Ram artifacts have been found. There are huge number of literary evidence about Bhagwan Ram. The excavation done by ASI at disputed structure revealed many artifacts and structures which can only be found in Hindu shrines/temples. The Ayodhya site had been in occupation for more than 2000 years and the last prominent temple was built by Gahadavala King. Why would Babur built a Mosque at a place which was not politically important! Delhi and Agra were more important. Ayodhya was religiously more important. Perhaps thats the answer.

A civilization that does not acknowledge the crimes committed by its vanquishers and instead  celebrates their acts is destined to enjoy infinite intellectual slavery, inferiority complex and defeatism. 

Highly Recommended book for those who want to wake up (10/10)