Book Review [53] : No Easy Day

'No Easy Day' is a much sought out book these days as the writer (former US Navy Seal Member) claims that he participated in the operation that killed enemy number of US on 1/2 May 2011 in Abottabad, Pakistan. This book is the story of US SEAL and in a way its an autobiography of Mark Owen (the former SEAL), written in a bit amateurish style and sometimes even usage of English is pretty ordinary. The first half is a boring read while the second half is a fast track action movie script. It also gives in detail about the various aspects of the operation, specially about the plan/elevation of the 1 acre compound in Abbotabad and various stages of the operation in detail upto minute level. It looks and sounds really strange that the entire operation took less than 4 hours from Jalalabad to Jalalabad, and it took less than an hour to finish the combat operation in Abbotabad. To an Indian this book may not appeal much but to an American this book can soothe many wounds. So depending on allegiance and nationality this book may appeal or repel your attention. To me it was an OK kind of read.

Time-pass Read (5/10)   

Book Review [52] : Civilization The West and the Rest

Civilization is easy to experience but difficult to define in words. Its a complex system of political, cultural, religious and scientific institutions that govern or define a large community of people. The ancient civilization of Indus Valley, Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, Phoenician, Roman, Persian, Indian, Chinese are few examples. Since they represent and define living beings, so like living beings they also follow natural process of growth and decay. Every Civilization evolves, goes through a glorious age, decays and sometimes rises again as can be seen in the rise of Western Civilization from the ashes of Roman civilization. Sometimes a new civilization replaces a much older civilization like American or African.  Niall Ferguson's book deals with the eternal question, Why western civilization which was geographically, demographically, culturally and militarily much inferior to Ottoman, Mughal and Ming Empires till 16th century, was able to outpace these great and mighty empires within 2 centuries and by 19th century was able to dominate the entire known world? Many great writers have tried to find the reasons and Nial tries to do the same. According to him there were 6 killer apps/agents that helped the West to gain dominance on the Eastern world. These were (not in any order):

Competition

Scientific Revolution

The rule of law and polity

Modern Medicine

Consumer Society

Religion and Work ethic

He is very lucid in his approach but at many a times, he appears to me an agent of Neo-Imperialism and my allegation is based on his one sided appraisal of Western Imperialism/colonialism over Asia and Africa. He assumes most of the time that West was doing its civilizing duty (aka White man's burden) and never appreciates the indigenous knowledge, culture and economy of the colonies. Not a great book by any standard but can be read to understand the mental faculty of Niall Ferguson and his gang. 

Recommended (6/10)

Book Review [51] : Before Memory Fades

Fali Sam Nariman has been one of the most prominent legal luminaries and has played a significant role in the outcome of various court cases and like his senior Nani Palkiwala, he has been a great agent of world wide human rights movement. He was born in Burma in a Parsi family and had to return to India in the wake of invasion of Burma by imperial Japan in 1942. He belongs to a great community of Parsi people who are in number below any contempt but in contribution to India's social, economic, legal development, they are beyond any contempt. Nariman, Palkiwala and Soli Sorabjee were the three great lawyers who permeated the cosmos of Indian judiciary after 1947. Nani Palkiwala was responsible for the 'Basic Structure' doctrine that was decreed by 13 member bench of Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) and Nariman also played his bit in it. Fali S Nariman became the Additional Solicitor General of India in 1972 but he resigned on the very first day when the Emergency was proclaimed by the Indira Gandhi led Congress government. He was as firm as the pole star in that dark night of Indian democracy if you allow me to quote Shakespeare. 

As humans however great they may be after all they remain human so Nariman is also no exception and he committed the unforgiving sin of defending Union Carbide Corporation in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (3rd Dec 1984) case. The defender of Human Rights was outdone by the sparkling light of the crony capitalist world. Later he became the nominated member of Rajya Sabha (1999-2005). He abhors intolerant and extremist elements in Indian society and compares those elements to the Dinosaurs, well quite a tautology. 

In nutshell 'Before Memory Fades' is an eloquently written book by Nariman, full of very interesting anecdotes, provides a rich survey of Indian judges, lawyers and covers various court cases. It is a must read for all the aspiring lawyers  as well as students of post 1947 India.  
Highly recommended (8/10).

Book Review [50] : Worshipping False Gods

'Worshipping False Gods' is an Arun Shorie magnum opus and like all the Magnum Opuses, it is a must read. This book mainly focuses on the three crucial times of 20th century India: Gandhiji's fast of 1932 and Poona Pact, Gandhiji's fast of 1943 and the making of the Indian constitution 1946-49. By sheer facts Arun Shorie punctures very wide spread and almost universal myths about a great man. No one can deny that he really championed the cause of Dalits similarly the contribution of Gandhiji in this great process of the upliftment of Dalits can not be belittled. Although we have not been able to eradicate the original sin of caste system but we have indeed made a great progress. This process should not take the role of a divisive force else it will defeat its sacred purpose and we all should be open minded to rationally analyze any personality without any exception whether Gandhi or Dr. Ambedkar but a community who is in the process of coming out from centuries old "slavery" tends to be defensive in its approach and it tries hard to defend its first reformers by minimizing his or her drawbacks and magnifying his or her qualities. The reaction to this book from certain section of people proves the point. Its very natural and people from other communities should show some patience. 

I admire Arun Shorie's well researched book but i question the need for this book in current time. Its a must read only for people who are well read and open minded else it will look like an upper caste manuwadi polemic against Dr. Ambedkar. Dr. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel are the three leaders that i admire the most but its really unfortunate for the country that all these three great leaders died within a decade after Independence and the later leaders perpetuated the dynastic politics.

Highly recommended (9/10)

P.S. As we all have entered into a new year, please accept my heartiest greetings.

End of 2012

2012 has been a tumultuous year for me and sometimes i felt that my end is near and i have corroded myself to the core. The failure to make into the final list of successful Civil Services aspirants has been a crushing shock to me and i am still recuperating from it. I always wanted to be a Civil Service Officer but often struggled to manage the finances of the family. Professional life is in utter chaos although i am surviving with the help of my superiors and peers but still it is too far from the normal. Reading books has been a solace to me and its the only refuge for me after my little family. Looking holistically at 2012, i can only say that it taught me a lot especially about human relationship and mental forces and based on my experience i have come to the conclusion that "Although intelligence and hardwork matter a lot but in the end the mental peace is the deciding factor in man's quest for its destiny". My son is now 14 months old and his lovely face gives me heaven like experience and enough nitroboost. I wish 2013 will be a better year for me, my family and the world. Amen.