Book Review [91] : India - China Relationship

'India - China Relationship Rivalry and Engagement' is a very thought provoking and well researched book on the India - China relations. It does a historical survey of their relations, covers various dimensions including political, military, economics, energy etc as well their relations with respect to USSR/Russia, US and Pakistan. Its a good read for a student of the geopolitics of South Asia and gives a great insight into the coming challenges and opportunities in South and East Asia. The Sino-India partnership can make South Asia the next West of the world in terms of economic prosperity and high HDI but their rivalry can make it a poor cousin of middle east. The choice is on the leadership and the people of these two countries. The future generations have lot of expectations from these two countries.

Although this book was published in 2004 yet this book contains some very good gems from the volatile history of India and China.

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [90] : India what can it teach us

Freidrich Max Muller (1823 - 1900) is generally considered one of the greatest minds of 20th century who have studied India with open minds and open hearts. He was born in Germany and learned Sanskrit in Germany and later joined Oxford university as Professor of Comparative Philology. He produced and edited some great works on India including "The Rig Veda", "The Sacred Books of the East", "India What can it teach us" etc. 

'India what can it teach us' was published in 1883, it contains 7 lectures given to Indian Civil Service aspirants of Cambridge University. He advocates the case of India with great passion and zeal and tries his best to destroy the ugly stereotypes about India and Indians created by the likes of Macaulay and James Mill. He was a firm believer in the Aryan Invasion Theory and considered the Britons, Teutons, Slavs, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Indians etc members of great Aryan family. He teaches his audience the great contribution made by Indians to the human civilization, talks about the impact of climate on the unique civilization of India, objectively discusses the Vedic Gods etc. In nut shell he encourages aspiring officers to go India with open mind and to go without any stereotypes and the feeling of superiority though he never visited in his lifetime.

Its a great book even now though outdated in its 'Aryan Invasion Theory' concept.

Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [89] : Songs Of Blood And Sword

'Songs of Blood and Sword' is the first book i have read on the first political family of Pakistan. Many Indians are unaware of the history of Pakistan and the case is similar with regard to Bhutto family. Written by grand daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Fatima Bhutto, this book brings about murky details of Pakistani politics and the bloody history of Bhutto family. 

Bhutto family came in prominence in modern India with the rise of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, he was extremely rich landlord from Larkana, Sindh. Later he became the Diwan of princely state of Junagadh; he tried hard to merge Junagadh with Pakistan but his attempt was foiled by the brilliance of Sardar Patel and others. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born in Sindh in 1928, lived in Bombay and Junagadh during his childhood and studied in University of California, Berkeley and Oxford, UK. He joined Ayub Khan government but resigned after Tashkent agreement; formed Pakistan Peoples Party in 1967; played a very sinister role in the bloody civil war of Pakistan that resulted in the parting of East Pakistan as Bangladesh. Later he became the Prime Minister, brought some socialist elements in governance, architect-ed the "Independent" foreign policy of Pakistan, brought Pakistan closer to China without diluting her relations with USA. In his later period he romanced with Islamic fundamentalists, declared Ahmediya Muslims as non-Muslims and began the Islamicization of the country. In the OIC summit of 1974, he declared thunderously that "Pakistan would fight for the cause of Islam". He was deposed and executed by more "fundamentalist" General Zia-ul-Haq after serving two years in Jail. General Zia-ul-Haq completed the Islamicization of Pakistan before his death in Air crash in 1988. During this time the sons of Zulfikar Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto fought against the brutal regime of Zia. Their sister Benazir Bhutto made a deal with military after the death of Zia and became the Prime Minister against the sane advice of Mir Murtaza Bhutto in 1988.

It is believed if not widely that General Zia organized the assassination of Shahnawaz Bhutto in Nice, France in 1985 but Benazir did not order any investigation into this after becoming Prime Minister. She was also against the coming of Murtaza Bhutto from his exile in Damascus but Murtaza returned in 1993 only to be imprisoned by Bhutto's government as soon as he landed in Pakistan. In this sibling rivalry over the legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto was brutally murdered along with his 7 body guards outside his home in Karachi in Sept 1996 leaving Benazir the supreme and sole leader of Pakistan Peoples Party. Fatima Bhutto writes very emotionally that Asif Ali Zardari organized the assassination of her father, and her aunt (i.e. Benazir) was hand in glove with Asif Ali Zardari. Zardari was imprisoned for few years in jail on charges of murder, he was acquitted in 2008. The circle completes itself at the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi in Dec 2007. 

This book is written with lot of emotions and zeal and at many a places you have to close your mind and follow the writer. Fatima Bhutto definitely deserves accolades for this heart touching and tear inducing book.

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [88] : Abhyudaya

Ramayana has inspired and has been inspiring countless writers since time immemorial to write their take on this immortal epic of mankind and Narendra Kohli's Abhyudaya is no exception. Narendra Kohli has been a huge discovery for me and i thank my friend Sachin Bhadane for that. His take on Mahasamar inspired me to start reading Abhyudaya. It is a two volume work, about 1200 pages strong, on Ramayana with more practical take in context of modern values and issues. Its a great book and tough to review it in words, it can only be read. I totally believe that Narendra Kohli is modern age equivalent of Acharya Chatursen Shastri, if Chatursen Shastri had written books like Somnath, Vayam Rakshamaha, Vaishali ki Nagarvadhu etc then Narendra Kohli has Mahasamar, Abhyudaya etc at his disposal. His writing style is really heart touching and the use of historic incidents and characters in modern context is unparalleled. Must read book for all and if for nothing then please read it for the sake of our own Hindi.

Highly Recommended (10/10)

Book Review [87] : Liberation and Beyond

It is said that 'The Revolution always devours its first children', it was true in the case of French Revolution and it was equally true in the Liberation of Bangladesh and its aftermath. France lost all its heroes of Revolution in the bloody years of guillotine and Robespierre, and so was Bangladesh in the bloody months of post monsoon season of 1975.

'Liberation and Beyond' is a brilliantly written book by J. N. Dixit (1936-2005), an eminent Indian diplomat who had first hand information on Bangladesh affairs during those critical years of 1970s. J. N. Dixit was posted in Dacca as Deputy High Commissioner of India and before that posting he played a key role in liberation movement as well. Later he became Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser of India.

This book provides details about the circumstances that led to the liberation war of Bangladesh, the role played by India in the movement, the help given by Soviet Union to India, the hurdles and pressure exerted by USA and China and the genocide perpetrated by likes of General Yahya Khan, General Niazi Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Bangladesh paid a very heavy price for its independence, millions of people died because of the atrocities of Pakistani army and Al Badars, millions of women were raped, intellectuals were systematically wiped out amidst the deep silence of UN and the proponents of Human Rights and Democracy. At one time USA sent its 7th fleet led by Aircraft Carried Enterprise on 13th Dec (3 days before the end of the war) to Bay of Bengal but USSR came to India's rescue and the threat was warded off. Bangladesh won its independence on 16th Dec 1971 and it appeared that day that it would only have glorious future and certainly it was until March 1974, the mishandling of the economy and politics by Mujibur Rahman led to deep discontent and the rise of Pro-Pakistani elements that eventually led to the extermination of the entire leadership of Awami League in later half of 1975 precipitating the degeneration of Bangladesh. Things have been improving since 1990s but the ride has been zig-zag so far.

Its a must read book for any Indian and the student of diplomacy can not afford to ignore it.

Highly Recommended (9/10)