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I’ve read two fascinating books by Pakistanis written in the 1960s.
1. Khalid B. Sayeed’s 2nd ed. of ‘Pakistan: The Formative Phase, 1857-1948’
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in how Pakistan came about, esp re the fluctuating relationships between the
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1. Khalid B. Sayeed’s 2nd ed. of ‘Pakistan: The Formative Phase, 1857-1948’
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in how Pakistan came about, esp re the fluctuating relationships between the
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British, Congress and the Muslim League, as well as much detail about their negotiations about the constitution of an independent India.
The role of Jinnah and the wider League in bringing about Pakistan is widely noted, but Sayeed also accounts for criticisms of both
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The role of Jinnah and the wider League in bringing about Pakistan is widely noted, but Sayeed also accounts for criticisms of both
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and the continuation of the British Viceregal system after the creation of Pakistan.
His book is also relatively nuanced in terms of levelling criticism against all parties, regardless of religion, in creating Hindu-Muslim animosity.
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His book is also relatively nuanced in terms of levelling criticism against all parties, regardless of religion, in creating Hindu-Muslim animosity.
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2. Arif Hussain’s ‘Pakistan: Its Ideology and Foreign Policy’
As the name suggests, this is an interesting read for anyone interested in Pakistan’s foreign policy up to 1966.
Hussain discusses three kinds of ideology in this context:
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As the name suggests, this is an interesting read for anyone interested in Pakistan’s foreign policy up to 1966.
Hussain discusses three kinds of ideology in this context:
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-The Two-Nation Theory
-Pan-Islamism
-Pak-Islamism
While suggesting that Pakistan was unsure of its ideology during this time, Hussain affirms that Islam did play an important role in relation to policies towards particular countries, suggesting that Pakistan
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-Pan-Islamism
-Pak-Islamism
While suggesting that Pakistan was unsure of its ideology during this time, Hussain affirms that Islam did play an important role in relation to policies towards particular countries, suggesting that Pakistan
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presented Islam as an alternative to Western and communist ideologies prevalent during Cold War.
Some interesting food for thought from this book:
- ‘Since religion is not fashionable, Islam is now an ideology.’
- Muslim unity (pan-Islamism) is compared to European unity
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Some interesting food for thought from this book:
- ‘Since religion is not fashionable, Islam is now an ideology.’
- Muslim unity (pan-Islamism) is compared to European unity
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But it must be noted that Hussain called into question the ability to unite the nation under Islam, suggesting that 20th century ‘nationalism cannot be consolidated without an impressive framework of fundamental reforms and only if these reforms spring from a theory which
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creates a new basic structure for the political society is it possible to implement ambitious international policy.’
You may not agree with everything/their worldviews, but they were interesting reads. Would be interested to hear thoughts by those who’ve read them.
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You may not agree with everything/their worldviews, but they were interesting reads. Would be interested to hear thoughts by those who’ve read them.
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