1. The objective of military rule (in any of its manifestations) is not to generate a different type of politics but to eliminate it altogether. This is where it becomes necessary to understand what we mean by politics and political systems. Take 1971 as an example. 2.When the ruling junta's plan was brought down like a house of cards in the 1970 elections, they simply didn't know what to do. They had an objective in mind for sure, but didn't know how to go about negotiating it politically. It was not simply that Yahya was dumb or a drunkard

Want to start a thread on women scholars on South Asia with books/major works published in the covid-19 era, 2019 to now! Starting with @nosheenali 'Delusional States', @mariarshd 'Dying to Serve', @ssballakrishnen 'Accidental Feminism', @shaandana 'Crafty Oligarchs'. Please add! Let me add here @LokaneetaJinee 'Truth Machines' and @ssballakrishnen & Sara Dezalay 'Invisible Institutionalisms'

1. Bhutto's infamous promise to 'break the legs' of his party members if they attended the inaugural session of the National Assembly in March 1971 is part of the myth-making on the events of 1971. This statement was apparently a case literally of things being lost in translation 2. Lost in translation, it seems, from English to Urdu. Having 'no leg to stand upon' became 'break the legs of', and this error has since been repeated in most accounts of the events. The statement comes from a speech on February 28, 1971, and I reproduce it here for reference.