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Chequered Past, Uncertain Future The Story Of Pakistan

This vast and important book takes us on a sweeping journey through the ebbs and flows of Pakistan’s history, from the ‘Baluchi village cultures’ preceding the Indus Valley Civilization, to contemporary times. It uncovers influences from Turkey, Persia, Arabia and Britain that shaped Pakistan, as well as showcasing the region’s diverse and rich ancient tapestry of peoples, and its multicultural society. The book also describes the post-1947 shift— following the partition of India, after decades of Muslim nationalism, and the eventual establishment of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan—as the country became more religiously conservative and autocratic, intensifying sectarian and ethnic divisions. The bulk of the book comprises rigorously researched and compellingly narrated chapters on the promise, challenges, successes and failures of the Pakistani state—from the brief period of Jinnah as the supreme leader, and through the tenures of dictators and populists like Ayub Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haq, Benazir Bhutto and Imran Khan, to the dubious coalition that assumed power in 2024. As it narrates the history of Pakistan, this book also examines with extraordinary candour and clarity the challenges for democracy in a ‘nation state embedded in religious ideology’ and controlled, for most of its modern history, by a landed feudal elite and a ‘civil-military oligarchy’. Tahir Kamran’s magisterial book tells the story of Pakistan as few other books have ever done.

A People's Constitution

Born A Muslim

Winner of Tata Literature Live ! Book of the Year Award- Non-fiction 2021 Winner of Atta Galatta- Bangalore Literature Festival – Book of the Year 2021 (Non-fiction) Who are the Indian Muslims? Are they a monolithic community practising a faith alien to India? Or are they a diverse people, geographically rooted in the cultural ethos of the land? Is there an ?Indian Islam?, a religion that grew out of Arabia but was nurtured in India and influenced by local traditions and customs? Has the power of Islam declined over the centuries because the faithful have forgotten the spirit of the religion, and are sticking to dogma and rigid rules instead? Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam in India attempts to answer these questions by taking a hard look at how the world?s second largest religion is practised in the country. The author takes a clear-eyed look at every aspect of Islam in India today. She examines the factors that have stalled the socio-economic and intellectual growth of Indian Muslims and attributes both internal factors?such as a disproportionate reliance on the ulema?as well as external ones that have contributed to the backwardness of the community. She shows at length, and with great empathy and understanding, what it is like to live as a Muslim in India and offers suggestions on how their lot might be improved. Weaving together personal memoir, history, reportage, scholarship, and interviews with a wide variety of people, the author highlights how an apathetic and sometimes hostile government attitude and prejudice at all levels of society have contributed to Muslim vulnerability and insecurity. Born a Muslim goes beyond stereotypes and news headlines to present an extraordinarily compelling and illuminating portrait of one of the largest and most diverse communities in India.

Anger Management

On 7 August 2019, High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria was expelled from Islamabad, the first time an Indian head of mission had been asked to leave by Pakistan. His expulsion marked yet another low in the troubled relationship between the two neighbours who had been born within a day of each other in 1947. The latest diplomatic row followed the dismantling of Article 370 in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, but the hostility had been ratcheting up for a while, with the Pakistani terror attack in Pulwama, followed by the Indian airstrikes on terrorists in Balakot, and the grandstanding Pakistan engaged in over the return of a captured Indian Air Force pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman. This book looks in eye-opening detail at all these incidents that took place while the author was India’s top diplomat in Pakistan, including blunders by Imran Khan, the then Pakistani prime minister, and parleys engaged in by the powerful head of the Pakistani army, General Qamar Bajwa. He also describes his interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and key members of the Indian establishment as they dealt with the multiple crises that took place during that time. After providing readers with a gripping account of the events he was witness to, the author goes deep into the conflict and tension that have characterized the connection between the countries. He looks at this fractious history from a unique perspective, that of Indian diplomats who have served in Pakistan from Independence onwards. These were the people responsible for managing the situation on the ground, even as the actions of prime ministers, presidents, and generals made the news headlines. India’s envoys were expected to deal with all manner of occurrences from routine matters to rather more taxing things such as dealing with dictators, engaging in backchannel talks with their counterparts and other Pakistani officials (accounts of which have only recently been declassified) when ties were strained, dodging spies, and even on occasion having to endure verbal and physical abuse from thugs and the Pakistani intelligence services. Equally, for all the stresses they had to endure, the warmth and friendship they received from ordinary Pakistanis made many of them hope that one day the cantankerousness and bloodshed that blighted Indo-Pak ties would be replaced by normalcy, if not enduring bonds of warmth and amity. The stories about what these diplomats were able to do during their time in Pakistan provide the reader with fresh insights into most of the pivotal moments in the relationship—especially Partition, the 1948 Pakistani offensive that was stopped in its tracks by the prompt action of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the even bigger wars of 1965 (ably handled by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri), 1971 (in which Prime Minister Indira Gandhi won a resounding victory), and 1999 (where the Pakistani intruders were repulsed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s decisive leadership). The book throws fresh light on terrorism in Kashmir, the skirmishes across the Line of Control, the attacks by Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai, and the assault on the Indian parliament. Further, the book covers the few initiatives that sought to resolve the perennial state of strife and suspicion between the neighbours—the Simla Accord of July 1972, Vajpayee’s historic bus journey to Lahore in 1999, the Agra Summit of 2001, and other short-lived attempts to make new beginnings. Besides his in-depth analysis of history and current events, the author offers a reasoned plan of how India and Pakistan might be able to arrive at a lasting peace. Masterfully blending scholarship, telling revelations, memoir, and history, Anger Management is a remarkable study of the diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan.

Zikr In The Light And Shade Of Time

Internationally renowned, Muzaffar Ali has donned many hats in his lifetime. The scion of the princely house of Kotwara, the boy Muzaffar was shaped by the changing post-Partition India. Having studied science at Aligarh University, he started his career in an advertisement agency in Calcutta, worked with the nascent Air India and then ventured on a journey that produced cinematic masterpieces like Umrao Jaan. Along the way, his path collided with many-from Satyajit Ray to Faiz Ahmad Faiz-and he has cultivated many a passion, whether for cars or couture. His autobiography is a peek into this wealth of experience-a close look at Ali, prince, poet, philosopher, film-maker, automobile aficionado and artist. Zikr is also a rich interior portrait of an artist, as Ali takes us behind the scenes of films like Anjuman and Gaman, speaking of the sensibilities that shaped them and the influences on his work. Above all, this is a book that resounds with a deep love for life. Whether you're looking for inspiration, seeking to venture off the beaten track of Bollywood or wishing to bite into a slice of erstwhile Awadhi culture, Zikr has something to offer all.

Coromandel A Personal History Of South India

COROMANDEL. A name which has been long applied by Europeans to the Northern Tamil Country, or (more comprehensively) to the eastern coast of the Peninsula of India. This is the India highly acclaimed historian Charles Allen visits in this fascinating book. Coromandel journeys south, exploring the less well known, often neglected and very different history and identity of the pre-Aryan Dravidian south. During Allen's exploration of the Indian south he meets local historians, gurus and politicians and with their help uncovers some extraordinary stories about the past. His sweeping narrative takes in the archaeology, religion, linguistics and anthropology of the region - and how these have influenced contemporary politics. Known for his vivid storytelling, for decades Allen has travelled the length and breadth of India, revealing the spirit of the sub-continent through its history and people. In Coromandel, he moves through modern-day India, discovering as much about the present as he does about the past.

India Is Broken

Through the first half century after independence, India’s leaders could point to uneven but measurable progress. After the mid-1980s, dire poverty declined for a few decades, inspiring declarations of victory. But today, a vast number of Indians struggle in a state of underemployment and are one crisis away from despair. Public goods—education, health, cities, air and water, and the judiciary—are in woeful condition. Policy makers search for easy solutions that further undermine the provision of public goods and job creation. India Is Broken is a history that explains how India landed in this economic catch-22. Mody contends that successive post-independence leaders,starting with Jawaharlal Nehru, failed to confront India’s true economic problems. India’s economic growth relied increasingly on unregulated finance and environmentally destructive construction. Social norms and public accountability decayed, allowing for the rise of a violent Hindutva. Hard-hitting, strongly argued, data-driven, and drawing on vignettes from cinema, this book will make for relatable and sombre reading.

Shooting For A Century

The India-Pakistan rivalry has been labeled as intractable. In thirty-five years this armed standoff will be a century old and the chances of realizing that dubious anniversary seem quite good. The rivalry is one reason why South Asia remains the least integrated region in the world. Shooting for a Century is the first comprehensive survey of the deep historical, cultural and strategic differences that make it probable this conflict will endure, despite many efforts by the international community to resolve it. Stephen Cohen draws on his rich and varied experiences in South Asia and develops a comprehensive theory of why the dispute is intractable and suggests ways in which it may be ameliorated. In the past fifteen years the stakes have become higher for both countries: each has acquired nuclear weapons and had multiple crises and Pakistan has shown signs of failure. Ironically, India is booming, but the time for normalization may not have come yet and there are groups on both sides that would oppose it. Can the two states resolve the many territorial and identity issues that divide them? Are there possibilities for their cooperation on one level, even if antagonisms remain? Should normalization from the bottom up be encouraged or do they have to agree on resolving strategic conflicts first? Cohen provides an authoritative and instructive examination of these and similarly important topics.

Forks In The Road

'One doesn't plan one's life fully. Some of it is planned, but some of it is purely accidental. Much of my life is a matter of circumstance,' says C. Rangarajan. In this book, the veteran economist and policymaker provides a captivating account of his professional journey, starting with his purely accidental entry into the RBI in 1982. Rangarajan, regarded as one of the tallest figures in the history of India's economic reforms, provides crucial insights into the role he played as part of the team which initiated far-reaching reforms in India's economy in the early 1990s. The path-breaking reforms that he implemented during his tenure as governor of RBI included deregulation of interest rates, strengthening of the banking system by a gradual tightening of prudential norms, creation and nurturing of financial markets, giving them depth and vibrancy, shifting to market-determined exchange rates, making the rupee convertible on the current account and the cessation of automatic monetization of budget deficit. Rangarajan describes the key events between 1982 and 2014, particularly in the areas of money and finance, explaining not only what happened but also the motivations and processes behind them. As a public figure and an architect of economic change in India, he also ruminates about his interactions with both political and economic actors. Forks in the Road is not only a memoir of a man who shaped India's economy and positively impacted the lives of many, but also a fascinating account of India's growth story. It is a description of what we did and what we did not, and where we succeeded and where we failed.

Chhaava

Dead Ends

A devious collection of short stories from the master of misdirection, featuring appearances from Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. Amongst the dead ends … A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, the motive seems obvious – but can the detective who was first on scene puzzle out what's between the lines? Amongst the misdirections … An intelligence analyst has the chance to get out from behind the desk and do some real spy work. But as he enters the field, he begins to realise just how out of his depth he is … Somewhere lies the truth. A brilliant sleuth, obsessed with Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries, turns his attention to a serial killer targeting women in New York's Central Park. But as his deductions bring him closer to his prey he starts to wonder who is doing the hunting …

Witness 8

Ruby Johnson is a nanny and maid to wealthy families in Manhattan's West 74th Street. She knows their routines. Their secrets. One night, on her way home, Ruby witnesses a neighbour's murder. She knows the victim. She knows the killer. She makes an anonymous call to the police and names the murderer. But Ruby didn't tell the truth... Eddie Flynn, conman turned trial lawyer, must defend an innocent man accused of this terrible crime. As Ruby's deadly game begins, one thing is certain. It won't be the last murder this witness is involved in...

The Women

Women can be heroes, too'. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California's idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.

Beyond the Black Door

A beautiful tale of the dark mysteries that lurk in dreams, the heart, and the world. Strickland is a storyteller of both grace and power.” —Richard Kadrey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Sandman Slim series

Tiger, Tiger

How did Tiger Woods become the greatest of all time? And how did he fall so spectacularly? Before the age of twenty-five, Tiger Woods had risen to phenomenon status: twice named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, champion of more than thirty professional tournaments and the youngest player to win all four Grand Slam tournaments. In vivid, dramatic scenes, Tiger, Tiger taps into the transformative moments of Wood's life, both on and off the course. ___________________________ PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON 'The master storyteller of our times' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON 'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades' LEE CHILD 'Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind' MICHAEL CONNELLY 'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' IAN RANKIN 'Nobody does it better' JEFFREY DEAVER

The Mystery of the Magic Mirror

What happens when you have three kids, a pup, and a ghost together in a huge jungle? Opal and Shailendra, a brother-sister duo, have just moved into a large house on the city outskirts. Much to their amusement, they discover a ghost in their house! Soon, their cousin Krish, with a cute puppy Chutney in tow, comes to visit them during the holidays. The kids embark on an adventure to find out about the ghost and end up befriending him. The friendly ghost Xoxo gets on a mission to find the wicked ghost who possess the evil magic mirror in the jungle and destroy it. The kids help Xoxo, and they venture into the mysterious jungle with duplicated images. How will Xoxo help the kids find the mirror? Will they be able to destroy it and save humanity? Join them in the quest and embark on a journey of a lifetime one replete with vivid imagination and excitement!

Make Money and Build Wealth

Unlock the secrets of wealth and success with this powerful compilation of timeless wisdom from four of the world’s most influential thinkers. Napoleon Hill, Wallace D Wattles, PT Barnum and Franklyn Hobbs' proven strategies for prosperity and personal growth. From developing a wealth-oriented mindset to overcoming obstacles, this book distils centuries of knowledge into one accessible volume. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a career professional, or simply seeking to improve your financial well-being or to discover how to harness the power of positive thinking, apply practical money management principles, and balance ambition with ethics, you’ll find invaluable guidance within these pages. This carefully curated collection offers essential tools with which you can start your journey towards financial freedom and personal fulfilment. Through these carefully selected chapters and speeches, readers will gain insights into the philosophies that have shaped the financial landscape for generations. Learn how to cultivate persistence, leverage the power of your thoughts and implement time-tested strategies for wealth creation. This book not only teaches you how to make money, but also how to think about money in a way that attracts success and abundance into all areas of your life.

The Siachen Soilder And Short Stories

In today's troubles lie the seeds of tomorrow's stories. Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, drawing from his extensive service in the Indian Air Force, reflects on how the trials, triumphs, and moments of joy that once consumed him have now become the raw material for his narratives. His stories vividly portray life in the armed forces - from the thrill of combat to the rigours of training, the turmoil of warfare, the solitude of distant outposts, and the joy of leisure. Meanwhile, Dr Suneet Madan skillfully weaves her poetic magic around the central theme of each narrative, creating a unique and thoughtful read. These narratives, told with lightness and brevity, provide an intimate glimpse into the fauji life and will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page. They serve as motivation or inspiration in those moments when you think all isn't well with life.

Operation Bamboo Garden

The world order, as we knew it, is fast changing. Emerging powers are clamouring to claim and cement their positions in the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape. The battle arena has long shifted to nondescript rooms filled with harmless seeming computer equipment. But don’t let appearances fool you. The innocuous looking cyber-soldiers glued to these screens are capable of altering the course of history by a few simple clicks. The suicide of a successful and politically connected C.E.O in Mumbai, India, sets off a series of disparate but alarming events. Are these events linked? Could they be a precursor to something even more vile and sinister? Will Ronit, an A.I. expert who, driven by a sudden patriotic surge, has left a high-paying corporate job to serve his nation, be able to piece together the full puzzle in time? Who is Noor Sabah, the mysterious Malaysian secret agent? Why are most covert command centres of South Asia terrified of the name, Zhiming? And yet, why does no one know what she looks like? Operation Bamboo Garden is a pacy geopolitical thriller that will open your minds to veiled possibilities that could be shaping the inexplicable global events you read about.

The Last Witness

A reputed ISRO scientist, Dr Rangarajan is brutally attacked by an unidentified man shortly before he departs for Germany where he is leading the Indian delegation for an important space research collaboration. Events now take an unexpected turn that leaves the nation baffled and bewildered. Was the scientist secretly trading ISRO technology to foreign buyers? With elections around the corner, this question now rocks the nation and even threatens to bring down the current government. Jasmine, a German of Indian origin, assigned by the Indian Embassy to guide Dr Rangarajan in Germany feels personally responsible for what happens and soon joins Sithara who resides in the ISRO staff housing complex on a dangerous mission to restore the honour and integrity of the celebrity scientist. Along with Niniya, Jasmine’s daughter and a child with special needs, the trio comes together in this thrilling adventure as they set off to unravel the truth. Can they outwit the seasoned criminals controlled by a powerful lobby who are always in hot pursuit? Can they convince the IB and the CBI that they are innocent? Can they clear the scientist’s name?

Polarised Times: Living in India Today

Throughout India's long and chequered history, Hindus, Muslims, and other communities have consistently adapted while preserving their shared identity. India has long stood as a sanctuary for its diverse minorities, allowing them to nurture their faith and culture. However, contemporary India faces a profound distrust between its major communities. Centuries of mutual suspicion have given rise to new terms like 'persecution complex,' 'self-denial,' and 'victimhood.' Even more disconcerting are phrases such as 'holocaust,' 'massacre,' 'pogrom,' and 'genocide.' The need for dialogue is undeniable, but the ground reality tells a different story. This book also casts a spotlight on the role of left-liberals in perpetuating this divide. Polarised Times is an essential exploration of the pressing issues that demand our attention, urging us to rekindle the bonds of unity and diversity, for India's future stands at a crossroads.

Love Has No Age

This refreshing collection of unusual stories reflects the kaleidoscope of experience that seniorhood entails—there’s the single mother overtaken by sudden guilt at the thought of never having told her teenage daughter about her missing father; a 50-something woman who advises her young niece to go ahead and be with her married lover just like she, herself had done all those years ago. Read about the friends who find love again and broach the topic of friends becoming lovers to their respective children, or the mother who slips away to mourn the emptiness of her life, never to return...Each story is a testament to the courage, resilience, and the vibrancy of life that seniors strive to grasp with its myriad twists and turns.

Amitabh Bachchan As The Other

Amitabh Bachchan As The Other' by Shoma A Chatterji is not a biographical study of the actor. Beyond the persistent ‘angry young man’ label, Chatterji contends that Bachchan's cinematic prowess defies stereotypes, aligning him more closely with the intriguing concept of ‘The Other.’ This ‘Other’ challenges norms, demands our attention, holds us responsible for our actions, and prompts a reconsideration of our understanding of the world. To substantiate this thesis, Chatterji meticulously examines fifteen of Bachchan’s classic performances spanning two decades, from Anand to Agneepath. The other films in this study include Parwana, Zanjeer, Saudagar, Namak Haram, Abhimaan, Deewaar, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Shakti, Coolie, and Main Azaad Hoon. In the chapter titled ‘Othering the Other,’ we witness a mellow Bachchan embracing roles he never thought possible in his youth.

Finding Peace And Purpose

Many believe one must renounce worldly life to pursue spirituality, but Swami Kritarthananda teaches us otherwise. He argues that anyone—whether a busy professional, student, or married couple—can lead a spiritual life by following the path of righteousness. With profound insights from Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, the author provides practical tools for integrating Vedanta into everyday life, offering readers a roadmap to peace, purpose, and a deeper connection with the divine. This is a guide for those ready to deepen their spiritual practice while embracing their responsibilities in the world.