Pakistan: Origins, Identity and Future Paperback – Import, 24 March 2023

Review – Pakistan, Origins, Identity and Future. Pervez HoodbhoyIn the present self-delusional times that both India and Pakistan are passing through, floundering to reshape and redefine not only their identities but parentage, too, Hoodbhoy’s book is a redeeming narrative. Starting with the early settlers of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, the author traces the entire trail of later invaders and settlers, resulting in a rich, syncretic civilization. Hoodbhoy blends in this book a study of objective history gleaned from heaps of chaff, a keen analytical perspective of the key players who shaped the destiny of the sub-continent and an inimitable, effortless style of telling! In his unique style, Hoodbhoy gives us an account of evolving history which is not a documentation of history alone. It is an unbiased analysis of interactive socio-political dynamics as they played upon the Indian Subcontinent at different stages, unearthing and deducing facts distorted beyond recognition or simply blacked out. Even if the book were not the work of outstanding writing that it is, I would recommend it highly for its utter honesty and brutal confrontations with truth for whatever risks it may involve!

Not just for Pakistan, this is also, in a way, about India. What mistakes are now being made in India, are exactly the ones Pakistan has been suffering from.It's extremely difficult to question your nation's founding principles, but the writer has trascended those barriers to come up with an objective & scientific analysis. A must read document

Though the author's views are all evidence based, he has been a bit sympathetic to Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It would have been more appropriate to talk about the plight of the East Pakistanis under the military rule and accept the fact that the two nation theory is a historical garbage. However the author has tried to give a rationally balanced view and kudos to him for an excellent effort, particularly in a field which is not his area of expertise.

This is an outstanding book, written after painstaking research and deep thinking and analysis. Prof Hoodbhoy is to the history of India-Pakistan what Harari is to Home Sapiens.