Book Review Thread

[ashdoc]

Ashdoc's book review---Eminent historians

I read this book written by Arun Shourie long ago and was so impressed that I read it a total of 3 times . However at present the book is not in my possession and I am writing this review on basis of memory .

Review---

Long ago when the reviewer of India today magazine reviewed this book he said that the real gems of the book lie in the accusations of corruption that Arun Shourie has made on the so called ' eminent historians ' ---tales of how they pilfered funds from the revenues made available to them from the government . The reviewer then proceeded to dismiss the rest of the book as just another islamophobic tirade produced by the encouragement of Arun's mentor Sita Ram Goel , a well known islamophobe .

How wrong he could be !!

Its the so called ' islamophobic tirade ' that helped up the book notch up considerable sales .
The stories of corruption did not---however true they may be.....for the corruption consisted of small amounts like 12,000 rupees etc---too tiny for the public to take notice in this era of multi thousand crore corruption scandals .

.....For the ' islamophobic tirade ' is no tirade at all ; its a well researched account of how history is written to suit the dictates of politicians eager to satisfy their fave vote bank---the muslims , who else.....

Shourie was in direct contact with many school teachers who wrote textbooks of history for schools , and he shows how any sentence or paragraph written about the fanatical fury of islamic invaders while destroying temples or killing people is directly deleted by orders of political masters .

It becomes clear that Shourie's main targets are the historians of the marxist/communist variety and history writing in communist ruled West Bengal is a favourite theme in the book . He shows how Russian communist writers heap glory upon hinduism and ancient India's achievements as they are not under pressure from any vote bank to attack hinduism . But the communist historians of India humiliate hinduism by a thousand ways to satisfy the vote bank of their political masters .

Of course , Shourie carries it too far in certain instances . To counter a liberal muslim who says that prophet Muhammad would have doubtlessly included hindus as ' people of the book ' just like he has included Christians and Jews and would have asked muslims to not attack them if he had known about their existence , Shourie says '' But the divine all knowing Allah must have doubtlessly known about the existence of hindus for nothing escapes his eye . So why did he not ask Muhammad to tolerate hindus in his revelations to Muhammad ?? '' . What logic !!

Verdict---Explosive stuff .

 

[parijataka]

Re: Ashdoc's book review---Eminent historians

I read this book written by Arun Shourie long ago and was so impressed that I read it a total of 3 times . However at present the book is not in my possession and I am writing this review on basis of memory .

Review---

Long ago when the reviewer of India today magazine reviewed this book he said that the real gems of the book lie in the accusations of corruption that Arun Shourie has made on the so called ' eminent historians ' ---tales of how they pilfered funds from the revenues made available to them from the government . The reviewer then proceeded to dismiss the rest of the book as just another islamophobic tirade produced by the encouragement of Arun's mentor Sita Ram Goel , a well known islamophobe .

How wrong he could be !!

Its the so called ' islamophobic tirade ' that helped up the book notch up considerable sales .
The stories of corruption did not---however true they may be.....for the corruption consisted of small amounts like 12,000 rupees etc---too tiny for the public to take notice in this era of multi thousand crore corruption scandals .

.....For the ' islamophobic tirade ' is no tirade at all ; its a well researched account of how history is written to suit the dictates of politicians eager to satisfy their fave vote bank---the muslims , who else.....

Shourie was in direct contact with many school teachers who wrote textbooks of history for schools , and he shows how any sentence or paragraph written about the fanatical fury of islamic invaders while destroying temples or killing people is directly deleted by orders of political masters .

It becomes clear that Shourie's main targets are the historians of the marxist/communist variety and history writing in communist ruled West Bengal is a favourite theme in the book . He shows how Russian communist writers heap glory upon hinduism and ancient India's achievements as they are not under pressure from any vote bank to attack hinduism . But the communist historians of India humiliate hinduism by a thousand ways to satisfy the vote bank of their political masters .

Of course , Shourie carries it too far in certain instances . To counter a liberal muslim who says that prophet Muhammad would have doubtlessly included hindus as ' people of the book ' just like he has included Christians and Jews and would have asked muslims to not attack them if he had known about their existence , Shourie says '' But the divine all knowing Allah must have doubtlessly known about the existence of hindus for nothing escapes his eye . So why did he not ask Muhammad to tolerate hindus in his revelations to Muhammad ?? '' . What logic !!

Verdict---Explosive stuff .

Name of book ? This one I think - Eminent Historians: Their Technology, Their Line, Their Fraud

 

[Daredevil]

Re: Ashdoc's book review---Eminent historians

Arun Shourie is a very well read guy. People in politics feared him when he was journalist. He wrote a lot of explosive books which I unfortunately unable to read all but I used to read his articles regularly in The Asian Age nearly 15 years ago. His books are well researched and cites each and every reference in his book for those who want to check the real truth.

I hope he will be back as Union Minister in some or the other capacity when NDA comes to power.

 

[ashdoc]

Re: Ashdoc's book review---Eminent historians

Name of book ? This one I think - Eminent Historians: Their Technology, Their Line, Their Fraud

Yes , the full book name cannot be written in the title---enough space is not there .

 

[nrupatunga]

Though there are many book review threads in DFI for individual books, there isn't a central thread for book review. Hence starting this thread. I request everyone to post reviews on various books they come upon.

MODS: Please make this a sticky thread.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here am starting with a book am currently reading.
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East - By William Dalrymple

The book was written in mid-late 90's. This is a book where william travels across levant and anatolia following the same route taken by a christian monk John Moschos around 1500 years ago. John moschos had written a book on his travelogue across various pilgrim centres across byzantium. Now many many years later, using Moschos's writings as his guide, William Dalrymple sets off to retrace their footsteps and composes "an evensong for a dying civilization".

He starts with istanbul where he meets greeks who are more or less extinct over there. Then he proceeds to inner anatolia, where he visits some of the oldest surviving christian monasteries in world. This part of the book records who much of a police state turkey is. Where the state policy is to show that the land was always a turkish lands, where each day the armenian and suraini legacy is taken away (People who claim that turkey is a progressive and secular islamic nation, please read this book to see how progressive they are. This book is written during the pre-AKP days).

From there he proceeds to syria, this is the only place in levant where christians find peace, where they are not targeted but actually given patronage earlier by french and later by assad sr. But islamism was on raise and christian community was nervous as to how they would survive if a conservative islamic regime comes about. From syria he crosses over lebanon, again a place which is much safe for eastern orthodoxy. He recounts recent past history of lebanon and about various communities over there.

From here he comes to the holy lands of christianity i.e. palestine/jerusalem. Here he visits various monastries. Also meets christain community which part of the landscape for 2000 years, but are currently been targetted by israel. Again israel is no syria for christians but actaully a turkey. Their lands are routinely taken over, their ruins are left to ruin. Actually in north israel, the author meets survivors of a village which was christian but was bombed in 1949. Actually now israel has now turned the bombed ruins into a museum kind of thing. This entire ruins are shown off as a ancient jewish village. One survivor recollects how a well which was dug in his childhood by him and his father is now shown as well built in 1st century AD. Here again the state policy is to show everything in a jewish worldview, as if this place was always a jewish place where others didn't just exist.

From here, he moves to egypt. In alexandria, which was very much a greek city even in early 20th century he meets the last surviving greek community there. They tell that they lost everything once nasser came by. Currently only around 500 people are there, and soon greeks would be extinct after 2500 years.

The author finds himself surprised that how much of an eastern religion is christianity. This is a region (levant) where muslims visit and revere christian places and vice versa. Muslims visit various monasteries dedicated to christian saints for begetting children and once children are born come back to give offerings. But christians are a persecuted lot in entire west asia and everyone is migrating to europe or americas for a better future. Even in syria/lebanon where christians have a relatively peaceful and prosperous life, everyone is packing their bags. If christians there were of a catholic/protestant background, west would have definitely stood up for them but since they are of eastern orthodoxy branch they are neglected.

Overall a very very very interesting read is this book. My review has not done justice, this book is more interesting than i have put it.

 

[nrupatunga]

Though in his book, the authors mentions that various monks whom he met were still living in dark ages where the patron saints of churches /monastries still appear before them to protect these monks from devil who has come to snatch the monks etc. Various things like that. Also once when the author mentions that he is a catholic, the monk says very seriously that he has to convert to orthodoxy else he will rot in hell for all times. Also mentions that all jews, whores, catholics, protestants, freemasons etc will all rot in hell when judgement day comes along. But by then it would be too late to do anything.

The book also mention during early byzantine period(when christianity was declared official religion of roman empire) in alexandria which was a knowledge center in west at that time, monks used to raid the city and kill pagans/heathens etc.

One more important thing, am not sure if its in syria or palestine, the christians say levant needs arab christians to be part of the landscape. Else muslims will start equating arab history/culture = islam culture/history. It will be repeat of what turks are doing in turkey and jews are doing in israel.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read one more interesting book on mughals.in just recent past.
The Mughal World: Life in India's Last Golden Age - Abraham Eraly

Note: there is another book on mughals from same author.

This is a treasure trove on lives of common man during the so called "golden period" of india.
Certain excerpts of the book.

THE PEOPLE
The term india was never used by Indian themselves. The alternate term, found in mughal chronicales, was Hindusthan, but this meant only indo-gangetic plains; the deccan was not part of it, nor the north-west, nor Kashmir. The term Bharat is not mentioned in any mughal work. According to Bernier, 'to be considered a mogul, it is enough if a foreigner have a white face and profess mahometanism'.

If mughal india, or indeed the whole eastern muslim world, had a natural aristocracy, they were Persians. Everyone looked up to Persians and Persian looked down on everyone. It was from the Shah of Persia that the mughal emperor sought peer recognition.The sharpest division among muslims in india was north-south division. The north was predominantly sunnis while in south they were mainly shiahs. In north, india-born muslims and hindu converts were held in low esteem. In contrat, in south, native muslims held high postions. However, whether in north or south, a muslim, whatever be his race and sect, automatically belonged to ruling class.

The degree of discrimination that hindus had to suffer varied from ruler and from province to province. A ludicrous case was that of governor of Lahore, Hussain khan, who once committed what he considered to be most awful faux pas, in greeting a hindu with civility, mistaking him to be a muslim, because he was dressed in muslim style. On realizing his mistake, khan was so thoroughly ashamed of himself that, to avoid similar blunders in future, he ordered that hindus thereafter' should sew a patch of stuff of a different colour on their garments near the bottom of sleeve' says badauni.

Europeans in india were a motley lot – traders, professionals like doctors, jewelers , royal ambassadors, missionaries, adventurers, as well as cheats, vagabonds and desperadoes. While Europeans saw themselves as major players in india, the mughals regarded them as minor curiosities. Thus while Sir Thomas roe, the british ambassador claimed intimacy with Jahangir, and their journals are full of of lore about their relationship with emperor, there is not even a passing word about them in memoirs of Jahangir.

THE EMPEROR AT PLAY

The royal household expenses were prodigious. Even under Akbar, a frugal manager, the household expenses towards ends of his reign came around 187.4 million dam (around 4.7 million rupees) a year, under following categories: harem 35 million; kitchen 13.65 million; wardrobe 17.73 million; books and paintings 6.75 millions; gems and jewels 44.32 million; hunting animals 13 million; cash allowances and alms 12.5 millions; and so on.

Even drinking water was a major item of expense in royal household, for mughal emperors drank water only from ganga, which had to be brought from a distance. Abul fazal says, '' both at home and on travels he (akbar) drinks ganga water. For cooking of food, rain water or water taken from yamuna or Chenab is used, mixed with a little ganga water'. This practice was continued: Ovington says about Aurangzeb 'He drinks from river ganges.' A special department, abdar khana, was in charge of water supply to royal household.

Emperors dressed regally, for that was requirement of their office. Akbar maintained a wardrobe so large that it had to be classified and cataloged according to days, months and year of their entries and according to colour, price and weight. A 1000 complete set were made every six months. All emperors, especially Jahangir and shahjahan were loaded with jewels. According to abul fazal, emperor's jewels and weapons were also given names. The sabers of Aurangzeb bore names as lightning, conqueror of universe (alamgir, his favourite), and of course, kafir-kush(infidel slayer).

LORDLY FIREFLIES

Under Shahjahan, the average annual income of top 655 members was over 200,000 rupees. Prince Dara received 20 million rupees. Under akbar, a noble of highest rank (commander of 5000) drew a monthly salary of 30,000 rupees. Yet, for all their immense wealth and power, the mughal amirs were an insecure lot, for they, were not hereditary landed aristocrats, but merely officials. In theory no amirs could bequeath his title, jagir. Amirs could not even save income and leave legacies for their children.

 

[nrupatunga]

Continuing from above post.

LIFE AT BOTTOM

The life of common man was miserable; half-naked and illiterate, barely scraping out a living. He lived in a dingy, one-roomed hovel. It had no windows. If he had cattle, he shared his hut with it. 'Pesants and people go about naked,' notes babur. 'They tie on a thing called languta'. At close of seventeenth century, manucci found commoners in india dressed in about same manner as babur found. Little had changed in india over two centuries. As in dress, the food of commoners was minimal. They subsisted on rice, millet and pulses. Wheat was expensive even in wheat growing areas. Ghee and edible oils were cheap, but salt and sugar was expensive.

THE POOR RICH COUNTRY

Nowhere in the world was there such a fabulous display of wealth as at the mughal court or such a lavish lifestyle as that of mughal amirs. The royal hoards at time of akbar consisted of 7 million gold mohrs, 100 million silver rupees and 230 million copper daams and a vast treasure of gems, ornaments.

In reign of shahjahan, 61% of revenue of 220 million rupees were taken by 68 princes/amirs and next 587 officers i.e. 655 people alone.

The people were poor, country was poor, only emperor and amirs were rich. Bullion flowed into country for there was little else that could flow into india, the common people being too poor to buy anything and aristocracy miniscule. In a sense bullion flow was irrelevant to the economy, for much of gold and silver lay stored or buried; it did not lead to any significant capital formation to fuel economic growth; nor to improvement of people's life.

The single most appalling aspect of life was famine, a specter present at turn of every season. Writes van twist, a dutch merchant in deccan during famine, 'So little rain fell that seed sown was lost and no grass grew. Cattle died, in towns and villages, men lay dead in great numbers. Men deserted their wives and children. Women sold themselves as slaves. Mothers sold their children. Men lying on road , not yet dead, were cut up by others.'

The mughal administration was more about collecting revenue than generating wealth and revenue for public.

For all practical purposes, there was in mughal india no avenue other than imperial service for a man to get ahead in life. Moreland writes 'Men and women, living from season to season on verge of hunger, could contented as long as food held out; when it failed, as often it did, their hope was slave-trader, starvation or suicide.' a poverty so oppressive that people had given up struggling against it. In such a situation, there could be no enterprise, and trade and industry, even agriculture, could hardly endure, barely flourish.

 

[nrupatunga]

Maybe slightly OT here.

For those who are not already aware, there's a library JustBooksclc.com. Some salient features include
- One can place an order for book via online.
- If one has an annual subscription, one need not visit the library either while renting or returning the books. Both delivery and pick up can be ordered via net.
- Collection is very good and growing by each day. Branches present in most cities (again growing both within cities where it is present and also opening in new cities)
- Apart from english, books are also available in indian languages like kannada, hindi, tamil bengali marati etc. Though collection-wise english books far outnumber other languages.

 

[Virendra]

Someone please review my small ebook as well

Smashwords — The Sharp Mile — A book by Virendra Rathore
or
The Sharp Mile: Virendra Rathore: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-mile-rollercoaster-saga-riddled-bullets.html

Regards,
Virendra

 

[nrupatunga]

Has anyone read dan brown's latest book 'Inferno'?? Howz it??

 

[SPIEZ]

Has anyone read dan brown's latest book 'Inferno'?? Howz it??

What conspiracy is this about?

 

[Dovah]

Has anyone read dan brown's latest book 'Inferno'?? Howz it??

The reviews are shit. The whole biological weapon thingy isn't appealing.

 

[SPIEZ]

The reviews are shit. The whole biological weapon thingy isn't appealing.

I read his books mostly for the sub plot within.
1) Mary Magdaliene and the Chalice in the First Line
2) Electronic snooping in another
3) Free Masons and now
4) Biological weapons

 

[nrupatunga]

Genghis Khan: Life, Death, and Resurrection - By John Man

This was a book read some time back. Few points here.
1) The author himself says the name is actually "chingiz khan" and not genghis khan. But had to keep it as "genghis" since publisher adviced that western audience would not be able get to recognise "chingiz khan".

2) here the book says that as chingiz came to afghanistan, he turned towards indus valley (i.e. india). But he encountered a unicorn which said not to go further ahead. Hence his shamans adviced him to heed and turn back. The author feels it must have been a rhino. Whatever india was spared of destruction and pillage. Or if one wants to look in a different angle, maybe if he had come though it might have caused lot of destruction. But he would have also destroyed delhi sultanate, which might have slowly but surely given indians time and chance to put themselves back as rulers.

3) Also the authors subtly questions if really the muslim genocide actually happened in the scale as it is generally believed. He mentions that various cities like samarkand, bukara etc which was more or less entirely razed to ground and nearly entire population was massacred. But within 15-20 years there are accounts by various travelers speaking of these cities again flourishing. How could have those various central asian cities rise again so quickly????

 

[TrueSpirit]

Someone please review my small ebook as well

Smashwords — The Sharp Mile — A book by Virendra Rathore
or
The Sharp Mile: Virendra Rathore: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-mile-rollercoaster-saga-riddled-bullets.html

Regards,
Virendra

Doing it today, finally.

 

[SPIEZ]

@Dovah @sob @Singh and others

I am searching for a famous French author who has written about many conspiracy theories including I G assassination

 

[SPIEZ]

@Dovah @sob @Singh and others

I am searching for a famous French author who has written about many conspiracy theories including I G assassination

Got it. There is a thread dedicated specially for this author.

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-de-villiers-spy-novelist-knows-too-much.html

 

[pmaitra]

Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian

Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian

Authors: E. A. Schwanbeck, John Watson McCrindle

This is an excellent work by historians, their political affiliation notwithstanding, that not only does a thorough research on whatever portions survived of the (or multiple sub-books of the) book called the Indika written by Megasthenês, and also part of an eponymous book by Arrian which dwells upon the Indika of Megasthenês, but also provides analyses by the historians, who are the authors.

On location, Megasthenês observes that India is a rhombus, surrounded by the Kaukasian Mountains, Parapamisos (Pamir?), Hemôdos, and Himaos (Himalayas?), as the natives call it, to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south; from Tauron to the north, Ariana (Iran?), which Sandracottos (Chandragupta?) had acquired from Seleucus Nicator, to the west, to the eastern Sea by the Mountains (Bay of Bengal?); and has great rivers, Ganges, claimed to be flowing out from the Skythian (Central Asia? Tibet? Pamir?) Mountains, Indus, Jamones (Yamuna?), among others.

Arrian, in his Indika, raising suspicion of a reference to Afghanistan, states that, “The regions beyond the river Indus on the west are inhabited, up to the river Kôphen, by two Indian tribes, the Astakenoi and the Assakenoi . . .,” who were subject to Assyrian, Median, and Persian rule in the past. He also mentions, in the dominion of Assakenoi, the cities Masaka (MaÅ›aka, near Ghauri?) and Peukelaïtis (Pushkar?). He further clarifies that the name Hindû Kush, as the corrupted version of “Indicus Caucasus,” earlier refered to as the Kaukasian Mountains by Megasthenês, and such named by the Makedonians (Macedonians), because they thought it was the continuation of the Kaukasos (Caucasus).

On the capital, Palibothra (Pataliputra/Patna?), Megasthenês observes that it is located on the Ganges, where another river, Erannoboas, joins it, and that it lies in a region inhabited by the Prasii, yet, further down, another tribe inhabits the banks of the river Ganges, and they are called the Calingæ (Odisha?); and that Palibothra is like a parallelogram, and is protected with a wooden wall, with loopholes for arrows, 570 towers, and 64 gates, and a ditch, with most of the city, like most other cities, being made largely with wood, and with frugal use of bricks.

Arrian’s references to Errenysis could possibly refer to Banarâs.

On the people, Megasthenês observes that they are frugal, disciplined, with rare occurrences of theft, and no practice of contracts, debt, or usury; with some wives of polygamous men prostituting themselves out, and people eating at times that are not set as per the time of the day, but by the desire of the person.

Arrian further adds that normally Indian women would not compromise their virtues for gifts short of an elephant, yet, it is not known whether private persons were indeed allowed to own them, as it was claimed to the contrary by Megasthenês. Arrian agrees with Megasthenês’ observation that Indian tribes were numerous, however, wonder how the latter arrived at the precise number of 118. He further corroborates Megasthenês’ observation that the life expectancy was probably in the vicinity of forty. He also agrees with Megasthenês when he says that Indians do not hold aliens or fellow Indians as slaves.

On castes, Megasthenês observes, and quite possibly conflates with what he had observed elsewhere, that India has seven castes, namely, in that order, the Philosophers, the Husbandsmen, the Neatherds and Shepherds, the Artisans, the Military, the Overseers, and the Councillors and Assessors.

Arrian agrees with the presence of seven castes, and while he too might have been influenced exotically, it is of little doubt that Indian society was stratified and classified.

On animals, Megasthenês observes not only cattle and sheep, but also horses and elephants, some of which are often used for warfare and for hunting, with one reference being presented of a hunter, escorted with equally armed Yavana women, the Yavanas being believed to be Greeks, but of a certain type. The horse and the elephants may however, not be kept by private persons. He also mentions wild animals, bears and serpents, but also those that defy belief, such as giants ants that dig gold, or men with feet facing backwards and heel forward, to mention a few.

Arrian contradicts Megasthenês by stating that common folk had at their disposal the services of horses, along with camels and asses, and that it is merely the elephant that carries the royalty.

[HR][/HR]

Here is the full PDF: http://rbedrosian.com/Downloads5/McCrindle_1877_Megasthenes.pdf

To be merged later with: http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/members-corner/51355-book-review-thread.html

 

[nrupatunga]

Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter's memoir - Fatima bhutto

This is a book on bhutto's in general but more specifically fatima's father Mir Murtaza Bhutto (as name suggests - a daughters memoir), who was younger brother of benazir. Actually author via various indirect references conveys murtaza was the eldest son of zulfiqar bhutto and lesser of younger brother to benazir. The book says lot about murtaza and his younger brother shahnawaz bhutto's fight against zia ul haq on behalf of their father. Hence in some ways the actual "heir" of zulfiqar butto. Murtaza also starts his own faction i.e. PPP (SB), where SB denotes shaheed bhutto.

The book starts with a chapter on the events of the day on which her father was killed (as noticed by herself who was a young teenager then). Then it goes on to history and origins of bhutto clan. She does mention that they were once rajputs from current day rajasthan who had migrated to sind many centuries back. Book also has a family tree of some 5-6 generations back. Then book goes into early adult life of zulfiqar bhutto, on various events in is life etc. His marriage in young age of around 16 to a much elder girl, which got him lot of name, wealth. This marriage was more of family thing between two elite families in sind rather than a bond between a man & woman. Later he marries an girl with Iranian origins (a shia) from whom he has 4 children(benazir being eldest, murtaza is 2nd child). The books says bhuttos were sunnis, i always thought they were shias.

Though book does not cover zulifiqar extensively, but still covers him in an positive light. This book as i said is more on murtaza bhutto. It says how his childhood, college life went on. Later when he goes to harvard for higher education , he would be then a PM's son, but still a guy who is very very humble etc etc. Later when his father is arrested by military, in a cinematic style, the father asks his sons to for revenge. Both sons do a self exile in afghanistan, who fight against zia from afghanistan. Later they shift base to friendly regimes in libya/syria where gaddafi and assad senior ruled who were very close to zulfiqar bhutto. In between their struggle for getting their father released from jail, it also covers murtaza's love life with a greek model who was the wife of deposed greek general who then was currently in jail. Both met in london, where she was lobbying to get her husband of few months, out of jail. He is also there lobbying to get his father out who had been jailed by military.

Zulfiqar bhutto is hanged by military, which in a way causes their movement to loose steam. Later both brothers get married to afghan girls, who are from some sort of a elite family. The author is born in kabul. Though the resistance is not showing much progress, they go on pressing for democracy in pakistan. Later at a family reunion in france, shanawaz bhutto is murdered. From here the book takes a very anti-benazir turn. It is "suggested" that benazir knew and co-opted with military to ensure there are no political rivals left for her to carry forward bhutto legacy. The author tries to convey that benazir by co-opting with military and by undermining her own brothers who were fighting for the honour & dignity of zulfiqar bhutto, is some sort of "traitor" to bhutto legacy. Benazir is shown as a power hungry politician who is always ready to compromise with whomsoever including her father's killers as well. More than benazir, it's asif zardari who's a bigger villain in the story.

Even after benazir becomes PM, she ensures that various cases which the military regime had put on murtaza, stay so that she has no challenge with in the family. Even after coming back to pakistan, he faces lot of problems from government. He is also denied ticket from PPP, hence he had to stand as independent. The murtaza family's pov in the fight against their own is extensively putforth in the book. Finally it ends in murtaza getting killed by police during benazir's 2nd term as PM. As per the author the main actors here being zardari and his protege sind CM. Then it continues with how she (Murtaza divorced his 1st wife and re-married a lebanese whom he met in damsacus where he was in exile), her mother ghinwa (who is murtaza's 2nd wife and mother of her step-brother ), her step-brother zulifiqar bhutto (named after her grandfather) are struggling to maintain murtaza bhutto's legacy.

Basically Fatima's world seems to be strictly split between the good guys ( her father , his friends and allies , her grandfather ) and the bad guys ( mainly Benazir, Zardari ) . Murtaza Bhutto is presented here as the perfect son , the perfect politician , the perfect father , the perfect husband overall the complete man. Somewhere in the final parts of the book, she mentions that her brother is the only male bhutto left in the family of zulfiqar bhutto, she also dis-approves that her "cousins" i.e. benazirs children are actually not bhutto but zardari's. Many a times the book becomes very personal, it might have been better if this tale was written by someone distant (as in an outsider) rather than an insider who would definitely have biases.

India is not mentioned much, except in early parts of book where zulfiqar ali bhutto's political life is covered. He is shown a large hearted person who was interested in "fair" deal. She goes on to say it was zuliqar's actions and personal touch which eventually ensured that an agreement was concluded with india post 71 war (afterall she's a paki). But not much on india, don't know what her views are. Overall its a story of bhutto underdogs as in the lesser known bhutto's. Read it if one would like to know various events, persons and controversies related to bhutto family.

 

[The Last Stand]

Doing it today, finally.

I already did it on Goodreads.

The book is good. Not what I expected from a first timer like Mr.Rathore since he has done a lot of research. I give the book 3 out of 5 since there is a lack of consistency among punctuation and censoring.

The storyline is good, the basic idea is also good. There is a lack of refining the story and this leads to a decent narrative. The book could have more action and the cover can be better.

The verdict - Definitely worth reading - a quick read. Gives good information on the working of the MARCOs. The book could have been made more interesting.

And on the thread

@Virendra,

Downloaded the book yesterday.

Finished it in 45 minutes.

Storyline, basic idea was good.

But you were inconsistent in writing - i.e. Punctuation and censoring.

The story must have been better refined.

Research - very good.

Rating - 3/5

Not bad for a first book but on quality side, it's not on a high level. Refining more before publishing could have helped.

I spotted spelling mistakes and some bad grammar. Also, try to italicize Hindi (Other language in general) words and then translate, it tends to stand out.