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PAKISTAN ON THE BRINK
₨ 2,845An urgent, on-the-ground report from Pakistan–from the bestselling author of “Descent” “Into Chaos” and “Taliban” Ahmed Rashid, one of the world’s leading experts on the social and political situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, offers a highly anticipated update on the possibilities and hazards–facing the United States after the death of Osama bin Laden and as Operation Enduring Freedom winds down. With the characteristic professionalism that has made him the preeminent independent journalist in Pakistan for three decades, Rashid asks the important questions and delivers informed insights about the future of U.S. relations with the troubled region. His most urgent book to date, “Pakistan on the Brink” is the third volume in a comprehensive series that is a call to action to our nation’s leaders and an exposition of this conflict’s impact on the security of the world.
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SWEPT A SIDE
₨ 995Swept Aside tackles the lives of Christian working-class women from ?Chura? caste communities, who have historically been primarily employed as sanitation workers in Pakistan. As Ayra Indrias Patras tells us, ?Christians, who are less than 5% of the Lahore city?s population, make up more than 80% of the sanitation workforce?, not only because of historical recruitment but contemporary recruitment policies which understand sanitation work as a ?traditional caste occupation.? The book critically describes and analyses the histories and structural forces that shape Christian communities as religious minorities and oppressed caste communities. This includes stigmatisation within the larger Christian community, particularly from middle and upper-class Christian elites and church leaders who desire to obscure the caste connotations of Christian identity. The book examines these histories, inequities, and discrimination from within the lived experiences of women. It tackles how caste discrimination and structures are woven into and continue to be reproduced in contemporary Pakistan.
Swept Aside documents histories of caste discrimination in the past, present and possible future, but in a way that grounds Chura communities in their own spaces, words and lives. It addresses the structures of the past but also how contemporary forms of privatisation re-encode caste relations.
Dr Ayra Indrias Patras is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Forman Christian College, A Chartered University, Lahore. Her research interests include marginalised identities, gender and human rights. This book is based on her doctoral research lying in the intersection of gender, caste and labour and the impact of such intersectionality on female janitorial workers in Lahore.
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BIG CAPITAL IN AN UNEQUAL WORLD
₨ 1,495Following the hidden lives of the global ?1%?, this book examines the networks, social practices, marriages, and machinations of the elite in Pakistan. In doing so, it reveals the daily, even mundane, ways in which elites contribute to and shape the inequality that characterizes the modern world. Operating in a rapidly developing economic environment, the experience of Pakistan?s wealthiest and most powerful members contradicts widely held assumptions that economic growth is leading to increasingly impersonalized and globally standardized economic and political structures.
?This is a fascinating ethnography of the ?micro-politics of elite lives??a depressing but important read and a necessary corrective to every study of Pakistan that concludes with an aspirational list of policy reforms.? ? Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (JRAI)
?Through remarkable access, rich descriptions, and incisive analyses, the author deepens our understanding of the reproduction of elites and inequalities. She provides important insights into the spaces and relationships through which capital is accumulated, channeled, and secured by elites, all the while taking seriously the question of gender, ?race,? nation, and sexuality as it relates to class formation. Her book provides a rich resource for future research to explore old and new forms of elite integration and division?In an increasingly interdependent and unequal world, books like this enable us to better understand the consequences of elite formations for all of our lives.? ? FOCAAL
?A rich, very insightful and highly engaging biography of Pakistan?s business and industrial elite.? ? Nafisa Shah, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
?An entertaining, surprising, and lively account of the secret life of the global elite in their particular parochial Pakistani setting. Scholars of Pakistan, of economic and political anthropology, and of development, will all surely look forward to this book with eager anticipation.? ? Caroline Schuster, Australian National University
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THE NINE LIVES OF PAKISTAN
₨ 1,945‘All those interested in South Asia and its complex politics and culture should read this book’ – Pankaj Mishra
The demise of Pakistan ? a country with a reputation for volatility, brutality and radical Islam ? is regularly predicted. But things rarely turn out as expected, as renowned journalist Declan Walsh knows well. Over a decade covering the country, his travels took him from the raucous port of Karachi to the gilded salons of Lahore to the lawless frontier of Waziristan, encountering Pakistanis whose lives offer a compelling portrait of this land of contradictions. He meets a crusading lawyer who risks her life to fight for society’s most marginalised, taking on everyone including the powerful military establishment; an imperious chieftain spouting poetry at his desert fort; a roguish politician waging a mini-war against the Taliban; and a charismatic business tycoon who moves into politics and seems to be riding high ? till he takes up the wrong cause. Lastly, Walsh meets a spy whose orders once involved following him, and who might finally be able to answer the question that haunts him: why the Pakistanis suddenly expelled him from their country.
Intimate and complex, unravelling the many mysteries of state and religion, this formidable book offers an arresting account of life in a country that, often as not, seems to be at war with itself. -
PAKISTAN
₨ 2,495‘Hoodbhoy’s richly textured inquiry into Pakistan’s evolution from early days onward brings out reality, myth, hope. With penetrating insight and scrupulous care, he explores and dismantles multiple poisonous fallacies. But this is no Jeremiad. The cures, he shows, exist as do hopes for a much brighter future.’
Noam Chomsky, Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology‘A hard-hitting and truth-seeking analysis of how Pakistan came to be what it is today with the conclusion, first, that the very idea of Pakistan must be rethought, and second, suggestions as to how this might be done.’
Francis Robinson, Professor of the History of South Asia, University of London
‘The effort which has gone into writing this book can only be called monumental. It is highly recommended to all who are interested in truthful history and is especially recommended to those who disagree with the author if only to promote rational, intellectual debate on the subject of Pakistan’s origins and identity.’
Tariq Rahman, Linguist, Humboldt Laureate, Distinguished National Professor of Social Sciences, HEC (Pakistan)
‘Agree with it or not, Pervez Hoodbhoy’s book demands to be read. It provides the most thorough reversal of existing narratives about Pakistan’s origins. A bracing and counter-intuitive interpretation of nationalist history.’
Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History, University of Oxford
‘In a bold sweep, Pervez Hoodbhoy seeks to analyze Pakistan’s nationhood, its origins, its present, and its future, as also figures critical to the country’s formation. The result is a clinical and candid book, yet one that is also constructive and very readable.’
Rajmohan Gandhi, author, biographer, peace activist, IIT Gandhinagar
‘The book unabashedly lays bare facts of history that in the past were only just whispered. A brave expose and, equally, a desire for a different Pakistan that few dare talk about.’
Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc. – Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy.
‘As a scientist, Hoodbhoy weighs evidence as he fearlessly digs into explaining and resolving crucial issues that present-day Pakistanis face. His scholarship is meticulous and wide-ranging, laying a foundation for an extraordinarily insightful exploration of Pakistan’s history and its social, cultural, and political dynamics extending into the present day. Withal, he reaches out to the reader with straightforward and clear questions, inviting informed revision of the conventional understanding of Pakistan.’
Philip K. Oldenburg, Columbia University
ISBN: 9789697834570
AUTHOR: PERVEZ HOODBHOY
TITLE: PAKISTAN: ORIGINS, IDENTITY AND FUTURE
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PAKISTAN AND SUPER POWERS A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
₨ 1,995The book comprising articles published in journals, books and newspapers provide a historical perspective of super powers involvement in regional conflicts during the last four decades affecting Pakistan’s foreign relations. The book would help the students of International Politics in comprehending Pakistan foreign policy in the context of the then existing regional and global scenario. The recession in cold war, the Sino-American normalization, the Soviet-American d?tente and the emerging realities of unipolar world had far reaching implications for the world in general and Asian states in particular. The articles included in the book examine the impact of these developments in the context of regional crises on foreign policy of Asian countries particularly Pakistan and suggest options to deal with the challenges of militarily unipolar world.
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PUNJABAN ANATOMY OF MUSLIM-SIKH POLITICS
₨ 2,500Punjab: An Anatomy of Muslim-Sikh Politics is more than “just another’ commentary. It is an important work of political, historical and cultural enquiry. In this effort, Dr. Akhtar Sandhu’s historical insight, his intellectual vigour, literary prowess and profound sense of conviction are embedded. With majors in social science and History as his academic achievements and thorough understanding of the research methodology, the author has presented a well researched and well articulated book. The reader may agree or disagree with the conclusions drawn by the author but the rich source of authenticated information he provides will, for sure, become the basis for further investigation by research scholars to distinguish the wrong from the right. Hopefully this work of reference will spark a lively debate and educate and inspire students of history and policymakers alike.
ISBN: 9789692315012
Publisher: DOGAR PUBLISHERS -
HISTORICAL ARCHIVES OF KASUR
₨ 1,800Writing history is not an easy undertaking; you must overcome many obstacles and conduct extensive research as you put together your historical work. The history of Kasur is not specifically covered in any literature. Amjad Zafar Ali, who is in the IT and accounting fields but has written a thorough history of Kasur, is someone I got to know. His debut book, Morning Tea That Never Reached Kasur, was the first English-language history of Kasur ever written. His third book, Historical Archives of Kasur, currently offers extensive information and history about Kasur. He has made an effort to include all facets of life, including Kasur’s 2,000-year history and culture, which have been influenced by Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and British communities. I wish the very best of luck to Amjad, who has made a great contribution to his city of birth.
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SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONTHE TAIWAN FACTOR
₨ 2,757
ISBN: 9788130912271
Publisher: VIVA BOOKS -
PAKISTAN THE GARRISON STATE ORIGINS, EVOLUTION, CONSEQUENCES 1947-2011
₨ 895This study seeks to solve the following puzzle: In 1947, the Pakistan military was poorly trained and poorly armed. It also inherited highly vulnerable territory vis-à-vis the much bigger India, aggravated because of serious disputes with Afghanistan. Over the years, the military, or rather the Pakistan Army, continued to grow in power and influence, and progressively became the most powerful institution. Moreover, it became an institution with de facto veto powers at its disposal to overrule other actors within society including elected governments. Simultaneously, it began to acquire foreign patrons and donors willing to arm it as part of the Cold War competition (the United States), regional balance-of-power concerns (China), and ideological contestants for leadership over the Muslim world (Saudi Arabia, to contain Iranian influence). A perennial concern with defining the Islamic identity of Pakistan, exacerbated by the Afghan jihad, resulted in the convergence of internal and external factors to produce the ‘fortress of Islam’ self-description that became current in the early twenty-first century. Over time, Pakistan succumbed to extremism and terrorism within, and was accused of being involved in similar activities within the South Asian region and beyond. Such developments have been ruinous to Pakistan’s economic and democratic development. This study explains how and why it happened.
ISBN: 9780190702441
Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS -
1971 A PEOPLE`S HISTORY FROM BANGLADESH, PAKISTAN AND INDIA
₨ 1,195The year 1971 exists everywhere in Bangladesh-on its roads, in sculptures, in its museums and oral history projects, in its curriculum, in people’s homes and their stories, and in political discourse. It marks the birth of the nation, it’s liberation. More than 1000 miles away, in Pakistan too, 1971 marks a watershed moment, its memories sitting uncomfortably in public imagination. It is remembered as the ‘Fall of Dacca’, the dismemberment of Pakistan or the third Indo-Pak war. In India, 1971 represents something else-the story of humanitarian intervention, of triumph and valour that paved the way for India’s rise as a military power, the beginning of its journey to becoming a regional superpower. Navigating the widely varied terrain that is 1971 across Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, Anam Zakaria sifts through three distinct state narratives, and studies the institutionalization of the memory of the year and its events. Through a personal journey, she juxtaposes state narratives with people’s history on the ground, bringing forth the nuanced experiences of those who lived through the war. Using intergenerational interviews, textbook analyses, visits to schools and travels to museums and sites commemorating 1971, Zakaria explores the ways in which 1971 is remembered and forgotten across countries, generations and communities.
ISBN: 9789697834426
Publisher: FOLIO BOOKS -
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REFUGEES AND THE POLITICS OF THE EVERYDAY STATE IN PAKISTANRESETTLEMENT IN PUNJAB, 1947-1962
₨ 14,945The Partition of India in 1947 involved the division of two provinces, Bengal and the Punjab, based on district-wise Hindu or Muslim majorities. The Partition displaced between 10 and 12 million people along religious lines.
This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the resettlement and rehabilitation of Partition refugees in Pakistani Punjab between 1947 and 1962. It weaves a chronological and thematic plot into a single narrative, and focuses on the Punjabi refugee middle and upper-middle class. Emphasising the everyday experience of the state, the author challenges standard interpretations of the resettlement of Partition refugees in the region and calls for a more nuanced understanding of their rehabilitation. The book argues the universality of the so-called ‘exercise in human misery’, and the heterogeneity of the rehabilitation policies. Refugees’ stories and interactions with local institutions reveal the inability of the local bureaucracy to establish its own ‘polity’ and the viable workability of Pakistan as a state. The use of Pakistani documents, US and British records and a careful survey of both the judicial records and the Urdu and English-language dailies of the time, provides an invaluable window onto the everyday life of a state, its institutions and its citizens.
A carefully researched study of both the state and the everyday lives of refugees as they negotiated resettlement, through both personal and official channels, the book offers an important reinterpretation of the first years of Pakistani history. It will be of interest to academics working in the field of refugee resettlement ?and South Asian History and Politics.
ISBN: 9780367869151
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE -
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PERSPECTIVES ON CONTEMPORARY PAKISTAN GOVERNANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT
₨ 48,480
ISBN: 9780367435295
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE -
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BUT PRIME MINISTER…
₨ 1,295An insider’s story of his association with Benazir Bhutto, the world’s first Muslim woman Prime Minister and one of Pakistan’s most enigmatic politicians.
“..a memoir that is part confessional, part creative non-fiction which is as engrossing as history can be..” – Navid Shahzad, Author of “Azlan’s Roar”
“…a most enjoyable and informative read” – Owen Bennett-Jones, author of “The Bhutto Dynasty: The Struggle for Power”
ISBN: 9789692101646
Publisher: PARAMOUNT BOOKS -
WHAT WAS ONCE EAST PAKISTAN
₨ 695Serving at three places in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, during the critical period between 1969 and 1971, Syed Shahid Husain saw the events unfold and presents in this book an analysis of the roles that each of the principal actors-Yahya Khan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto-. He saw history in the making, and the five decades that have passed since have not affected his conclusions. Facts are unchangeable, and it is only the opinions that differ. As Macaulay said, ‘Facts are the mere dross of history. It is from the abstract truth which interpenetrates them, and lies latent among them, like gold in the ore, that the mass derives its whole value….’ The book also contains some of his personal experiences at the time including an account of thekiller cyclone that hit East Pakistan in 1970.
ISBN: 9780190707293
Publisher: OXFORD
