Chequered Past, Uncertain Future - by Tahir Kamran (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A sweeping journey through the ebbs and flows of Pakistan's history, from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to contemporary times, this book not only uncovers the influences from Turkey, Persia, Arabia and Britain that have shaped this South Asian nation, but showcases the region's diverse, rich tapestry of peoples, and Pakistan's pluralistic, multicultural society. Chequered Past, Uncertain Future also describes the post-1947 shift -- following the partition of India and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan -- as the country became more religiously conservative and autocratic, intensifying sectarian and ethnic divisions. For most of the country's history, the people of Pakistan have found themselves under the control of military dictators who suppress civil liberties and freedom of speech and action -- a trend that persists today."--

Book Synopsis

Spanning thousands of years, a wide-ranging history of Pakistan from the Bronze Age to partition and beyond.

This book takes us on a sweeping journey through the ebbs and flows of Pakistan's history, from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to contemporary times. Chequered Past, Uncertain Future uncovers influences from Turkey, Persia, Arabia, and Britain that have shaped Pakistan, as well as showcases the region's diverse and rich tapestry of peoples, and its pluralistic, multicultural society. The book also describes the post-1947 shift--following the partition of India and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan--as the country became more religiously conservative and autocratic, intensifying sectarian and ethnic divisions. For most of their history, the people of Pakistan have found themselves under the control of military dictators who suppress civil liberties and freedom of speech and action--a trend that persists today.

Review Quotes

"Drawing on published sources, Kamran highlights the recurring gaps between what he believes should be the country's national ideals and its actual prevailing conditions. . . . The last 400 pages of this substantial book consider in depth the last seventy-seven years (up to mid-2023), becoming ever more detailed over time. Scholars and advanced students seeking a deeper knowledge of specific Pakistani leaders and political events will find informative insights and much evidence in Kamran's work. Recommended."-- "Choice"

"This comprehensive history of Pakistan sets as its tragic and acute frame the tension between democracy and religious ideology in the country. . . . The book boldly subverts the standard view of Pakistani politics as a contest of dueling binaries, religious and secular, military and civilian. Kamran ably describes how the centralization of the Pakistani state in the service of the military sidelined democracy. . . . It remains the best recent political history of the country, with a well-judged narrative of its crisis of legitimacy and sharp portraits of its major actors."--Pratap Bhanu Mehta "Foreign Affairs"

"Laced with occasional witticism, Kamran's voluminous 565-page tome is a delight to read on many counts. Covering ancient India to the present PDM government, the book's scope spans over centuries and mirrors the author's grip on history. Building on original research besides existing literature, his analysis is informed by a pluralist approach that takes into account the multiplicity of discourses. However, theoretical debates do not render the text inaccessible to a non-specialist readership. . . . One should acknowledge the important contributions Kamran's book makes. The mere sweep of the book, encapsulating centuries of history, inspires awe."-- "Dawn"

"Pakistan's history is one of many twists and turns. It is a history of a new country, shaped by distinctively modern, nineteenth- and twentieth-century political trends, yet one also of great historical depth and considerable cultural diversity. As Kamran shows in this important new book, Pakistan's story illustrates the contradictions between considerable internal cultural dynamism and persistent structures of neocolonial dependence, reflected in the political domination, through many political changes and upheavals, of interlocked bureaucratic, landed and military elites. Chequered Past, Uncertain Future is a sweeping history that examines the most recent crises shaping Pakistan's political landscape."--David Gilmartin, distinguished professor of history, North Carolina State University, and author of "Blood and Water: The Indus River Basin in Modern History"

"Ambitious in terms of its breadth and depth, this book provides a welcome assessment of Pakistan's political journey, combining historical insight with penetrating observations on recent developments in the country."--Sarah Ansari, professor of history (South Asia), Royal Holloway, University of London

About the Author

Tahir Kamran is head of the Department of the Liberal Arts at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, director of the Khaldunia Centre for Historical Research, and the editor of the Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies. His books include Colonial Lahore: A History of the City and Beyond.