Author Description
Serving 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 the killer cyclone that hit East Pakistan in 1970.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the political collapse of East Pakistan and the subsequent emergence of Bangladesh through the lens of an eyewitness participant. Syed Shahid Husain, who served in the region between 1969 and 1971, utilizes his personal observations and historical analysis to evaluate the actions of key political figures including Yahya Khan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The text argues that while interpretations of historical events may evolve, the underlying facts remain fixed, providing a foundation for understanding the geopolitical shifts of the era.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the political roles played by Yahya Khan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
- Personal accounts of the 1970 Bhola cyclone
- First-hand observations of the administrative and social climate in East Pakistan from 1969 to 1971
Scope Limits
- The book does not provide a comprehensive military history of the 1971 conflict
- It does not offer an exhaustive academic study of post-independence Bangladesh
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Readers frequently note that the text provides a valuable primary source perspective from an individual embedded within the administration during a volatile period. Experts highlight the work as a focused, subjective account that complements broader historical narratives of the region's partition.
Page Count:
248
Publication Date:
2022-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190707291
ISBN-13:
9780190707293
History
Memoir
Asian Studies
Bangladesh Liberation War
Asia history