|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coming Blowback: How Pakistan is Endangering the World
While admitting that Islamic fundamentalism had manifested itself in Pakistan in the 1950s, when the Ahmediyas were declared non-Muslims, this book tells us how the polity was radicalised over a period of time. The prime targets were schools, colleges and universities – especially Panjab University – where fundamentalist student unions were actively assisted in their designs to oust secular, progressive and leftist student unions. Similarly, madarsas grew exponentially – especially during the Zia-ul-Haq regime. John has painstakingly documented the various forces that have turned Pakistan into a palpable menace for the civilised world. Although the author does not ignore the good guys and gals, his focus stays unerringly on the bad ones in his attempts to work out the future scenarios in the subcontinent as well as the world at large.
Vikrant, Samaira, Tarun and his wife Riya, Swaminathan and Aditya Ganguly belong to different parts of India – with a couple working in Singapore – but almost simultaneously decide to join London Business School (LBS). Barring Riya, who dutifully accompanies her hubby and looks for a job in London, all of them turn out to be in the same batch. After the initial rites of getting to know each other, the story focuses on their individual dreams and passions, the interplay of emotions and egos as well as insidious rivalries. They had joined the LBS in order to upgrade their skills for the highly competitive job market in the finance sector. Unfortunately, they find themselves amidst an unexpected global meltdown. These ingredients should have provided enough grist for a thrilling narrative. Sadly, it becomes too clubbish to enthuse the general reader. Novels with finance as backdrop have been written for intelligent readers like the two separate novels with the same title, viz., Moneychangers, authored by Arthur Hailey and Upton Sinclair, respectively, Paul Erdman’s The Set-Up, Richard Morgan’s Market Forces and Jeffrey Trester’s Obscene Gestures of an Invisible Hand: Financial Doom and the Death of Culture – The Lighter Side etc. (Un)Imaginative is the operative word here.
The author, a former CBI director, is a prolific writer on the self-improvement theme. In this volume, he avers that under or non-achievers often fail to look within themselves to find out the causes of their failure(s). Therefore, it is important to identify one’s own strengths and weaknesses in order to draw the roadmap to success. Self-image is as important as the public image for one to create positive vibes among those he or she comes into contact with. It is essential that one does not allow others to manage your life; instead you should be able to take decisions on your own. This book may inspire
readers to reinvigorate their efforts for achieving the cherished
goals.
|
||
|
|
||
THE
chickens invariably come home to roost. This is proving absolutely
true in the case of Pakistan. As the book’s title suggests, the
repercussions of unbridled fanaticism are now visiting not only
Pakistan but also its patrons in the West. In order to oust the
Soviets from Afghanistan, the Americans needed Pakistan’s support,
which was given in lieu of hefty economic and military aid as well as
certain in-the-wink-of-an-eye concessions on Pakistan’s clandestine
nuclear programme and low intensity war against India. In order to
motivate the youth against the Soviets it was essential to invoke
Islamic fundamentals in skewed form. For this purpose, a mass effort
had to be made to brainwash the young so that they may be converted
into gun fodder for promoting the Pak-American geo-strategic goals.
You’ve Got To Be
Kidding
How to Excel When
Chips are Down