Best of
Pakistan

2015

Jinnah Often Came to Our House


Kiran Doshi - 2015
    The young and dashing Sultan Kowaishi has just returned from London to Bombay after passing his barrister exam. Among the first persons he meets is Mohammed Ali Jinnah, already an advocate of note, and is quickly drawn to him. It is also the time when Jinnah decides to join the Indian National Congress, soon to become its brightest star. The stir against the British rule holds no interest for Sultan but it attracts his wife Rehana, and, inexorably, weaves its way into their lives.In this brilliant saga of love and betrayal, pain and redemption, set amidst the long struggle for freedom and its terrible twin, the call for Pakistan, we confront questions that are as relevant today as they were a hundred years ago. Questions of identity, of purpose, of the shackles of a thousand memories . . .

Midnight's Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India's Partition


Nisid Hajari - 2015
    Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi’s protégé and the political leader of India, believed Indians were an inherently nonviolent, peaceful people. Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was a secular lawyer, not a firebrand. But in August 1946, exactly a year before Independence, Calcutta erupted in riots. A cycle of street-fighting — targeting Hindus, then Muslims, then Sikhs — spun out of control. As the summer of 1947 approached, all three groups were heavily armed and on edge, and the British rushed to leave. Hell let loose. Trains carried Muslims west and Hindus east to their slaughter. Some of the most brutal and widespread ethnic cleansing in modern history erupted on both sides of the new border, searing a divide between India and Pakistan that remains a root cause of many evils. From jihadi terrorism to nuclear proliferation, the searing tale told in Midnight’s Furies explains all too many of the headlines we read today.

Footprints of Partition: Narratives of Four Generations of Pakistanis and Indians


Anam Zakaria - 2015
    Millions displaced, thousands slaughtered, families divided and redefined, as home became alien land and the unknown became home. So much has been said about it but there is still no writer, storyteller or poet who has been able to explain the madness of Partition. Using the oral narratives of four generations of people - mainly Pakistanis but also some Indians - Anam Zakaria, a Pakistani researcher, attempts to understand how the perception of Partition and the 'other' has evolved over the years. Common sense dictates that the bitter memories of Partition would now be forgotten and new relationships would have been forged over the years, but that is not always the case. The memories of Partition have been repackaged through state narratives, and attitudes have only hardened over the years. Post-Partition events - wars, religious extremism, terrorism - have left new imprints on 1947. This book documents the journey of Partition itself - after Partition.

Ashes, Wine and Dust


Kanza Javed - 2015
    Beginning in Lahore, the novel enters its first phase with Mariam struggling to retain the memories of her dead grandfather so engrained within her.With willful and determined self-assurance, she leaves for America in search of better days, carrying these memories with her. But encounters with strangers in an unfamiliar land leave Mariam confused and vulnerable. In the midst of forging new paths, she learns of the disappearance of her younger brother, Abdullah, in America.A reverse journeying then begins as she travels backwards to her roots to confront what she once left behind, in order to find the answers she is looking for. Against the backdrop of unyielding social institutions threatened by change and independent individuals, Mariam vows that she will not stop looking for her brother.Ashes, Wine and Dust describes a young woman’s exploration of self-identity through the invisible ropes of social customs, stereotypes and love. As love in all forms is tested in the most strenuous of ways, disappearance in turn, becomes the less chosen road towards a self-discovery.

The Invisible Hand


Ayad Akhtar - 2015
     In remote Pakistan, Nick Bright awaits his fate. A successful financial trader, Nick is kidnapped by an Islamic militant group, but with no one negotiating his release, he agrees to an unusual plan. He will earn his own ransom by helping his captors manipulate and master the world commodities and currency markets. "[A] tense, provocative thriller about the unholy nexus of international terrorism and big bucks...."-Seattle Times "Ahktar again turns hypersensitive subjects into thought-provoking and thoughtful drama"-Newsday "The prime theme is pulsing and alive: when human lives become just one more commodity to be traded, blood eventually flows in the streets"-Financial Times "Whip-smart and twisty"-Time Out New York "The Invisible Hand offers genuine insight into the future of the West" (Village Voice).

Tales Of Crucified Blunt


Areesh Fatmee - 2015
    It washes away the light and there's just a gloomy grim darkness. It may not prove to be a soul relaxant yet it is something someone gasps reading after. Its a collection of tales from our lives. From our very own dark episodes of life. It might not solve the issues but it might assure you that you do have issues with your soul. Mental banalities... Emotional chaos... and the disastrous social mockery. Its terrible indeed.

Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan


Saadia Faruqi - 2015
    You will be captivated by these fictional depictions of everyday Pakistanis who struggle with poverty, violence, corruption and abuse, yet rise from the ashes stronger and more enduring. There is Asma the lackluster seamstress, Faisal the would-be terrorist, Javed Gul the Pushto rock singer, Farzana the cantankerous grandmother, Nida the ten-year-old girl with a cricket obsession, and many more. Together they form a rich mosaic that showcases the beauty of Pakistan, her culture and her people.

Ibil


Adeerus Ghayan - 2015
    The novel revolves around the epidemics of MERS and Ebola viruses and brings to light their ancient roots. It grapples with the factors that lead to different types of terrorists - from foot soldiers to lone wolves. This novel also discusses the contributing factors to the recent surge in terrorism for which corrupt regimes play a central role.Ibil is set in the backdrop of Afghan and Iraq Wars. The Islamic State or Iraq and Syria (ISIS) succeeds in starting a novel virus epidemic in the Middle East and many countries have to work together to stop the virus from spreading throughout the globe.

Thicker Than Soup


Kathryn Joyce - 2015
     Then a surprise pregnancy – and doubts about the paternity – hurls them both into new, but separate, lives. Devastated by the loss of her job, her partner, and her home, Sally and her baby son embark on a journey to Pakistan to meet her father’s distant family. Once there, Sally’s eyes are opened to a world that challenges her deepest beliefs. Meanwhile, John hides his vulnerability behind increasing success as a restaurateur. But the baby has rattled skeletons, and, unable to avoid his past, he too embarks on a journey – to find his birth parents. As their horizons broaden and their views are challenged, the child, Sammy, is an innocent but enduring link. Thicker Than Soup is a story of love, loss and discovery that explores the concepts of morality and independence as Sally and John attempt to build separate futures. Until, that is, providence stirs life’s mixing bowl once more, and Sammy is again the crucial ingredient. Thicker Than Soup is a moving tale of relationships set against a backdrop of both Thatcher’s Britain and a beautifully evoked Pakistan. Inspired by The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd, the novel explores the serious issues of cultural integration and diversity as well as adoption, and also, the devastating shock of HIV.

Kashmir: Exposing the Myth behind the Narrative


Khalid Bashir Ahmad - 2015
    A minority of Kashmiri Brahmans and their progeny who did not convert to Islam built and successfully perpetuated this narrative over the centuries. In the course of time, new elements were added to it. Following the eruption of armed insurgency in Kashmir and mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, this community narrative has turned into the Indian mainstream view on Kashmiri Pandits.Kashmir: Exposing the Myth behind the Narrative challenges the existing narrative through historical facts and cross-referencing. It exposes many fallacies used to uphold this narrative and dissects the work of historians that has sustained ahistorical perceptions over a long period of time. The book links history to the present and facilitates an understanding of the situation today.

Rimachi


Adeerus Ghayan - 2015
    Everything goes on smoothly, until they find out that their host is the biggest drug lord of Peru and his house is attacked by the rival group. No other way out, Kevin steps into Rimachi with his family. Little did they know, they have stepped in the jungle of death and then death starts crawling up to each and every one. A jungle adventure where Kevin has to fight for his life and for his family.

Eqbal Ahmad: Critical Outsider in a Turbulent Age


Stuart Schaar - 2015
    A long-time friend and intellectual collaborator of Ahmad, Stuart Schaar presents in this book previously unseen materials by and about his colleague, having traveled through the United States, India, Pakistan, western Europe, and North Africa to connect Ahmad's experiences to the major currents of modern history.Ahmad was the first to recognize that former ally Osama bin Laden would turn against the United States. He anticipated the rapidly shifting loyalties of terrorists and understood that overthrowing Saddam Hussein would provoke violence and sectarian strife in Iraq. Ahmad had great compassion for the victims of the proxy wars waged by the leading Cold War powers, and he frequently championed unpopular causes, such as the need to extend the rights of Palestinians and protect Bosnians and Kosovars in a disintegrating Yugoslavia. Toward the end of his life, Ahmad worked tirelessly to broker a peace between India and Pakistan and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons throughout the subcontinent. As novel and necessary as ever, Ahmad's remarkable vision is here preserved and extended to reveal the extent to which he was involved in the political and historical conflicts of his time.

Essential Urdu Dictionary (Learn Urdu)


Timsal Masud - 2015
    Whether you're a school or university student or studying for work or pleasure this is the ultimate Urdu reference dictionary.This dictionary is aimed at speakers of English who want to learn Urdu.- Two-way dictionary: Urdu-English, English- Urdu including transliteration throughout.- 4000 headwords.- Contains handy sections teaching Urdu script and grammar.- Insights from the author give extra help and guidance on usage.- Covers everyday idioms and expressions.- Includes new terms related to media and internet Urdu.Written by a university professor with years of teaching experience this dictionary will help support your studies.

Remoteness and Modernity: Transformation and Continuity in Northern Pakistan


Shafqat Hussain - 2015
    Shafqat Hussain examines the surprisingly diverse ways the people of Hunza, a remote independent state in Pakistan, have been viewed by outsiders over the past century. He also explores the Hunza people’s perceptions of British colonialists, Pakistani state officials, modern-day Westerners, and others, and how the local people used their remote status strategically, ensuring their own interests were served as they engaged with the outside world.

Indian Foreign Policy: An Overview


Harsh V. Pant - 2015
    From the peripheries of international affairs, India is now at the centre of major power politics. It is viewed as a major balancer in the Asia-Pacific, a democracy that can be a key ally of the West in countering China, even as India continues to challenge the West on a range of issues. This book provides an overview of Indian foreign policy as it has evolved in recent times, it focuses on the twenty-first century and provides historical context for the issues examined. It analyses and discusses India's relationships with both major global powers; the US, China, Russia and the EU, and its neighbouring countries; Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. India's policies regarding regions such as East Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East are also considered along with India's role in key global issues such as international and regional organizations, nuclear proliferation, democracy, climate change and trade. With a gradual accretion in its powers, India has become more aggressive in the pursuit of its interests, thereby emerging as an important player in the shaping of the global order in the new millennium.

Dollz


Adeerus Ghayan - 2015
    start evolving, making them self-aware, emotional and more human like. Ernest Cecil owns La Meers; world's biggest tech-firm and is on the verge of releasing his latest batch of androids, built on diamond based microchips. He kills one of his employees and her sister captures the murder on holo-video. He sends his androids after her, to capture her, while she tries to expose him.

City of Spies


Sorayya Khan - 2015
    After she discovers the truth behind the tragedy - a terrible secret that burdens her heart - her conflicted loyalties are tested as never before.Based on the author's own experiences growing up in Islamabad, City of Spies offers a poignant and dramatic portrait of a tumultuous time, as seen through the eyes of a brave and compassionate young heroine struggling to find her place in the gray area between loyalty and complicity, family and country.

From Sufism to Ahmadiyya: A Muslim Minority Movement in South Asia


Adil Hussain Khan - 2015
    The controversial movement originated in rural India in the latter part of the 19th century and is best known for challenging current conceptions of Islamic orthodoxy. Despite missionary success and expansion throughout the world, particularly in Western Europe, North America, and parts of Africa, Ahmadis have effectively been banned from Pakistan. Adil Hussain Khan traces the origins of Ahmadi Islam from a small Sufi-style brotherhood to a major transnational organization, which many Muslims believe to be beyond the pale of Islam.