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End of the Past
'End of the Past' is a documentation of how consequences of various ideological experiments over the last many decades in Pakistan seeped into the soul of the country, insulating future generations from the world, causing them to experience the worst kind of identity crisis.
Paracha's observations and pithy prose weaving in personal stories stems from growing up as a son of a journalist who eventually found a voice of his own as one of Pakistan's leading cultural critics and satirists. He chronologically maps how Pakistan's spiritual soul has been trampled upon in its quest to gain acceptance as an 'ideological state'.
'End of the Past' is written not so much as a nostalgic memoir as an analysis in the form of a narrative and a means of explaining the enigma that is Pakistan.
Paracha looks at Pakistan's political, sporting and cultural pasts, hoping that future generations will learn from them and chart a brand new beginning for a country that he loves passionately. He pleads for a decisive end of the past so that a new and less tumultuous future can be envisioned and built.
Paracha's observations and pithy prose weaving in personal stories stems from growing up as a son of a journalist who eventually found a voice of his own as one of Pakistan's leading cultural critics and satirists. He chronologically maps how Pakistan's spiritual soul has been trampled upon in its quest to gain acceptance as an 'ideological state'.
'End of the Past' is written not so much as a nostalgic memoir as an analysis in the form of a narrative and a means of explaining the enigma that is Pakistan.
Paracha looks at Pakistan's political, sporting and cultural pasts, hoping that future generations will learn from them and chart a brand new beginning for a country that he loves passionately. He pleads for a decisive end of the past so that a new and less tumultuous future can be envisioned and built.
234 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2016
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August 25, 2016
End of the Past is an excellent narrative of Pakistani history that is conveniently ignored in the puritanical and myopic view of our society. Pakistan is frequently termed as the bastion of Islamic civilization and is projected as the country on which the whole Muslim collective (ummah) depends. This ensures that Pakistan's rich and tumultuous history is heavily truncated to corroborate with this view. Children of today don't know about the liberal Pakistan that existed under Ayub or the progressive Pakistan that prevailed during much of Bhutto's regime. We just know about the distorted history that the state introduced in our curriculum years ago. We don't know about the causes and events that made Pakistan regress into an elemental society that is divided by caste, religion, ethnicity, sects and sub-sects. In short, we just don't know who we really are or how we come to stand where we stand today.
Well, this book, by acclaimed culture critic, Nadeem Farooq Paracha, presents us young Pakistanis with the political and cultural history of our country that has been kept locked away from us. Largely based on Mr. Paracha's own personal accounts as well as some very thorough research, we get to see how Pakistan has been treated as a test tube by various political and autocratic regimes for their own personal or ideological gains. How Jinnah's pragmatic view of Pakistan has been used as a Swiss army knife by ideologues to carve out their own version of the country. And how these actions culminated into the identity crisis that many Pakistanis face today.
The book itself is quite cohesively written and is neatly divided into independent chapters. Although at times it feels like Mr. Paracha is being very verbose and repetitive. But this doesn't take way the fact that this book is an essential read for anybody who is looking to get a better understanding of our country's past. Especially those of us who haven't had any conscious recollection of the times when the country had been going through one ideological makeover after another.
In conclusion, End of the Past is as much a memoir or a history book as it is a call to action. Mr. Paracha puts the impetus on us to mould our nation's ideological destiny once and for all. To take Muhammad Ali Jinnah's aspiration for the nation and implement it, for once, without distorting it through a filter of cultural, religious or political bias. Mr. Paracha's frustration in this aspect speaks from the following paragraph in the closing pages of the book:
Well, this book, by acclaimed culture critic, Nadeem Farooq Paracha, presents us young Pakistanis with the political and cultural history of our country that has been kept locked away from us. Largely based on Mr. Paracha's own personal accounts as well as some very thorough research, we get to see how Pakistan has been treated as a test tube by various political and autocratic regimes for their own personal or ideological gains. How Jinnah's pragmatic view of Pakistan has been used as a Swiss army knife by ideologues to carve out their own version of the country. And how these actions culminated into the identity crisis that many Pakistanis face today.
The book itself is quite cohesively written and is neatly divided into independent chapters. Although at times it feels like Mr. Paracha is being very verbose and repetitive. But this doesn't take way the fact that this book is an essential read for anybody who is looking to get a better understanding of our country's past. Especially those of us who haven't had any conscious recollection of the times when the country had been going through one ideological makeover after another.
In conclusion, End of the Past is as much a memoir or a history book as it is a call to action. Mr. Paracha puts the impetus on us to mould our nation's ideological destiny once and for all. To take Muhammad Ali Jinnah's aspiration for the nation and implement it, for once, without distorting it through a filter of cultural, religious or political bias. Mr. Paracha's frustration in this aspect speaks from the following paragraph in the closing pages of the book:
"Today's existentialist battles in Pakistan are being fought with what the founders of Pakistan said or didn't say many years ago - a battle for existence that is threatening our future like never before. But it is a battle lacking the desire to construct a vision or a discourse of what is to be done today and tomorrow. Even while discussing possible future courses, we keep slipping backwards, quoting who said what in the past to supplement our view of Pakistan so it might dominate the views of our ideological opponents. We seem to be stuck in our own imagined views of history."
July 23, 2016
Nadeem Farooq Paracha's "End of the Past", is his debut as a writer in book publishing business after his long stint in various form of journalism. Though we enjoy his satirical columns in newspapers. But this book is a more serious semi autobiographical account of Pakistan from a thinking man's perspective. NFP addresses the changing paradigms in culture,politics and religion in a country brought on by various onslaught of decisions made by state and its people alike . These changes thus not only affected it in one way it was intended but opened a Pandora box of problems. Various political and societal changes are explained either from the sidelines or some in which NFP is directly part of. NFP tries to explain what went wrong with Pakistan and how we got here from the lens of a honest journalist. He does not shy away by ignoring the obvious and the people and state equally being part of the problem, and the various knee jerk reactions by visionaries even like ZAB and Ayub Khan which have resulted in back firing.
NFP is candid and brutally honest about the past of a country like Pakistan may seem alien and fiction to most of us , but it is a country which has survived in-spite of all that took place. The questions being answered by him are one of many , youth and common people alike seek answers to today. Especially how history of this country has be written and re written in a short span of 68 years that has left the nation confused and bewildered . A book which must be read as a precursor to more questions which still need to be answered.
NFP is candid and brutally honest about the past of a country like Pakistan may seem alien and fiction to most of us , but it is a country which has survived in-spite of all that took place. The questions being answered by him are one of many , youth and common people alike seek answers to today. Especially how history of this country has be written and re written in a short span of 68 years that has left the nation confused and bewildered . A book which must be read as a precursor to more questions which still need to be answered.
December 4, 2022
It was a pretty fascinating read - kind of uplifting to see that Pakistani society was at one time enticed by the idea of secular government before Zia came and fucked the country over. The writing itself seemed a little too pretentious and self-taught to me. I think a journalist with as much experience as Paracha should be able to string together compelling narratives but his writing was more like "he did this then he did that", too rigid for it to be a comfortable read. I appreciate his insight, but the guy is far from a good writer, and at some point His Bhutto fanboy was a bit too much.
Also, for a leftist former revolutionary he seemed way too self-congratulatory when the reality of his career was pretty much inherited from his father - so much for a commentary on nepotism LOL
Also, for a leftist former revolutionary he seemed way too self-congratulatory when the reality of his career was pretty much inherited from his father - so much for a commentary on nepotism LOL
May 31, 2016
If you are not looking for a definitive account of Pakistan’s history and have already read some Pakistan history books, this is one helluva read. End of the Past is part autobiography and part opinion account on the different political, cultural and social events author observed in his life. The fact that Nadeem F. Paracha is a prolific cultural critic and satirist makes it even more enjoyable.
The central idea of End of Past is author’s version as to how the earlier (and subsequent) experiments with the religion were responsible for the implicit identity crisis the nation has been facing for the last several decades. Overall, the tone of End of the Past is cynical, which is no surprise.
There is no definite flow of the book; it’s like different pieces put together to form a book. Paracha explores different periods of his life and tries to fuse them with the social and political changes of that particular time to explain the disorientation the society had gradually gone through. One particularly interesting chapter is on the liquor consumption, its prohibition in the late 70’s and subsequent social impact. Similarly, another one is on the evolution and demise of student politics. However, the absence of that ‘literary flow’ does not really undermines the quality of the text or the depth of Paracha’s analysis.
The most striking message I took from this book is Paracha’s explanation of “Jinnah’s Pakistan” – a term that we have continuously had drummed in our ears without us having any conclusive or agreed-upon idea as to what it really is. According to Paracha, Jinnah is everything to everyone. He was at the same time a conservative, a liberal, and a Muslim nationalist – after all, his different speeches do contain elements of different political or social ideologies. Why is that? Paracha explains that Jiinah was a shrewd thinker above everything; and in the early days of Pakistan, he was testing waters to plan how the ideological structure of a Muslim majority state needs to be developed. Resultantly, his speeches actually depended upon his audience at that particular time and place. Unfortunately, he could not live long, and therefore left different messages and speeches fulfilling the preconceived ideologies of different groups that later tried (unsuccessfully) to shape Pakistan. And those unsuccessful and half-baked attempts (Ayub’s liberalism, Bhutto’s Islamic Socialism, Zia’s fundamentalism, Musharraf’s enlightened moderation and clergy's continuous venture to impose Shariah) resulted in an incoherent and confused society.
On a separate note, text is full of typographical errors, which is astonishing because Vanguard is one of country’s oldest publishers. Editor(s) of the book deserves a serious butt-whipping for doing such a miserable job.
The central idea of End of Past is author’s version as to how the earlier (and subsequent) experiments with the religion were responsible for the implicit identity crisis the nation has been facing for the last several decades. Overall, the tone of End of the Past is cynical, which is no surprise.
There is no definite flow of the book; it’s like different pieces put together to form a book. Paracha explores different periods of his life and tries to fuse them with the social and political changes of that particular time to explain the disorientation the society had gradually gone through. One particularly interesting chapter is on the liquor consumption, its prohibition in the late 70’s and subsequent social impact. Similarly, another one is on the evolution and demise of student politics. However, the absence of that ‘literary flow’ does not really undermines the quality of the text or the depth of Paracha’s analysis.
The most striking message I took from this book is Paracha’s explanation of “Jinnah’s Pakistan” – a term that we have continuously had drummed in our ears without us having any conclusive or agreed-upon idea as to what it really is. According to Paracha, Jinnah is everything to everyone. He was at the same time a conservative, a liberal, and a Muslim nationalist – after all, his different speeches do contain elements of different political or social ideologies. Why is that? Paracha explains that Jiinah was a shrewd thinker above everything; and in the early days of Pakistan, he was testing waters to plan how the ideological structure of a Muslim majority state needs to be developed. Resultantly, his speeches actually depended upon his audience at that particular time and place. Unfortunately, he could not live long, and therefore left different messages and speeches fulfilling the preconceived ideologies of different groups that later tried (unsuccessfully) to shape Pakistan. And those unsuccessful and half-baked attempts (Ayub’s liberalism, Bhutto’s Islamic Socialism, Zia’s fundamentalism, Musharraf’s enlightened moderation and clergy's continuous venture to impose Shariah) resulted in an incoherent and confused society.
On a separate note, text is full of typographical errors, which is astonishing because Vanguard is one of country’s oldest publishers. Editor(s) of the book deserves a serious butt-whipping for doing such a miserable job.
March 14, 2016
Brilliant NFP as always ..
December 10, 2020
The first of three books by Pakistan’s self-appointed cultural critic and feature columnist for some of the country’s venerated news publications for the better part of the last three decades. “End of the Past” is a look at Pakistan’s history moving side-by-side with his own life as well as his family’s. He looks back at the cultural changes and shifts in Pakistan’s history and how it came to affect his family as well as others around him.
Born and raised in Karachi, NFP has a storied past from being a self-proclaimed Marxist to a student union leader in the ‘70s and ‘80s, to a political critic and music journalist in the ‘90s, till finally hitting his stride as a recognized cultural pundit, critic, and satirist; as well as an eager historian of Pakistan’s seldom untold and unheard of story. Love him or hate him, NFP’s pieces have something for everyone, either for enlightenment, or for criticism.
I haven’t been an ardent follower of his pieces as my attention varies from one area to another, but never fail to read his pieces once they come across my eye. And his first book is a more expanded version of all the pieces he had written up until that point, which themselves had the arduous task of documenting several of Pakistan’s transformations whether they be for better or worse.
One look at the cover and you’ll find his main areas of interest on full display not just outside but also inside. Starting with the political developments of every single government setup in the country, focusing more towards the ones that directly influenced himself and his own father, a rather known Bhutto supporter. His own life having been transformed thanks to the evolution of student politics during his years in Karachi Grammar School and St. Patricks Government College, till finally becoming a member of a prominent leftist student political party during the Bhutto days. Their encounters with the right-leaning student parties read like something out of gang wars prominent in The Godfather or even Straight Outta Compton.
Another area of expertise in his writings is the overall affect these political changes had over the culture of the country, as the vibrant tapestry of a plethora of different cultures in Pakistan fused together to form something close to a Pakistani ideology. This ideology however, as per the events told in the book, seems to have been evolving from one government to the next, and before you know it, Pakistan has had more transformations in 50 years than the United States has had over the course of 5 centuries. From a nation that was based on principles of tolerance and an end to victimization of the marginalized population of the Indian subcontinent, the country started to transform quickly towards a sense of extremism that became troubling for many that had high hopes of it. The birth of sectarianism, intolerance, compromises made due to political expediency and topics that would rather be kept personal rather than public have found space on the pages of this book.
Music and sports are two other topics where he excels to relate his overall experience as a journalist covering the music scene of the ‘90s as well as the evolution of sports, particularly cricket and the various transformations that it has scene, from the mercurial , hot-tempered and bombastic showman that gave us Saleem Malik’s one-handed batting, Javed Miandad’s infamous kangaroo jump, the 1992 World Cup win, etc. to the modern and commercialized game that has been as politicized as the country itself.
Much like his other titles, the book is full of footnotes that refer to other prominent publications from historians, journalists, politicians, diplomats and even military personnel that gives credence to the points being presented. Even so, the book doesn’t read like a collection of facts thanks to Paracha’s superb abilities at weaving stories surrounding the events as well as his own journey being directly or indirectly impacted by the events. Readers both biased and unbiased are sure to find the narrative worthy of debate and discussion, as well as wondering just how things might have turned out differently.
The more I read it, the more I realize that the events presented here are – while undoubtedly fact – almost as if they were an alternative history of Jinnah’s Pakistan. That is, till you close the book and your eyes, then step out and see that none of it is fiction.
Born and raised in Karachi, NFP has a storied past from being a self-proclaimed Marxist to a student union leader in the ‘70s and ‘80s, to a political critic and music journalist in the ‘90s, till finally hitting his stride as a recognized cultural pundit, critic, and satirist; as well as an eager historian of Pakistan’s seldom untold and unheard of story. Love him or hate him, NFP’s pieces have something for everyone, either for enlightenment, or for criticism.
I haven’t been an ardent follower of his pieces as my attention varies from one area to another, but never fail to read his pieces once they come across my eye. And his first book is a more expanded version of all the pieces he had written up until that point, which themselves had the arduous task of documenting several of Pakistan’s transformations whether they be for better or worse.
One look at the cover and you’ll find his main areas of interest on full display not just outside but also inside. Starting with the political developments of every single government setup in the country, focusing more towards the ones that directly influenced himself and his own father, a rather known Bhutto supporter. His own life having been transformed thanks to the evolution of student politics during his years in Karachi Grammar School and St. Patricks Government College, till finally becoming a member of a prominent leftist student political party during the Bhutto days. Their encounters with the right-leaning student parties read like something out of gang wars prominent in The Godfather or even Straight Outta Compton.
Another area of expertise in his writings is the overall affect these political changes had over the culture of the country, as the vibrant tapestry of a plethora of different cultures in Pakistan fused together to form something close to a Pakistani ideology. This ideology however, as per the events told in the book, seems to have been evolving from one government to the next, and before you know it, Pakistan has had more transformations in 50 years than the United States has had over the course of 5 centuries. From a nation that was based on principles of tolerance and an end to victimization of the marginalized population of the Indian subcontinent, the country started to transform quickly towards a sense of extremism that became troubling for many that had high hopes of it. The birth of sectarianism, intolerance, compromises made due to political expediency and topics that would rather be kept personal rather than public have found space on the pages of this book.
Music and sports are two other topics where he excels to relate his overall experience as a journalist covering the music scene of the ‘90s as well as the evolution of sports, particularly cricket and the various transformations that it has scene, from the mercurial , hot-tempered and bombastic showman that gave us Saleem Malik’s one-handed batting, Javed Miandad’s infamous kangaroo jump, the 1992 World Cup win, etc. to the modern and commercialized game that has been as politicized as the country itself.
Much like his other titles, the book is full of footnotes that refer to other prominent publications from historians, journalists, politicians, diplomats and even military personnel that gives credence to the points being presented. Even so, the book doesn’t read like a collection of facts thanks to Paracha’s superb abilities at weaving stories surrounding the events as well as his own journey being directly or indirectly impacted by the events. Readers both biased and unbiased are sure to find the narrative worthy of debate and discussion, as well as wondering just how things might have turned out differently.
The more I read it, the more I realize that the events presented here are – while undoubtedly fact – almost as if they were an alternative history of Jinnah’s Pakistan. That is, till you close the book and your eyes, then step out and see that none of it is fiction.
February 7, 2018
I was in search of a book that could provide some sort of insight into Zia's regime since I have been hearing that everything we are going through today is because of Zia — and only Zia. I ended up with Nadeen Farooq Paracha's "End of The Past", since its title, and cover too, suggested the book to be something from history, but it rather is collection of reminiscences from his childhood, teenage, and youth — though he claims otherwise on back cover of the book.
NFP wanted to stay much solemn, going against his nature but couldn't kept complete control of his satire on politicians — and policemen too — which made this book enlivened by a series of nostalgic episodes. Whoever is thinking that "End of Past" has to do something with history of Pakistan, NO. Its actually end to NFP's students politics.
The way NFP provided information on students' politics of 60s, 70s and 80s in this memoir is very interesting. If someone was following recent conflict of Pashtun/Balouch students with IJT in Punjab University, he can easily relate it to that of St. Pat's student politics. How students should manipulate things in elections, how lobbying must be done at college level, and how student associations nominate candidates keeping in view the strengths and weaknesses of students, learn from this book of NFP.
One funny thing that I learned from this book is that whatever misdemeanor — either its doing hashish or chasing call girls — NFP was committing in his teenage was not merely for the sake of pleasure, but to go against Zia's government. I wish he could have not emphasized too much on Zia but have credited himself for all his activities. It is much evident from his recent writings and interviews that NFP least cares about being politically correct, and so did he do in this book. Though it was hurtful that he, most of the times, presented Pashtuns or Peshawar as symbol of negativity — he met Pashtun gatekeeper in Europe at desi hotel, pistol influx to Karachi University was from Peshawar, heroin and drugs becoming easily approachable when Pashtun IDPs arrived in Karach etc — but at least he remained truthful to his conscience. His only good take on Peshawar is his days spent at some of his relative's home after death of his student friend in Karachi.
He repeated many things many times, and sometimes wanted to create humor out of nothing, and sometimes described a very irrelevant incident to prove another irrelevant thing. For examples an Indian cricketer, Mr. Naik, was stealing a shirt from London shop which he wanted to attribute to the political turmoil happening back in India. Didn't make much sense, apologies.
His grip on showbiz and cricket is absolutely fantastic. The way he presented review of a few movies and cricket matches from 80s, 90s and 00s is so entertaining.
In the end he fell to bandwagon fallacy of putting so much trust in Raheel Shraif, in expectation of coming something good from Pakistan military under Raheel Sharif, which was not much fascinating. For his current ideology he called himself a Marxist, then a social democrat, then a Muslim nationalist, and finally a progressive Muslim. I am not sure if a single person could be all four simultaneously, or it could be, I don't know. And then, he ended with bringing Muslim brothers and sisters closer to Almighty, but in a bit different way. All good.
Anyhow, happy belated birthday Paracha Sb.
NFP wanted to stay much solemn, going against his nature but couldn't kept complete control of his satire on politicians — and policemen too — which made this book enlivened by a series of nostalgic episodes. Whoever is thinking that "End of Past" has to do something with history of Pakistan, NO. Its actually end to NFP's students politics.
The way NFP provided information on students' politics of 60s, 70s and 80s in this memoir is very interesting. If someone was following recent conflict of Pashtun/Balouch students with IJT in Punjab University, he can easily relate it to that of St. Pat's student politics. How students should manipulate things in elections, how lobbying must be done at college level, and how student associations nominate candidates keeping in view the strengths and weaknesses of students, learn from this book of NFP.
One funny thing that I learned from this book is that whatever misdemeanor — either its doing hashish or chasing call girls — NFP was committing in his teenage was not merely for the sake of pleasure, but to go against Zia's government. I wish he could have not emphasized too much on Zia but have credited himself for all his activities. It is much evident from his recent writings and interviews that NFP least cares about being politically correct, and so did he do in this book. Though it was hurtful that he, most of the times, presented Pashtuns or Peshawar as symbol of negativity — he met Pashtun gatekeeper in Europe at desi hotel, pistol influx to Karachi University was from Peshawar, heroin and drugs becoming easily approachable when Pashtun IDPs arrived in Karach etc — but at least he remained truthful to his conscience. His only good take on Peshawar is his days spent at some of his relative's home after death of his student friend in Karachi.
He repeated many things many times, and sometimes wanted to create humor out of nothing, and sometimes described a very irrelevant incident to prove another irrelevant thing. For examples an Indian cricketer, Mr. Naik, was stealing a shirt from London shop which he wanted to attribute to the political turmoil happening back in India. Didn't make much sense, apologies.
His grip on showbiz and cricket is absolutely fantastic. The way he presented review of a few movies and cricket matches from 80s, 90s and 00s is so entertaining.
In the end he fell to bandwagon fallacy of putting so much trust in Raheel Shraif, in expectation of coming something good from Pakistan military under Raheel Sharif, which was not much fascinating. For his current ideology he called himself a Marxist, then a social democrat, then a Muslim nationalist, and finally a progressive Muslim. I am not sure if a single person could be all four simultaneously, or it could be, I don't know. And then, he ended with bringing Muslim brothers and sisters closer to Almighty, but in a bit different way. All good.
Anyhow, happy belated birthday Paracha Sb.
May 12, 2017
3.5 stars
I have always avidly followed Dawn for I love Nadeem F. Paracha's articles. Favourite being ; A Post-Manto dream. So I just had to have this. The paper quality is pretty low for a hardback and had many spelling and grammatical mistakes. It's kind of like a memoir of sorts with pertinent anecdotes here and there which balances the informatively history-related pieces. My knowledge about Islamic sects was extremely poor before reading the first 30 pages and now, I know which subsect I belong to. Not that that matters at all. Absolutely agreed with the snippet about the Two nation theory. I, subjectively, find it to be racist and hypocritical. It states that there's no chance in hell for a country with multiple races or religions to prosper which defies the fact that there, incontrovertibly, are places that have harmony and are coexisting. The said theory doesn't even give way to a contingency of leniency. And the thing that induces an ire for me is that Pakistan was based on it. Completely flummoxes me. Also, the hypocritical part is in commensurate with the fact that when Pakistan did emerge on the international map, the Pakistani leaders completely negated the Two nation theory by saying that they safeguard the rights of minorities. This is completely an antithesis to the theory and hence, nonsensical. On an impertinent note, the theory is also used by the Indian BJP who've been behind multitudes of genocides in their state. I ignored all the annotations at the end of the pages, regardless of their relation to the text. My father was also jailed twice under Zia ul Haq's regime because of the Student union ordinance so I absolutely loved the 4th chapter. Gave great insight to that epoch. The fact that students hold so much power discombobulates me. The book did have repetition. All in all, a good read.
July 13, 2021
There is so much to learn from this book that serves not only as a historical documentation of Pakistan but also as a semi-autobiography of one of the country’s most prolific writers, Nadeem Farooq Paracha. Though I have always known that Pakistan has a habit of rewriting and distorting history, this book made me realize the depths of such dishonest practices. Such as Pakistani families hiding their Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh roots but above all, how Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s dream of Pakistan being a multicultural, non-theocratic and democratic Muslim-majority nation-state was twisted and turned to make the common citizen believe that he wanted an Islamic state.
Other interesting tidbits that I found from this book were how active the student unions were in Pakistan three decades ago, how the ban on alcohol was actually very detrimental for the country and how the mistreatment of Bengalis by PPP and our military lead to a civil war which subsequently resulted in a separate country, Bangladesh. Furthermore, it is common practice for army officers (retired or serving) to be hired in major positions of civilian companies but I’m surprised how old such custom is as the author mentions that in 1962, a senior army officer was hired as the national cricket team’s manager yet he couldn’t tell the difference between cricket and football.
Other interesting tidbits that I found from this book were how active the student unions were in Pakistan three decades ago, how the ban on alcohol was actually very detrimental for the country and how the mistreatment of Bengalis by PPP and our military lead to a civil war which subsequently resulted in a separate country, Bangladesh. Furthermore, it is common practice for army officers (retired or serving) to be hired in major positions of civilian companies but I’m surprised how old such custom is as the author mentions that in 1962, a senior army officer was hired as the national cricket team’s manager yet he couldn’t tell the difference between cricket and football.
December 9, 2017
In today's social world many of us know Nadeem Farooq Paracha. He's a writer in dawn newspaper as well as consider as best among critics. In this particular book he narrate the history of Pakistan. Zia era and anti zia things has been focused. this book encapsulate tge time period when jinnah's Pakistan was going towards other delimas. this book is good attempt to reach towards socio-political thoughts in the period where many pakistanis failed to reach core of crisis. this book aware the generation about past socio-religio-political crisis. A very factual attitude has been adopted by Paracha in his book. enigmatic view of past few decades has been shared through which we can compare all 70 years development and repeated change in our direction.
Paracha cover all aspects of that time whatever they are from colleges or cricket world. Paracha basically doing comparison among his Pakistan and the Pakistan was existing at that time.
End of the past is basically an autobiography of NFP what events he have face in his early ages. today's genration is really far away from the history and having no idea about liberalisation in instability in first ten year. why we are suffering today what was our basis. genration is just seeing what is happening today and how coupd handel it. Ayub's period which was liberalisation period, Bhutto's full of progress period or what was Zia's policies. we are just following simple craming this for our students whose mean is to just persue for degree. no knowledge is more then degree. NFP trying to ask us about the change in our society by making castes, sects, sub-sects and ethical values. By which we can know our core issues. who are us and how we became this?
In this book we can perceive few years of our rulers how they come and what they have done. how jinnah's point if view his pragmatic approach has been used by our autocratic rulers while democrates or military man.
what i perceive is that NFP is just awaring us by notion of jinnah was miss used and giving a frustratingly Pakistani's look who know the past or particularly live in that era as active participant against that agitation and being victim of that thing mentally ir physically.
Paracha cover all aspects of that time whatever they are from colleges or cricket world. Paracha basically doing comparison among his Pakistan and the Pakistan was existing at that time.
End of the past is basically an autobiography of NFP what events he have face in his early ages. today's genration is really far away from the history and having no idea about liberalisation in instability in first ten year. why we are suffering today what was our basis. genration is just seeing what is happening today and how coupd handel it. Ayub's period which was liberalisation period, Bhutto's full of progress period or what was Zia's policies. we are just following simple craming this for our students whose mean is to just persue for degree. no knowledge is more then degree. NFP trying to ask us about the change in our society by making castes, sects, sub-sects and ethical values. By which we can know our core issues. who are us and how we became this?
In this book we can perceive few years of our rulers how they come and what they have done. how jinnah's point if view his pragmatic approach has been used by our autocratic rulers while democrates or military man.
what i perceive is that NFP is just awaring us by notion of jinnah was miss used and giving a frustratingly Pakistani's look who know the past or particularly live in that era as active participant against that agitation and being victim of that thing mentally ir physically.
July 4, 2023
The book is majorly about the years of author's life when he was most active in politics as a member of a student union. The major time period is Z.A Bhutto and Zia ul Haq days. The author's personal accounts were what I enjoyed a lot because they were easy to connect with even though our classes are poles apart. Overall a good read for those who question the thought policing brigade.
Spoiler Alert or Warning: JI members should read it at their own risk because there is a fat chance of frothing at the mouth.
Spoiler Alert or Warning: JI members should read it at their own risk because there is a fat chance of frothing at the mouth.
October 17, 2024
Albeit a thorough account of Paracha’s years involved with leftist student politics, satirical journalism and a good deal of “shughal”—as he puts it, this book is largely a self-congratulatory memoir & a skewed/prejudiced interpretation of the state of politics in the country. On top of that, i found the writing to be extremely sloppy (not enough difficult words for my liking).
December 4, 2016
Good book...Enjoyed a lot.
Typical NFP..
writer is a kind of misfit,
So while reading that should be kept in mind.There is a kind of biasness in setting the standard of Morality last but not least I think writer seems to be drawing a comparison between his and Pakistan's spiritual soul
Typical NFP..
writer is a kind of misfit,
So while reading that should be kept in mind.There is a kind of biasness in setting the standard of Morality last but not least I think writer seems to be drawing a comparison between his and Pakistan's spiritual soul
July 20, 2017
Paracha is brilliant. The way he describes every little thing is worth to read again and again. Thank yoh paracha for making me understand this side of our history. A very factual and pragmatic approach is built up in this book. Must read.
May 25, 2018
loved it, especially the first chapter, and then the chapter on wines and films and pakistani cinema.
April 26, 2019
I love the history of Pakistan as told by Paracha through his lived past. Without any exaggeration and well-researched book.
March 30, 2020
If youve followed or read NFP over the ages, the only interesting thing youd find in this book are his personal/life stories. Nothing new otherwise
January 2, 2021
NFP is perhaps the only Pakistani journalist whose work I look forward to reading. His simple language and grounded writing keeps me interested and actually makes sense.
September 15, 2025
Reads like a long NFP article understandly replete with conspiracies and tongue in cheek remarks and glorifying the violent and miserable history of this god forsaken country
January 10, 2017
Nadeem Farooq Paracha or NFP, as he's commonly known, is a Pakistani cultural critic and satirist who has become an important voice in the current milieu of critics sprouting up left, right and centre. Apart from the fact that he's been at it for more than two decades, his past has morphed him into a force all the more important for as demarcated a society as ours with opinions of all kinds being thrown around like monkeys flinging feces. One may not be a big fan of NFP's pompous style of prose but nobody can disagree with the power his pen possesses in delivering seemingly benign opinions with the utmost ease and immense lucidity, and how it affects the reader at some level.
"End of the Past" is NFP's first published book which has come at a time (seemingly Pakistan has been riding on a knife’s edge since conception making everyday a bloody critical point in her history) when the denizens of Pakistan have lost all semblance of identity. What direction did Jinnah want Pakistan to take – a secular state bordering on modernism and liberalism or an Islamic Republic as it was deemed out to be soon after Jinnah’s passing? Or simply, what exactly is “Jinnah’s Pakistan” that we’ve heard every politician from Bhutto and Zia to Sharif and Musharraf use incessantly to drive their campaigns? I think NFP makes a decent attempt at reaching the roots of the issue and presents a potential solution albeit idealistic in the last chapter of the book.
NFP’s take on the subject of manipulation of religion in Pakistan and the role it’s played in the evolution of the political thought in the country’s evolution is especially insightful. He’s from that generation which faced the brunt of Zia’s oppression and the religious upheaval courtesy the influx of US Dollars and Saudi Riyals. But even prior to Zia, appeasing the religious authorities or using them for their own benefit had forever been every Pakistani politician’s key to success e.g. Bhutto did so by officially declaring the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan non-Muslim, and not to forget the conglomeration of 9 parties to form the right-wing PNA solely to fight against the socialist agenda of PPP in the 1977 elections. He delves into a lot of detail explaining the origin of various student unions and the roles they played in the political evolution of Pakistan from the 50’s into the 70’s and 80’s. Anyone who wants to become a bit more politically aware in Pakistan should give it a read.
My favourite chapter of the book is, “Sound/Vision Deafness/Blindness”. This is what NFP has really been known for – the uncanny ability to decipher the complex cultural ambiance of Pakistan and present it in the most hilariously readable and lucid manner. He covers the entertainment business, Lollywood, music and theatre, and how it’s evolved with the tumultuous political happenings of the country. And obviously an NFP book would’ve been incomplete without his astute take on Cricket and how politics have changed the outlook of the Pakistani team over the years. Although reading Osman Samiuddin’s, “The Unquiet Ones”, would a lot more helpful for the academic, NFP’s satirical dialogue shouldn’t be missed!
The last chapter of the book took me by complete surprise. For the first time I’ve read NFP talk about his religious beliefs and what, according to him, the Muslims and Pakistanis need to do in order to progress. Overall, the book is a fun read and presents a load of information on the political scenario of Pakistan. The references NFP gives are really interesting and I’ve jotted down quite a few titles for future reads. Authors like Ayesha Jalal and K. K. Aziz need to be read by every Pakistani in order garner a deeper understanding of the machinations of Pakistani society. Furthermore, anyone possessing deep apathy for NFP should read it as well, as the book provides an a lot more intimate viewpoint of the much debated journalist we’ve come to love and hate.
"End of the Past" is NFP's first published book which has come at a time (seemingly Pakistan has been riding on a knife’s edge since conception making everyday a bloody critical point in her history) when the denizens of Pakistan have lost all semblance of identity. What direction did Jinnah want Pakistan to take – a secular state bordering on modernism and liberalism or an Islamic Republic as it was deemed out to be soon after Jinnah’s passing? Or simply, what exactly is “Jinnah’s Pakistan” that we’ve heard every politician from Bhutto and Zia to Sharif and Musharraf use incessantly to drive their campaigns? I think NFP makes a decent attempt at reaching the roots of the issue and presents a potential solution albeit idealistic in the last chapter of the book.
NFP’s take on the subject of manipulation of religion in Pakistan and the role it’s played in the evolution of the political thought in the country’s evolution is especially insightful. He’s from that generation which faced the brunt of Zia’s oppression and the religious upheaval courtesy the influx of US Dollars and Saudi Riyals. But even prior to Zia, appeasing the religious authorities or using them for their own benefit had forever been every Pakistani politician’s key to success e.g. Bhutto did so by officially declaring the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan non-Muslim, and not to forget the conglomeration of 9 parties to form the right-wing PNA solely to fight against the socialist agenda of PPP in the 1977 elections. He delves into a lot of detail explaining the origin of various student unions and the roles they played in the political evolution of Pakistan from the 50’s into the 70’s and 80’s. Anyone who wants to become a bit more politically aware in Pakistan should give it a read.
My favourite chapter of the book is, “Sound/Vision Deafness/Blindness”. This is what NFP has really been known for – the uncanny ability to decipher the complex cultural ambiance of Pakistan and present it in the most hilariously readable and lucid manner. He covers the entertainment business, Lollywood, music and theatre, and how it’s evolved with the tumultuous political happenings of the country. And obviously an NFP book would’ve been incomplete without his astute take on Cricket and how politics have changed the outlook of the Pakistani team over the years. Although reading Osman Samiuddin’s, “The Unquiet Ones”, would a lot more helpful for the academic, NFP’s satirical dialogue shouldn’t be missed!
The last chapter of the book took me by complete surprise. For the first time I’ve read NFP talk about his religious beliefs and what, according to him, the Muslims and Pakistanis need to do in order to progress. Overall, the book is a fun read and presents a load of information on the political scenario of Pakistan. The references NFP gives are really interesting and I’ve jotted down quite a few titles for future reads. Authors like Ayesha Jalal and K. K. Aziz need to be read by every Pakistani in order garner a deeper understanding of the machinations of Pakistani society. Furthermore, anyone possessing deep apathy for NFP should read it as well, as the book provides an a lot more intimate viewpoint of the much debated journalist we’ve come to love and hate.
March 2, 2017
- A must read for all 20 somethings Pakistanis
November 20, 2016
A typical view held by all anti-Ziaists, but fails to really get to the core of the identity crisis of millions of Pakistanis. But, nevertheless, a good book to instill socio-political awareness in the ever neglectful and heedless youth striving to upgrade their bourgeois status without any religio-socio-political advancement. Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular needs to revisit their roots, endorse it and be proud if it if they really want a change and restore the lost glory. Stop being what you re not and what you can never be.
January 21, 2018
The book is majorly about the years of author's life when he was most active in politics as a member of a student union. The major time period is Z.A Bhutto and Zia ul Haq days. The author's personal accounts were what I enjoyed a lot because they were easy to connect with even though our classes are poles apart. Overall a good read for those who question the thought policing brigade.
Spoiler Alert or Warning: JI members should read it at their own risk because there is a fat chance of frothing at the mouth.
Spoiler Alert or Warning: JI members should read it at their own risk because there is a fat chance of frothing at the mouth.
June 4, 2016
I don't know what to make of this book. It read like Mohsin Hameed's 'How to become filthy rich in rising Asia,' except that it's nonfiction. I guess it's hard for me to connect with narratives of a male inhaling pot and involved in student politics.
The book does affirm my opinion that Pakistanis should embrace their whole history going back to Indus civilization instead of starting it with the invasion by Mohammed Bin Qasim.
The book does affirm my opinion that Pakistanis should embrace their whole history going back to Indus civilization instead of starting it with the invasion by Mohammed Bin Qasim.
April 26, 2017
End of the Past is an autobiographical history of Pakistan from the eyes of Nadeem Paracha. Written in a frank style, the book looks at how extremism and fundamentalism evolved in the country.
A good read for people who love reading NFP's column in Dawn newspaper
A good read for people who love reading NFP's column in Dawn newspaper
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