The Enigma of Pakistani Identity

by Haroon Khalid

Much before Pakistan came into being as a distinct geographical entity, it was an idea. On coming into being, this idea of Pakistan had to be translated into a concrete identity that united a people who, though brought together by religion, were divided by language and culture. The Enigma of Pakistani Identity discusses how this identity has been fleshed out. Brutally honest, incisive and not shying away from asking penetrating questions, this e-book is a carefully researched and crafted work by Haroon Khalid, one of Pakistan’s most promising new writers.

Haroon ferrets out the details even as he makes it evident that he deeply loves the land of his birth and residence. This short book provides refreshing insights and is a distinctive work that forces one to look at the whole process of nation-building in a radically new manner.

Genres: Pakistan

36 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2017

Reviews

[Rohit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghulam tum bhi thay yaaron
Ghulam hum bhi thay yaaron

Naha ke khoon mein aayi thee fasl-e-azaadi

mazaa toh tab tha ke milker
ilaaje-jaan karte....
khud apne haath se,
taameer-e-gulsitaan karte...
hamaare dard mein tum,
aur tumhare dard mein hum....shareek hote....
to jashn-e-aashiyaan karte....
tum aao gulshan-e-Lahore se chaman bardosh,
hum aayein subah-e-Banaras ki roshni lekar...
Himaalaya ki hawaaon ki taazgii lekar...
aur uske baad poochien....ki kaun dushman hai???

[Anil Swarup · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The preservation of non-Muslim history in the country is not influenced by religious beliefs but rather by political compulsions and the county's need to distance itself from Hindu India". This statement sums up what the author has to say about the enigma of Pakistani identity. There have been number of attempts attempts to define the identity of Pakistan independent of India but all these attempts have met with failures. The "religious" context was lost with the splitting of the country on cultural and political differences as religion could not bind the east and the west. Hence, now it is only the "Indian" context that remains relevant.

[Alfa Hisham · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a lot of Indians, Pakistan is an enigma. Severed from the same womb, I always wonder how different can it actually be. This is not a read that will give a complete picture of the country, it is probably one tiny jigsaw piece. Though it would be more authoritative if the author backed up with records if any.

[Aravind P S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read providing insights on to the prepartion period

[Kavita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book and I am surprised that in today's Pakistan he can even write it. It accepts unhesitatingly the Hindu and Sikh past and how it is kept alive in the oral traditions of the folk in spite of the official narrative of denial. After all Pakistan was created on the basic premise that all those other than muslims were heathen and it would be a sin to coexist with them.
Written in a gripping style the book held my interest so much that I could not put it down. It's a great read.

[Abhishek Rajput · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confused nation called Pakistan

People who forget their history are condemned to repeat it, by rooting out the very roots of their past Pakistan institutions are essentially making themselves a root less tree and their are no prizes in guessing what happens to such trees

[Karthik Kailash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pakistan was an idea before the partition. After it became a reality, the Author explores paradoxes of how History was erased, and yet how it still lives on via syncretism and some sombre remnants. Short read, to get a glimpse of Pakistan and it's identity.

[Upinder Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book

An interesting account of facts of history and it's twist by political powers. A thought provoking book. Enjoyed reading it.

[Jayesh Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content and the context of the book justifies every bit of its title. Absolutely loved it!

[Gurudatt Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening Read

A short read which tells how building an idea of 'Pakistan' (an idea distinct from India) is a figment of imagination despite methodical attempts in this direction

[Kumud · Rating 1 out of 5]

An extremely biased and disconnected read. This is neither history nor mythology but just a bad attempt at Pakistani bashing. The book is strictly avoidable.

[Pramod Vemuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike the Pakistan government, Khalid has no insecurities about the hindu heritage of his country, and expresses his lament on the self-deception that Pakistan continues to propagate on their "separatedness" from Hindu civilization. It's a very nice light read for people who like to see the Indian subcontinent as a single civilization, but otherwise this work is less of a "well-researched book", and more of a passionate essay supported by credible research.