Pakistan at the Helm by Tilak Devasher
Non fiction
Book review
Rating 5/5 for the research and analysis
Tilak Devasher the author; retired from the cabinet secretariat, Government of India, as Special Secretary in 2014. During his professional career with the cabinet secretariat, he specialized in security issues pertaining to India’s neighbourhood. Post retirement, he has continued to take a keen interest in India’s neighbourhood with special focus on Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. He has written articles for The Economic Times, The Indian Express and many others.
This is his second book on Pakistan and is an analysis worthy of your time!
The book continues where the previous book stopped. After explaining the situation and complexity of issues in Pakistan this book is a straightforward account and summary of the prime ministers and Presidents of Pakistan.
So to better understand the chronology, you may read the previous book before you start on this one though it does not make much difference! In fact you can read the previous book even after you read this one since they cover different aspects and issues.
One of the few times where a non fiction novel feels like fiction and a page turner!
The pace is like a soap opera and you are treated with choicest of juice and gossip and politics!
In an almost cat and mouse game of sorts you are shown how the civilian Prime Minister comes to power only to get dethroned by the army chief president! And the cycle repeats!
So while his previous book concentrated on Jinnah and Pakistan people, here he tells us about the leaders who came after.
After a short introduction about end of the British Rule and the rule of Jinnah he tells us about the subsequent leaders and successors.
Starting with Ayub Khan and his rise to fame till he is ousted by Yahya khan.
Then how Yahya khan becomes the leader followed by Z A Bhutto. The author tells a lot of stories about all of them but the best stories and trivia is about Z A Bhutto!
They are so interesting to read and an eye opener for Manu like me who knew nothing about the father of Benazir Bhutto!
Eventually how he is ousted by Zial-ul-Haq and tried by the court and hanged. It’s got everything to keep you on your toes!
Then the rise of Zial-ul-Haq and his sudden death in a plane crash! Pakistan lost so many senior officers and leaders in that plane crash that it was a major tragedy!
In between all this Benazir Bhutto continued the legacy of her father ( there also you have lots of soap!) and became the prime minister twice! And with an arrangement with Musharraf would have become the PM third time if not for her assassination. Her role in getting the Nuclear tech from North Korea and how she met her husband and his role and activities has been described elaborately!
Then you have Zial Haq’s favourite politician; Nawaz Sharif! How luck favoured him and how he by so many twists of fate became the PR man of a company then finance minister by luck and then chief minister of Punjab and finally Prime minister! It is a story which much be read and enjoyed! The author has aptly named him the comeback kid! This is one of the best sections of the book!
He talks about the Kargil war and the other two wars and the loss of East Pakistan and how these events came and progressed and the aftermath of these major events!
Finally he tell’s about Pervez Musharraf in a section titled shoot and scoot! His role in Kargil and his resurgence after the war and his presidency and his deals with Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and even Imran Khan. The period until 2017 is covered in the book.
The author gives interesting details on the lesser known stuff about everyone and backs it up with extensive research and references!
The chronology is smooth and straightforward and the narration keeps you engaged! Specially since everyone is interested in what is happening with the neighbour!
There is a short summary in the end about the book and the author also about his previous book Courting the Abyss.
Grab it if you love non fiction; grab it even if you don’t!
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