Book Review: The Story of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral by F.M Khan

Being a veteran of war and later a successful businessman F.M Khan wrote the story of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral. This was about the war of freedom of Northern Areas of Pakistan. Khan in his book has described the various events leading to the change of government in Gilgit. The night of Oct 31 and 1 Nov 1947 has been discussed in particular, which led to the overthrow and arrest of the Dogra governor at Gilgit.

Quoting from various passages of Major Brown’s book, Khan believes that Major Brown was primarily working for the Dogra government up to the night of October 31, 1947. The author has recorded the events of the Gilgit revolution very honestly and has also admitted his own reluctant participation in the looting of Hindu shops in Gilgit after the revolt.

From 1860 to 1947 Northern areas was governed by British India and the Dogra state of Kashmir. The British Indian government had established schools, hospitals and had also installed telephone, telegram and post offices. Developments such as these were basically for the benefit of the colonizers.

Apart from that the history books in Pakistan are silent about Gilgit Baltistan. Khan has highlighted the ethnic and cultural diversity in the region also including ancient history and the various battles fought by the people of the region in the more recent history. These battles include the battles of Tragbal, Guraiz, Zojila, Drass, Kargil and Ladakh.

The book is of interest to students of politics, geography, history, warfare and strategic studies. Furthermore the main purpose of this book is to provide a way to future historians to expand upon the subject of Gilgit Baltistan and carry out detailed research.

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Book Review: A Short History of the Ismailis by Farhad Daftary

Ismailis are one of the major Shia Muslim communities of the world. Currently they are present in 25 countries of the world in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Until recently the Ismailis were studied on the accounts of their enemies. In 1930’s the study of Ismailism started to revolutionize, as the recovery of a large number of Ismaili text in private collections proved to be a catalyst.

Daftary’s book is part of the modern scholarship which has discussed the main developments and phases throughout the Ismaili history. These phases include the early formative phase, Fatimid phase, Alamut period, post-Alamut periods and the later modern developments in the Nizari Community after the 13^th century.

Major schisms that took place within Ismailism have also been discussed. The relations of Nizari Ismailis with the Sufis have also highlighted. Concepts such as dawa, dai, Taqiyya are explained in detail. Esoteric and exoteric concepts in Ismailism are made clear with reference to historical events and practices. This book critically examines the Ismaili historiography and is a concise survey to study for researchers to study.

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