Book Review: National Liberation War in Vietnam by General Von Nguyen Giap

General Giap’s book National Liberation War in Vietnam covers the struggle of the Vietnamese people against the ruthless imperialist forces. Strategy and tactics of guerilla warfare in Vietnam are included. The author relates the resistance in Vietnam back to 11^th century, when the fight was against the Chinese Sung army. Furthermore the resisting the Mongol attack of 13^th century and the Ming invasion of 15^th century have also been included. In the 18^th century 200,000 strong army of the Ching was crushed by the people of Vietnam, which marked the last foreign feudal aggression in the country.

Second World War created a new scenario for Vietnam. Now the main objective turned into national liberation. The revolution of August 1945 was against the fascist Japanese and the pro- Japanese puppet administration. Immediately after the August Revolution the Vietnamese fought against the French colonialists. This war of resistance lasted nine years ending in victory for the communists in 1954.The author quotes President Ho Chi Minh: “To save the country and liberate the people, the only way is that of proletarian revolution”.

In 1950 Vietnam started receiving aid from brother socialist countries. Giap believes that men, politics and ideology are the most determining factors for the excellence of armed forces. He refers to Ho Chi Minh’s historic appeal: “Without a solid rear area, the front cannot win; this is the general law of all wars”. After victory at Dien Bien Phu the northhad become a rear area in the struggle against the imperialist forces.

Furthermore the author considers offensive thought as the ideological basis of revolutionary strategy and war in Vietnam. He views offensive as an insurrection. Only when guerilla warfare expands can regular warfare fully develop and progress. The choice of the time of attack along with that of the direction of attack has a decisive impact in uprising and a great importance in war.

The author quotes Lenin: “Victory in war goes to the side whose person has greater reserves, greater sources of strength and greater endurance”. Military history, military force, political force, importance of rear area, mode of conducting the war, the role of leadership of the party and the essentials of victory are all included in this book, written by an author who himself played a vital part in the liberation of Vietnam.

Read More

Book Review: A Short History of China by Gordon Kerr

This amazing book provides a comprehensive introduction to more than 4000 years of Chinese history. For thousands of years the Chinese thought of their land as the very center of civilization. Compass and gun powder are definitely Chinese inventions. Even the wheel barrow did not come to use in Europe until the 12^th century, but the Chinese were already using one- wheeled carts from the second century. The world’s first government issued paper money was also introduced in China in 1120s. The Chinese have a glorious history spanning over thousands of years.

In this book the author takes start from the Neolithic time period in China. Other than that, phases of turmoil, invasion, empire building, declining empires and demise of emperors have been included.  From Confucianism to Daoism’s doctrine of quietism, numerous subjects have been touched. Various important themes including military power, agriculture, personal decorum, social relations and burial of emperors are also included.  Class system in Chinese can be examined by the fact that at one time the mandarins regarded themselves superior to the labor class and grew their long fingernails to demonstrate their disassociation from them.

The author relates the origination of Buddhism in Northern China to Central Asia. Moreover in the book the account of Chinese Buddhist traveller Faxian (337-c.422) has also been included. In 7^th century China the imperial court was dominated by an Empress named Wu Zetian, who ruled for 15 years. Adding on to that life under the Mongols, decline of the Yuan Empire and rule of the Ming Dynasty are also discussed in this book.

Kerr views China as to have failed to materialize changes such as industrial development, as vital elements of economy, commerce and power of bureaucracy were under state control. He opines that China lost the initiative to the West in the eighteenth century. Before that, in the seventeenth century, the standard of living in China was amongst the highest in the world and the middle Kingdom was leading in terms of innovation and discovery. The Opium War of the nineteenth century between Great Britain and China (1840- 1842) is considered the first and most important conflict between both the sides. In addition to that, the treaty of Nanking and migration of the Chinese to other parts of the world are briefly explained.

The start of the twentieth century in China was marked by a struggle between warlords, nationalist, communists, idealists and opportunists, which brought an end to China’s 2000 year old tradition of monarchial rule. The tussle between the Kuomintang and the Communist party of China for power, collaboration of both these parties against the common enemy Japan are highlighted. Rule by Mao, Zhou Enlai and the period of modernization by Deng Xiaoping are specified in the latter half of the book.

In the concluding paragraphs of the book China’s current position in the world is examined. While applauding the growth rate/fight against poverty the author on the other hand raises serious questions over pollution (China is home to 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities), democratization and right to information in China.

Read More

Book Review: A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong

A Short History of Myth starts with an introductory chapter on addressing the question of what is a myth. The Paleolithic period, Neolithic period, the early civilizations, the axial age, post-axial age and the period of great western transformation are included in the book. According to the author myth is about the unknown. Myth is true only because it is effective, not because it provides factual information.

In history there were various myths regarding trees, stones and sky. These objects were revered because they were supposed to be the manifestations of a concealed force. In the author’s view mythology springs from great anxiety about essentially practical problems, which cannot be satisfied by purely rational arguments.

Moreover the author believes that when the last prophet of Islam flies from Makkah to Jerusalem, he breaks through a new level of spiritual attainment. Besides that the concept of Shaman is discussed in great detail. Shamans the masters of trance and ecstasy operated in hunting societies. In these societies animals played an important role in spirituality. Eskimos is Greenland is a relevant example of belief in Shamans. About 10,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period human beings invented agriculture. This invention caused changes in mythology. The female goddess gained importance during this time period.

Further in the book the Armstrong compares logos and myth. The ideas of Confucius and Plato are discussed in the second half of the book. The debate of Greek logos versus myth has been narrated. Unless a historical event is mythological it cannot become a source of religious inspiration. She stresses that Jews, Christians and Muslims continued to use mythology to explain their insights or to respond to a crises. Some Greek Christians were of the view that using reason to discuss the sacred was about as pointless as trying to eat soup with a fork. Theology was only valid if followed with prayer and liturgy.

Armstrong views the status of myth as remaining the same until 16^th century. After that the great transformation in human history which made it very difficult to think mythically originated from Western Europe. This was western modernity, the child of logos. Lastly the author stresses that our lives may have become more sophisticated materially, but the nineteenth century misconception of declaring myth as false should not accepted, as myth teaches us to see the world differently, by forming a perspective which goes beyond our own self-interest.

Read More