Book Review: End of the Past by Nadeem Farooq Paracha

End of the Past is an easy to read book based on eight chapters. In the first chapter the author throws some light on the history of Parachas. He says that Paracha are mainly Punjabi. They are found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia and even in India.

After that Paracha discusses his early life in Karachi leading to his admission in Saint Patrick’s College Karachi. From 1971 to 1982 he was a student of Karachi Grammer School. Later due to his father’s instable financial position he could not go abroad like his many other friends did.

Throughout the book Paracha tells his own story and relates it with the different governments of the past. At other times Paracha brings in historical reference or links to give a more broad view to his arguments. He seems to be a big fan of ZA Bhutto and his daughter Benazir. In this book Paracha discloses about his personal experience of student politics. At college Paracha had formed a socialist union of students, contested elections and won as General Secretary. Later he was also attached with the student wing of PPP. Further he also explains about the conflicts between various leftist groups in Pakistan. He talks about alliances, fights, elections, guns and compromises during his student years.

Paracha has dedicated a separate chapter on the wine shops of Karachi. He mentions how easily alcohol was available. People would flock to the beaches and enjoy a drink. He tells his own story of how he got involved in hashish, liquor and women. He had various relations with different girls, until the last one which resulted in his marriage.

Furthermore Paracha discusses the birth of political parties like MQM, politics of IJT, Zia’s coup and divide in newspaper agencies along ideologies. In another chapter the author focuses on the film culture in Pakistan. He critiques some films and the starring roles of different actors. Moreover in the book Paracha talks about the class antagonism in Pakistan cricket team, the role of Tableeghi Jamat and the politics within Pakistan Cricket Team.

In the last chapter the author considers Ziaul Haq as the tyrant who retarded the political and social evolution of Pakistan. Paracha considers himself a social democrat o/ Muslim nationalist inspired by the likes of Jinnah. Jinnah is considered a pragmatic a pragmatic politician by the author. He believes that Jinnah should not be studied as an ideologue rather we should see him as a pragmatist who created Pakistan with sheer hardwork. Paracha believes that for a smooth future an end of the past has become really important.

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Book Review: Britain- Pawn or Power? by Marcus Aurelius (Walter Padley)

The opening chapter of this book starts with presenting the choices after the Second World War. To the author the conflict between USA and USSR seems very obvious.

The author believes that majority of British opinion is in favor of economic planning and political freedom. The author views the modern world as having numerous structural faults in society. Furthermore the author sees Europe with sufficient economic resources to stand as an independent power. Keeping that in mind, the author states that there is still time. During this time democratic socialism must organize its moral and political forces for the current challenges.

Britain cannot continue her traditional foreign policy, involving heavy military commitments all over the world. The British policy towards Europe was of maintenance of a divided continent. On the other hand for the socialist a united Europe has been a dream. In the political arena any new democracy for Europe cannot, like Athenian democracy, be based on slavery, whether German, African or Asiatic.

Chapter five of the book focuses solely on Germany and its role in Europe. Before the war she produced more than half that of Europe’s coal, half of pig iron and steel, and over half of Aluminum. The author says that for success of a constructive policy for Germany will depend on the European peoples, especially the democratic socialists.

And for a success of democratic socialism in Europe a clear break with imperialism is essential. In addition imperialism has provided profits to a tiny minority of the populations of Western Europe. Moreover in the book the role of the centralized power of the state is also briefly explained. He says that: ‘Co-ordination rather than administration, strategy rather than treaties should be the role of the centralized power of the state’.

In the concluding chapter the author stresses on the need of a socialist Union which would only promise the preservation of a human culture. Escaping arrogance and assuming moral leadership should be the chief aim of democratic socialist in the future.

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