ervez Hoodbhoy scarcely requires an introduction. For those not acquainted with his illustrious career, it is imperative to note that he is not only a distinguished nuclear physicist but also an influential activist. In his latest literary endeavour, Pakistan: Origins, Identity, and Future, Hoodbhoy fearlessly embarks upon a critical examination of Pakistan’s rich historical tapestry and its current trajectory. In this book, he questions various aspects of the state and its dominant narrative, including the two-nation theory, the role of the founding fathers and the rationale behind its creation. While discussing the book’s argument with one of my colleagues, it was mentioned that Hoodbhoy is often referred to by his detractors as an “intellectual rabble-rouser” due to his propensity for making provocative statements. Personally, I consider this a great compliment. Intellectuals like Bertrand Russell, Noam Chomsky and Bernard Shaw have been sources of inspiration for Hoodbhoy. His provocative nature, as evidenced in this book, should not come as a surprise. Such individuals, with their sense of freedom and idiosyncratic temperament, are often an asset to academia.

The book has five parts and offers a liberal perspective on understanding Pakistan’s past and present. Despite not being a trained historian or political scientist, Hoodbhoy aims to engage readers in critical thinking and provide a thought-provoking discourse on the country’s history, identity and contemporary challenges. The book begins by providing insights into Pakistani history, starting with the Muslim invasion of the subcontinent. As the narrative unfolds, the author employs his unique satirical approach to criticise important figures involved in Pakistan’s creation and challenges the adulatory narrative about the Muslim period in the subcontinent. He argues against the entrenched notion of presenting Hindus as the “other” by highlighting periods of cooperation and harmony between Hindus and Muslims, as well as the influence of Hindu participation in the Mughal period. Hoodbhoy contends that Muslims faced predicaments after 1857 due to their reluctance to adopt Western education, which they believed would distance their children from Islam. In contrast, Hindus adapted more quickly to modern ideas, seeing the advent of British rule as a mere change of conquerors.

Despite not being a trained historian or political scientist, Hoodbhoy aims to engage readers in critical thinking and provide a thought-provoking discourse on the country’s history, identity and contemporary challenges.

The book also focuses on Sir Syed, a progressive Muslim advocate of modernity and science, who recognised the decline of Muslims during and after the Mughal rule. Hoodbhoy criticises Sir Syed for opposing the education of women and poor Muslim men and finding more in common between rich Hindus and Muslims than between UP and Bengali Muslims. He looks sceptically at Iqbal and quotes from his Urdu poetry to portray him as a retrogressive ideologue. Hoodbhoy challenges some commonly held beliefs about Pakistan’s formation, arguing that it was primarily driven by the ruling elite’s self-interest rather than a defence of Islam. He examines the construction of historical narratives and the perpetuation of myths surrounding Pakistani heroes, dedicating three chapters to scrutinising the personas of Sir Syed, Iqbal and Jinnah. The author sheds light on their complexities and reveals discrepancies between their beliefs and public image.

The book also highlights the military’s role in shaping Pakistan’s trajectory. It delves into the extensive influence of the military in politics, economy and society, leading to the establishment of a praetorian state. The author emphasises the need for justice, fairness and equal representation for all citizens to surmount the obstacles posed by an incoherent national ideology, the elite and dogmatic thinking.

Pakistan: Origins, Identity and Future challenges some prevailing narratives and offers a distinctive and scholarly contribution to understanding South Asia and Pakistan. Hoodbhoy’s thought-provoking arguments and incisive analysis provide readers with profound insights into Pakistan’s history and its contemporary challenges. Overall, the book explores the realm of high politics from a theoretical standpoint. I would classify it as an old-school narrative within the liberal tradition.

Pakistan

Origin, Identity and Future

Author: Parvez Hoodbhoy

Publisher: Routledge India, 2023

Pages: 476

The reviewer is a professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore