Realpolitik Books - III

The Blood Telegram

1971. A milestone year in modern history. East Pakistan secedes from Pakistan.  A new country is born. Bangladesh.

1971. Euphoric times for some. Devastating times for some. 

1971. We heard a mesmerising voice on our transistors who held his audience spellbound with his booming voice and hypnotic elocution. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

1971. Mukti Bahini. The rag tag freedom fighters of the then East Pakistan. The Bahini subsequently became a potent force.

1971. What did India do? What went on in West Pakistan? What did the international leaders and diplomats do? What went on in the world of realpolitik?

At the time of writing this  book, Gary J Bass was a professor of politics and international affairs in Princeton University. He has a background as a reporter with The Economist.

This book is a result of declassification of certain documents of US government, White House tapes and sound investigative journalism by the author. 

USA, under the Presidentship of Richard Nixon and political Guru Henry Kissinger, was wanting to connect with China. 

Pakistan had a very good relationship with China. USA was wooing Pakistan to establish connection with China. 

Pakistan's political power centres, military power centres and industrial bases were located in its western half and were controlled by Punjabis and Sindhis of West Pakistan. 

In the constitutional election of Pakistan, the political parties of East Pakistan won majority. The West Pakistan politicians, led by Z A Bhutto, supported by military rulers, refused to accept this result and hand over reigns of national political power to the elected majority of East Pakistan. 

Mass unrest began in East Pakistan. The armed forces of Pakistan tried to suppress the upheaval with brute force. East Pakistan started to burn. Huge number of refugees took shelter in India stretching its weak economy to a tearing point.

Saying that Richard Nixon and Indira Gandhi, the then Prime minister of India, did not see eye to eye, would have been a gross under statement.  Richard Nixon held Indira Gandhi in contempt. 

The result was that the people of East Pakistan became collateral damage of political brinkmanship of super powers.

This is the best book I have read on the formation of Bangladesh. An account dealt with objectively and neutrally. It reads like a thriller. 

Namaste

Prabir