Rating: 
Summary: It tries to justify without just sticking to facts
Review: Akbar Ahmad doesn't quite face up to the question of what constitutes Islamic identity. It is too much of a justification for Jinnah's politics. This book should be balanced by the ``other'' book on Islamic identity by another Pakistani, Ibn Warraq.
Rating: 
Summary: An Anthropological History of Jinnah & the Pakistan Movement
Review: Akbar Ahmad's approach is fairly unique and provides an interesting perspective on Jinnah and the Pakistan movement. Although he fails to check his own biases in favor of Pakistan and Jinnah, this is a much more honest account of history than otherwise available. It appears that Ahmad had the Pakistani audience in mind as he wrote this work; some of the metaphors and linguistic style are clear indications of that. The book is well written and places the life of Jinnah and the Pakistan movement within a larger context which helps to explain many events and ideas, both in history and in the present. At times, one feels the text to be repetitious; it can certainly be condensed to make it more reader-friendly. I enjoyed reading this book and learnt many things about the Indian sub-continent, the British colonial rule, Jinnah, Gandhi, Nehru, Mountbatten, the Muslim League, the Indian Congress, and about many other events and ideas of relevance to Muslims and particularly to the Pakistanis. My gratitude to Mr. Ahmad for an excellent effort.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book on Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Review: Akbar S Ahmed's book undoubtedly will rank amongst the important books written on Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Though I feel that Akbar Ahmed fails to explain adequately the reasons behind Mr.Jinnah's conversion for the 'Best Ambassador of Hindu Muslim Unity' to an Apostle of Pakistan.I am further dismayed at the reader (rahul) from MD's comments. Sadly the reader forgot to leave his belligerant nationalism at home. He claims that 9/10 authors will have another view.. I wonder what authors is he talking about. The acclaimed biographies of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, like 'Stanley Wolpert's Jinnah of Pakistan', 'Bolitho's Jinnah', and even the famed Indian writers' books like Dr.Ajeet's 'Secular And nationalist Jinnah', Raj Mohan Gandhi (Gandhi's Grandson)'s book 8 muslim lives, and Sailesh Kumar Bandopadhaya's 'Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah' seem to take the same view.. an Honest upright incorruptible Leader, who fought hard for Hindu-Muslim Unity and a United India but in the end got convinced of Pakistan. I am yet to read an author which divulges from this view. Kindly enlighten us what authors you have been reading Mr.Rahul. Like Patrick French said 'Jinnah is the most underrated statesman of 20th century, his achievements deserve a much greater place'. Perhaps it time to give credit where its due.
Rating:
Summary: A WELL-BALANCED OVERVIEW OF PAKISTAN'S FOUNDER
Review: Akbar S. Ahmed is a noted author of many literary works whose latest academic effort is this above average examination of the life of Muhammad Jinnah and the formation of Pakistan. Jinnah's life is examined as are the characteristics of Pakistan as a borderland nation straddling South and Central Asia and the Middle East. The assumption of many is to blame Jinnah for not doing enough (i.e. freeing Kashmir from Indian occupation) or for truncating what was British India (which is often confused for a country when the Indian sub-continent has seen a series of empires, but usually various nations and empires existed anyway). Akbar analyzes how Jinnah's role allowed a smoother and less violent transfer of power, which otherwise would have inevitably led to years of civil wars as various regions would've begun insurgencies. The reality is that aside from Islam, Pakistan had various language groups and also western Pakistan, if one is to be fair, should have been returned to Afghanistan if the argument is made that Pakistan should not have been created (usually from those advocating a Greater India). Islam being the reasoning behind national unity was a misguided notion (as mostly Muslim Bangladesh seceded in 1971 following shabby treatment at the hands of the Western Pakistanis who dictated terms and were siphoning wealth and resources to the west) and does not take into account the varied population of early Pakistan with its eastern and western wings which had little in common as well as its sizeable Pashtun and Baluchi populations (which have agitated with merger with Afghanistan in the past or simply sought secession). Mr. Ahmed examines Jinnah as a very human man (few can survive the scrutiny of so many and emerge unscathed) whose beliefs and political expertise allowed him to forge an identity for millions of people who would otherwise have been either successful after years of bloody wars or would be branded terrorists and "Indian" rebels just to attain recognition amongst a population that represents one-fifth of mankind. Jinnah's actions helped to give an identity to the northwest portions of British India which had been dormant, but always there. Vast multi-ethnic states inevitably end up serving the needs of the majority population or in the case of India the elites claiming to represent the majority population. A decentralized India with regional identities wasn't a bad idea at all as it is afterall up to the people to decide what sort of orientation they want and what government etc. Jinnah did what he thought was the best thing for the people he represented and from what I understand there aren't any complaints from the Pakistanis so it would seem that it was a job well done. Kudos to Ahmed for including the maps of various time periods prior to the creation of Pakistan. Overall, I'd recommend this book, but there should have been more focus upon Jinnah in my opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent job. A must read if you belong to sub-continent.
Review: An excellent book which clearly indicates that how the negative propaganda against Mr. Jinnah has obscured the fact that he is one of the greatest political leader ever produced by sub-continent. The book clearly explains that how Jinnah, once an adovacate of Hindu-Muslim unity, became a Muslim leader due to rise of Hindu fundamentalism in India starting in late 1920s (example: birth of hindu fundamentalist party RSS in late 1920s which also assasinated Mr. Gandhi after partition). Last chapter of the book (Is Jinnah Still Relevant?) is very interesting. The author has done a good job in explaining rise of Hindu fundamentalism in India which coincides with the current realities in India. For example, BJP, which has its roots in RSS (the Hindu Fundamentalist party which arranged the assasination of Mr. Gandhi) is ruling India right now and minorities in India are in great trouble. The very recent example is burning of churches and killing of Christians in various parts of India. Also, the riots against muslims in various parts of India are very common. Kashmir is burning and Muslim majority of Kashmir is facing state sponsored terrorism by Indian security forces. This book is a must read if you belong to subcontinent (India, Pakistan or Bangladesh) and if you read it with open mind, you will really enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Still unconvinced about the need for Pakistan
Review: An interesting book, no doubt. The author is trying trying to convince us that the odds were stacked up against Pakistan from the beginning, and it never really had a chance. He talks about the ideals of Jinnah - clearly a good man, but was he misguided? I was unconvinced even after reading this book of the real need for Pakistan. There has been such a lot of blood split in both India, Pakistan and Kashmir and for what benefit? I believe tht much of this could have been avoided with a united sub-continent. The author finally outlines some of Pakistan's disasterous history since 1947 - just reinforcing my belief that Jinnah made one big mistake. Daniel Green 16/3/98 ddg@markimp.co.uk
Rating:
Summary: INTERESTING BUT NO NEW INFORMATION
Review: Appropriate name would have been : "IN DEFENCE OF JINNAH". This book is more or less a defence of Jinnah. Does he need one ? Also lots of negative informations about Gandhi and Nehru, including photographs - was that necessary ? Author's photograph with Lady Mountbatten - how was that relevant ? We do not learn anything new about Mr. Jinnah .Contrary to popular knowledge, we learn : he was a loving father, loving husband , good moslem ,he diet was ideal , he never had a ham sandwich perfect dresser - in fact no known faults , according to this book. If you love Jinnah you may love this book , if you are looking for new information you will be diappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Jinnah's apologist does him disservice.
Review: As a Pakistani, I was very interested when this book came out and was quite disappointed. Mr. Ahmed quotes mainly from limited and usually controversial sources. Many of these are more recent biographies and commentries rather than historical accounts from the period itself. When he does mention the exact nature of information, his interpretations strain credibility. So my advice is not to bother and read something different, like Wolpert's several books on the subject.
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Summary: What happened to the missing years of World War 2 ?
Review: As expected, Akbar Ahmed in line with other Pakistani establishment 'his storians' skilfully neglects the treacherous role that Jinnah played during the Second World War in prolonging colonial rule of South Asia, by aiding the imperial power. In direct contrast, the vast majority of Hindoo / Congress Party leaders and tens of thousands of people were arrested for launching a mass civil disobedience campaign ('Quit India' Campaign of 1942) which tied up fifty seven battalions of regular British soldiers in India. How is it that Jinnah started off as an ambassador of Hindoo-Muslim unity as a means of ridding South Asia of imperial rule, yet when the ideal opportunity presented itself (the outbreak of the Second World War, the loss of Britain's invincibility and prestige in Asia, when Singapore, Malaya and Burma fell), Jinnah sided with the imperial power against the Hindoos and the Congress Party ? If Akbar Ahmed was to include the 'missing years' in which Jinnah stature and importance grew in the British Establishment's eyes as a direct result of his support of the imperial power during the Second World War, whilst Congress leaders were imprisoned, then it would seriously undermine Akbar's comical attempt to portray Jinnah as a 'Saladin' figure. Did Saladin ever support the Crusaders of the Roman Catholic Church against the Orthodox Christians ? No. Never. So why did Jinnah support an alien power, and a colonial power at that, in a European conflict that of was of no interest to the future of South Asia ? Also, what did Jinnah actually gain in supporting the colonial power during the Second World War ? Did he get the Pakistan that the Muslims demanded or did Britain favour him in the negotiations that eventually led to partition ? Absolutely NOT. Instead Jinnah got a moth-eaten, mutilated and truncated Pakistan. Therefore, Jinnah's strategy of supporting the colonial power was deeply flawed and a monumental strategic failure which saw more Muslims die in the few months following Partition than in all the 12 centuries Muslims have been invading / colonising South Asia. Only a Pakistani establishment 'his storian' can describe a leader that leads his people to such a catastrophe as a Quaid-I-Azam or a Saladin! As for suggesting that Mountbatten is the first Paki-basher, again in line with other Pakistani establishment 'his storians', Akbar is merely passing the buck of South Asian Muslim treachery and hypocrisy onto the colonialist. The real Paki-bashers were the 600,000 Muslims of South Asia who joined the British Indian Army to smash Muslim rule in South Asia, fight against other Muslims in Afghanistan in the three Afghan wars, fight against the Muslims of Sudan, the Ottoman Empire and in the Middle East, and even against fellow Asians, the Chinese in the Opium Wars in exchange for wages and pensions. It is about time that Pakistani establishment 'his storians' start telling the truth as it stands, instead of trying to distort facts to fit a book's title. The level of hypocrisy and distortions is unbelievable and sickening. Regards
Rating:
Summary: Balanced and historically accurate!
Review: Excellent book! Any fair-minded person cannot deny the fact that Jinnah is one of the greatest political leaders from South Asia. I do realize that India-Pakistan tensions make it very difficult for both sides to accept Jinnah (for Indians) and Gandhi (for Pakistanis) as great leaders but both sides cannot deny these great men their due place in history. For an American reader, the book presents a fascinating story of a leader who single-handedly changed the course of history by creating a nation and a country in just one lifetime. The author rightly emphasizes the fact that Jinnah was a secular leader and demanded Pakistan on the basis of ground realities. I do agree with Jinnah's vision that a Hindu dominated society, with extreme elements on both sides, would have caused a civil war for decades to come. Hindu fundamentalism is on rise in India and burning of churches / mosques and killings of Christians / Muslims in various parts of India is very common. For example, last year 2000+ Muslims were killed (women raped, properties torched etc.) by Hindu mob (in just 2 days) in Indian state of Gujrat. I think the current sad plight of minorities in India (especially Muslims!) and Hindu fundamentalist BJP government in power clearly indicates that Jinnah was so right in demanding a separate homeland for his people and he did it with great success and got freedom for about 2/3 of Muslims of South Asia (living in Pakistan and Bangladesh).
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