Book Review: Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey

Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey by V. S. Naipaul

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

History bears out the proposition that political revolutions have always been preceded by social and religious revolutions.  In Bangladesh, a significant number of people have converted to Islam over centuries, particularly during the medieval period when the region was influenced by conquest of Muslim rulers and proselytization by Sufi saints.

Today, there has been the rapid rise of radicalism in Bangladesh with the ouster of ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the student protest.  The protest has now been hijacked by Islamic extremists. Over the years, there was a surge in madrasas, and this has led to growing religious fanaticism, with zealots aggressively pushing an Islamist agenda. With Islamist influence in power, Bangladesh is modifying national identity by erasing symbols of its secular past, including the removal of statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and attacking Hindu minority. 

The explanation about such rapid religious radicalism of Bangladesh or any more such converted societies is relevant to book published in 1981, Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey by the Nobel laureate V. S. Naipaul. The book is a controversial and critical travelogue in nature. The book describes a six-month journey across the Asian continent after the Iranian Revolution across Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. These countries were originally Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Hindu and pagan. The history of these nations is built on conquest and conversion where a diverse and cutting-edge center of learning and trade during its time become engulfed by Islamic ideology. Through interviews and personal observations, Naipaul effort to understand societies conquered by Islam and the religious zeal gripping youth in these societies. The theme of the book is a study of capturing deep cultural and political shifts in the Muslim world post Iranian revolution. 

The author explains the crux of Islamic extremism as a form of ideological imperialism that denies the complex histories and cultures of converted peoples. The people who converted to Islam were encouraged to act like Arabs and follow their strict ways. The descendent of these converts started to forget and ignore their own rich history and culture. In the minds of these believers, being conquered by the Arabs and becoming like them is still seen as a way to be saved.

Naipaul observed that before 1979, there was two simultaneous spark of revolutions in Iran—communist and Islamic—both driven by utopianism. Naipaul visits Iran shortly after the success of Islamic Revolution. The revolution against Shah gained broad support to Ayatollah by promising a return to traditional values and social justice based on religion. After the revolution, Iran became an Islamic Republic, and communism lost influence in the country. Naipaul depicts a nation living through a dystopian dream. Although the official rhetoric had changed, the torture and executions didn't stop.  

Naipaul travels to Pakistan and make sweeping conclusion. He notes that Pakistan was born amid sectarian bloodshed and political chaos. Within a decade, the fragile democracy was overtaken by military rule, following the hanging of Pakistan’s prime minister in a coup three years earlier. Much attention in the book is drawn to the Muslim invasion of the Indian subcontinent, especially the Arab conquest of Sindh, which Naipaul describes as a foundational event shaping the collective psyche. Naipaul highlights how this narrative of conquest is seen by many in Pakistan and Bangladesh as a moment of salvation and religious dominance continues to fuel political Islam in contemporary Pakistan. 

Naipaul further travels to Malayasia and Indonesia situated in South-east Asia. Naipaul further describes Malaysia as a place where Islam initially blended easily with local customs and beliefs, creating a mixed or syncretic faith. However, this changed as missionaries arrived from Pakistan aiming to purify Islam and make it more orthodox. Many young Malays who studied abroad came back to their villages calling for stricter religious observance. 

Regarding Indonesia, Naipaul notes its history of cultural influence by Hinduism and Buddhism but highlights how youth movements sparked widespread Islamic conversions. Today, about 90% of Indonesians are Muslim. While Indonesia is constitutionally secular, religion plays a strong role the legal systems and the application of sharia law are common concerns.

Naipaul identifies Islam as a political and social system in ways other religions are not by delivering few strong messages. One, Islam’s message of equality often drew in poor and marginalized communities looking for dignity. Two, many converts saw Islam as a way to resist the dominance of traditional power. And three, by asking converts to reject their pre-Islamic past, the Islam turn them into more passionate believers than native Arabs themselves.

Jihad does not spring due to the lack of economic or social upliftment but their plain and simple aim of degrading the secular state and establishing sharia rule. Naipaul explains that Islamic extremism often arises among young people searching for identity, influenced by madarsa education and a desire for pure faith, yet it also creates conflict with ideas of modernity, culture, and politics. The brilliance of the book is in showing how extremism grew in some Islamic societies during the 1970s. Irrespective of personal expectations, this is no doubt an important book, but only as a starting point.  Highly recommended reading for the persons interested in Islamic societies. 

Book Review: Mera Dagistan by Rasul Gamzatov

My Dagestan (Мой Дагестан) (Avar: Дир Дагъистан) by Rasul Gamzatov.

The book was translated in English in 1970 by Julius Katzer and Dorian Rottenberg.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

Let me speak of Dagestan—a rugged land along North Caucasus of Eastern Europe and the western shore of the Caspian Sea. The word Dagestan is of Turkish and Persian origin, directly translating to "land of the mountains".  The land has for centuries been a mosaic of peoples and languages: Avars, Dargins, Lezgins, Laks, Kumyks, and many others. The territory was annexed into the Russian Empire after protracted wars in the early nineteenth century.  By 1921, with the Red Army’s advance, the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic came into being. 

Soviet state enforced sweeping modernization in Dagestan, bringing it into line with Marxist-Leninist ideology while managing the religious sentiments. Arabic was replaced first by Latin, later by Cyrillic; schools sprang up, teaching not scripture but secular education. The writers urged to craft a modern national literature that must reflect Soviet ideals like progress, collective ownership, brotherhood and unity. A strange paradox took root—Islam receded under official suspicion, but ethnic and linguistic self-awareness unexpectedly thrived.

Out of this creative ferment emerged Rasul Gamzatov (1923–2003), the poet whom Dagestan now claims as its voice in the Avar language. Gamzatov’s literary voice reflects a deep connection to his roots, and his writings offer profound insights into the history, traditions, and people of Dagestan. His masterpiece, My Dagestan (1967), celebrates the Caucasian folklore and expresses a deep belonging to his native land. 

The book draws multiple anecdotes from lives of five personalities: Ahmed Khan Abu-Bakar – a prominent Soviet writer of the Dargin people, Gamzat Tsadasy – his father and a well-known folk poet, Abutalib Gafurovich Gafurov – a Lakian poet of Dagestan, Imam Shamil and Hadji Murad– legendary Avar leaders who symbolize the spiritual and military resistance of the North Caucasus.

Gamzatov’s narrative style is generous and warm. He took care to introduce the names and stories of Dagestani people, ensuring they were remembered. Through anecdotes, jokes, and verses, he painted vivid pictures of Dagestan’s natural beauty and cultural richness. His book is a unique literary work that blends poetry and prose, oral traditions, folklore and criticism, and gossip while functioning as both a cultural history of Dagestani poetry and a personal philosophical testament. 

Today, West is struggling to narrow down the essential characteristics of Muslim identity – is it primarily culture, religion, ethnicity? But cultures are heterogeneous and contradictory, highly porous, and deeply intertwined.  A key aspect of the book is the reflection of Dagestan’s cultural hybridity—where Soviet ideals, pre-Islamic (pagan) traditions, and Islamic values intersect and merge, creating a unique and layered cultural identity. In this book, Gamzatov demonstrated remarkable knowledge not only of Dagestani literature, but also of Soviet & North Caucasian literary traditions and personalities.

For readers seeking a poetic journey through history, poetry, and human connection of a distant land, this book is an unforgettable experience. For the readers seeking a profound understanding of culture of Soviet era Dagestan, this book is an invaluable resource. Rasul Gamzatov doesn’t just tell the story of Dagestan — he makes the readers feel like a part of it. 

*The poem, Zhuravli (english translation) by Rasul Gamzatov has become a well-known Soviet song.

Book Review: Bhutan: The Kingdom at the Centre of the World by Omair Ahmad

Bhutan: The Kingdom at the Centre of the World by Omair Ahmad

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

Despite the neighboring state of India, relatively limited number of books for common readers are available on Bhutan, a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. This can be attributed to unique geography and isolation a policy of self-imposed isolation, which was successful in preserving its territorial integrity as a Himalayan kingdom. Bhutan is much less known in the U.S. and western hemisphere that too for its Buddhism and as a mystical, serene travel destination. Bhutan is slowly gaining popularity as a travel destination and the readers will know a surprising fact on reading the book connecting Bhutan with the 'Golden Gate Bridge' of San Francisco.

Omair Ahmad has written an insightful and beautiful book into the history of Bhutan, Druk Yul: Land of the Thunder Dragon. The book is beautifully researched, with the most relevant information and this book will be of particular interest to scholars, and students of the history & culture.  

The author dives into the transition of the Buddhist Kingdom from a vassal state of Tibet to a fully independent country. Bhutan's kings fought primarily against Tibetan invasions in the 17th century and later lost territory to British India in the 1864-65 Duar War. They also had border conflicts with Sikkim and internal power struggles before establishing the monarchy in 1907.

The author takes us into the intermingling journey of people living in the porous boundaries of Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim, British India, and Bhutan without getting into the complexity of the geopolitical wars.  Once the border of Bhutan was settled in the 1950s, history becomes more interesting with a variety of characters, annexation of Sikkim in India and the politics of the creation of an international profile of Bhutan monarchy. 

Since Bhutan is sandwiched between hungry empires, the country has learned to maintain a delicate balance and customers. between them. The book shows why Bhutan is so important to truly understanding the ongoing relationship between India and China that was proven in Doklam conflict in 2017.

The book doesn’t shy away from tough topics either, like the Nepali refugee crisis and Bhutan’s experiments with democracy. Through these incidents, you get a sense of how this small but significant Himalayan nation is carving out its own unique path amid big regional changes.

The books touch lightly on the effect of modern civilization on Buddhist traditions, culture & heritage. Bhutan has been doing a delicate balancing act between tradition and modernization. The book becomes more engaging with the personal travel experiences and observations of the author. Omair Ahmad has a very engaging style of writing, which helps the readers to race through the book. We should be thankful to Shetty for undertaking this rather difficult task and bringing out the output in such an easy and readable and referable format.

There’s no better way to experience the quiet paradise of Bhutan before touring than reading out this book. Read the book to know of nation with a mythic backdrop of Buddhism in which old traditional values struggle against stronger modern forces in the world.

Book Review: Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher L. Hayes

Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher L. Hayes

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

“To see what is in front of one’s nose is a constant struggle,” George Orwell famously observed. So, what is it that American liberals and conservatives have missed?

Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy is a 2012 nonfiction book written by Christopher Hayes. The book Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher L. Hayes explores the crisis of authority in America, attributing it to the failures of the modern meritocracy. Hayes argues that since the 1960s, as more diverse groups rose to elite status through meritocratic means, a new elite emerged that is marked by increased social distance, corruption, and institutional failure. This elite, embraced inequality, leading to widespread distrust in key institutions such as government, corporate America, the media, and even sports organizations. 

Today, the children of these elites enjoy outsized returns on capital and, increasingly, the concentration of large fortunes in a few hands. With blue-collar jobs disappearing and unionization dwindling, lower rung workers’ incomes have declined. Yet, elite workers receive not just rising wages, but also hefty stock compensation. Highly paid workers tend to marry one another, closing another door to upward mobility. Those from poor neighborhoods are exceedingly unlikely to move up the income distribution ladder.

Let me delve into the process of merit, social mobilization and elite class conscription. A key question to consider when discussing class and social mobility concerns the social processes that determine how children find their places in the economic and professional hierarchy. In a purely meritocratic society, institutional mechanisms identify high achievers and reward them with desirable positions. 

In contrast, a purely plutocratic society allows the wealthy to use their resources to secure privileges for their children, ensuring that economic power remains within their families across generations. Elites have contributed to society and played by the rules. The problem is that the rules are often skewed in their favour. In other words, income inequality stems from systemic flaws produced by meritocracy. 

There's no shortage of books raising the questions when it comes to the failed meritocracy, disdain for elites, and reshaping of the social system. Christopher Hayes raises important questions: Can we ignore traits like Widom, Judgement, Empathy, and Ethical rigor in the search for merit? Why American leaders are out of touch with the masses?

Hayes introduces the concept of "fractal inequality," a pervasive insecurity among elites about their status, which fosters corrupt behavior. The book asserts that the meritocratic system, while promising opportunity, has produced leaders disconnected from the public and unable to govern effectively, culminating in a broader societal crisis. The political and corporate leaders have failed to transform the institutions looking after interest of the citizens. Now, expecting anything from them is like asking the Pope to become Protestant. 

The book covers topics like mistrust in the institutional authority, missing potential working-class leaders due to meritocratic system, and mythical level playing field. The book might have had more impact if it would have delved deep into race questions and, criminal justice policies on social mobility. The book is a must-read social commentary for those who want to understand failed relation between citizens, institutions, society, and the state.

A civilization in growth peers into the future to create institutions and framework suitable for that era, based on their present experience. Civilizations in decline, on the other hand, looks back to and derive inspiration from past glory to evade from the uncomfortable reality of the present. An entire generation of young Americans—burdened with education loans, facing stagnant or low-paying jobs, and priced out of the housing market—is beginning to realize that owning a home and raising a family may remain out of their reach. 

The young Americans have expressed this desire for social justice through the political process. This can be seen especially relevant amid Mamdani’s recent victory and social justice debates. Society is unprepared for what this disillusionment might trigger: when a generation feels it has no stake in the system, its instinct may not be to preserve it, but to watch it decline and collapse.

Book Review: Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple

Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly Recommended

Despite the significant failures experienced in Vietnam, the idea of American exceptionalism remained deeply ingrained in the U.S. national psyche till 2000.  Then, 9/11 happened. A focused military-intelligence operation targeting the perpetrators of 9/11 could have addressed domestic demands for justice. Alas, Bush administration launched a large-scale ground invasion of Afghanistan. USA withdrew ultimately from war scarred land of Afghanistan, marking the end of a twenty-year military presence.  They couldn't capture and run a dummy Afghan government. Sounds familiar ! 

The aphorism “History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes” is evident in these events when the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, echoing past foreign interventions in the country. The rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s government and swift Taliban resurgence after the U.S. exit underscore the complex consequences of such interventions, mirroring historical patterns seen in other empires’ engagements in the region. 

Afghan historian Mirza 'Ata' wrote after 1842, and his words remain equally true today: “It is certainly no easy thing to invade or govern the Kingdom of Khurasan.” Long before, Americans and Soviets, the British learned this lesson. The exodus of the British from Afghanistan in 1842 was another horror show under British Generals. It is a travesty that history remembers outsized egos and oversized ambitions, even in the graveyard of empires.  In this context, William Dalrymple's masterful retelling of Britain's greatest imperial disaster is a very important book. This is a story of the First Anglo-Afghan War, Britain's greatest defeat of the nineteenth century.

The narrative of the book centers on the lives of Afghan rulers Shah Shuja Durrani and Dost Mohammad Khan, who were ensnared in the imperial rivalry famously dubbed The Great Game as the American historian David Fromkin observed, "no matter how far-fetched" such a British interpretation might be.  In 1837-1838, Qajar Persia, supported by Russia, besieged the Afghan city of Herat, a crucial grain-producing region historically claimed by Persia; British intervention and Afghan defense prevented Persian capture, marking a key event in the Great Game power struggle.

In the late 1830s, the British feared Russian expansion into British India through Afghanistan and the rising Sikh power under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Governor-General Lord Auckland saw Russian envoy Jan Prosper Witkiewicz’s Kabul mission and Dost Mohammad Khan’s dealings as a major threat. The British chose to back exiled Shah Shuja Durrani, allying with the Sikh Empire to restore him to power in Kabul. In 1838, while Lord Palmerston, John Hobhouse, and Lord Auckland orchestrated the invasion with the East India Company forces, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Dal Khalsa only marched in the ceremonial review but refrained from active combat beyond Peshawar. The book details on precursor events and the beginning of the First Anglo-Afghan War, which was fought to secure British India against perceived Russian and Islamic alliances.

The book explores further how the British presence in Afghanistan incited profound discontent, rooted in disregard for the tribal cultural norms and economic strain on local communities, inciting rebellion. The book offers a detailed account of the calamitous British withdrawal amid brutal reprisals, capturing a cycle of resistance and retaliation that remains relevant to today’s geopolitical context. All the major tribes—Achakzais, Ghilzais, Durrani, and Barakzais—are present in the story, highlighting the complex tapestry of Afghan politics and society.

Afghans understood their topography, religious aspirations, and social fabric far better than the British. The British strategy of territorial conquest to secure boundaries ignited costly conflicts, resulting in significant sacrifices of both innocent and guilty alike. The narrative begins with stories of diplomatic tension and political maneuvering, featuring characters embodying deceit, friendship, chivalry, incompetence, and brutality. The story ends with death, plunder, rape, survival, and retribution. Dalrymple’s portrayal places these characters—both British and Afghan—at the center, either as instruments or victims of the war. 

William Dalrymple’s book is lucidly written, although it sometimes digresses from the core narrative and adopts a chatty tone. However, this stylistic freedom is understandable given the painstaking research underpinning the study. Dalrymple draws extensively from Afghan sources, including Dari and Persian accounts, which enrich the narrative beyond the usual colonial perspective. This approach brings an intimate, nuanced view of the First Anglo-Afghan War, showcasing the voices and experiences often overlooked by traditional histories.

 

The great Palestinian, Edward W. Said’s observation resonates here: “Every empire, however, tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate.”   Yet, history has repeatedly shown that empires and foreign military adventures often leave behind a place worse off than when they found it.