NOVEMBER 2007 E-Magazine - Pravasi Today

shown to have had failings that
affected the country's future.
Encountering this book therefore may
b e s h o c k i n g t o s o m e a n d
u n c o m f o r t a b l e t o o t h e r s .
Nevertheless, all who read this book
will be impressed by its rigorous
research, cogent arguments and lucid
logic. The book expected to provoke
wide debate. Written in engaging and
persuasive prose this book is an
education on India and its
neighbouring countries.
Among the many subjects
analysed are: race and religion, the
Europeans, caste and colour, the
Islamic impact and Hindu reaction,
and the position of women. The
Manu-smriti is fairly and squarely
blamed for the subjugation of Hindu
women. Massey also makes the point
that though in theory the Qur'an gives
women a somewhat better deal, in
practise Muslim women are no better
off than their Hindu sisters. In fact, on
account of them being deprived of the
benefits of education, they are worse
off. He praises Muslim women
activists who risk their lives and are
the target of fatwas. Therefore, it was
appropriate that the book was
launched at the Nehru Centre on
BOOK REVIEW
September 24 by a woman activist.
Moreover, it marked the historic step
that the Indian republic has taken by
electing a woman President for the
first time.
The account of the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre is an eye-opener and
so is the chapter titled 'The Leaders;
Warts and All'. How true that great
men have great faults. Lord Desai
commends this work as does the
leading Pakistani academic Professor
Ishtiaq Ahmed.
William Crawley and Reginald
Massey
Dr William Crawley, Project
Director of the Media South Asia
Project at Sussex University and
former Head of the BBC Eastern
Service, discusses the book with
Reginald Massey. There followed a
lively question-answer session with
members of the audience. ■
(INDIA: Definitions and
Clarifications is published by Hansib,
London. Email: info@hansibbooks.com)
ISBNs: 978-1-870518-
72-7 (paperback) and 978-1-870518-
95-6 (hardback)
– P.T. Bureau
November 2007 ✦ Pravasi Today
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