The session sparked thought-provoking discussions among attendees, including Dr. Farooq Sulehria, Esha Khizer, and students from the Department of Liberal Arts (DLA) at BNU. Participants explored the book’s core themes of pluralism, multiculturalism, and the enduring influence of external empires, while critically reflecting on the nation’s shifting ideological and governance dynamics.
Chequered Pasts presents a comprehensive historical narrative that traces Pakistan’s journey from the Indus Valley Civilization through successive influences from Turkey, Persia, Arabia, and Britain, culminating in the post-1947 transformations. The book critically examines the country’s drift toward religious conservatism, autocracy, and intensified sectarian and ethnic divisions, highlighting how prolonged military rule has constrained civil liberties and shaped Pakistan’s contemporary political landscape.
