Immigration and American History: Essays in Honor of Theodore C. Blegen Book

Note : The following review is not of the whole of the above book.(It is a review of an interview of former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by the same author).

Review :
Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci was known for her penetrating questions to world leaders.This interview was conducted in April 1972 when Bhutto invited her to come to Pakistan and she spent several days with him.

Bhutto had assumed power just a few months earlier,after the break-up of Pakistan in 1971.

It is a fascinating interview,the picture that emerges of Bhutto is that of a highly emotional,intelligent and well read man.He also emerges as a bundle of contradictions and acknowledges his inner conflicts.His mind is Western,his soul Eastern.His criticism of his opponents is fierce.As the author puts it,he could make strange decisions based on whimsy.His narcissism is apparent, too.

The author doesn't hesitate to ask uncomfortable questions.Bhutto replies equally bluntly,as if he doesn't care if anyone gets offended.Yahya Khan,Mujib ur Rehman and Indira Gandhi come in for particular flak.

Bhutto states that one of the first rules of politics is to appear stupid to decieve opponents.He also says that there is nothing wrong with a politician constantly changing his position on any given issue and contradicting himself.

Much of the interview is about the 1971 war.Bhutto directs his anger at Sheikh Mujib ur Rehman.He doesn't rate him highly,saying he had one idea in his head,secession and that he was only capable of shouting and putting on airs.Bhutto disputes the figures of millions of Bengali casualties claimed by Bangladesh during 1971 and terms them grossly exaggerated.

The author asks him if Mujib was arrested at his behest,because Bhutto only left Dacca when Mujib was under arrest.Bhutto denies it.

He is also very critical of Pakistani president Yahya Khan,who he says tried to arrest him even before arresting Mujib.After taking power,Bhutto put Yahya Khan under house arrest where he eventually died.

Former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was so upset by Bhutto's remarks about her that she refused to have a meeting with him.Bhutto doesn't hide his disdain for her.

Bhutto professes his admiration for Napoleon,Stalin and Chou en Lai.He talks about his love for reading and his library,his Marxism despite being born rich and his concern for the poor,because his mother came from a poor family.

The author also asks him about his two wives.Bhutto replies that he had to marry his cousin when he was a young boy of eleven because his his family asked him to.He was promised cricket bats and never lived with her.His second marriage was by his own choice.

At the end,the author asks Bhutto how long he was expected to last.Bhutto's reply,longer than anyone who ruled Pakistan.But he adds that his life had been in danger before,Ayub and Yahya had tried to get him poisoned and shot. (Seven years after the interview,Bhutto would be dead,hanged by General Zia).

A fascinating insight into Bhutto's mind.I'm not a Bhutto fan,but have always found his story remarkably interesting.Five stars because of my own interest in the contents of the interview.

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