Historians are romantics with ingenuity to restructure the past. Their perceptions are based on socio-politico-economic analysis alone, often with a proclivity to miss out on the human drama of the real people. ‘Three Presidents’… is a first hand story… history narrated from a personal perspective, presented as it happened and not reconstructed by historians. The book covers the period between 1965 and 1972, an era most turbulent not only in the history of Pakistan but that of the entire subcontinent. It provides clear glimpses into the minds of the Pakistani leadership as its military fought two wars with India, creating Bangladesh in the process, even as millions of people across the subcontinent suffered the consequences. There were conspiracies, treachery and acts of treason for seemingly petty personal gains. There were nations, which betrayed their allies when they were needed the most. Ambassador Arshad Sami Khan, sj by virtue of his extensive inside knowledge gives a rare insight into Pakistan’s politico-military landscape. In a subtle yet forthright manner, the book raises certain basic issues; creation of nation states and their geographical boundaries, limitations of religion as a binding force and the attitude of certain powerful nations towards the entire region. Written in a lucid style, the book will definitely fascinate the reader and generate widespread interest.
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