Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword;
Preface;
Acknowledgments;
Introduction;
Part One: Long Before The Two-Nation Idea:
1. Identity Formation in Medieval India;
2. The British Reinvent India;
Part Two: A Closer Look At Pakistan’s Three Founder-Heroes:
3. Founder I: The Lonely Modernizer;
4. Founder II: Premier Poet–Preacher–Politician;
5. Founder III: Liberal, Secular, Visionary?;
6. Jinnah Trounces his Muslim Opponents;
Part Three: Postnatal Blues:
7. Stubborn Angularities I: East Pakistan;
8. Stubborn Angularities II: Balochistan;
Part Four: Five Big Questions:
9. Was Partition Worth the Price?;
10. What Is the Ideology of Pakistan – and Does It Matter?;
11. Why Couldn’t Pakistan Become an Islamic State?;
12. Why Is Pakistan a Praetorian State?;
13. Identity: I’m Pakistani, but What Am I?;
Part Five: Looking Ahead:
14. Three Physical Perils up Ahead;
15. The Paths Travelled Post-1971;
16. Replacing the Two Nation Theory;
Index.

"This book is an accessible, comprehensive, and nuanced history of Pakistan. It reflects upon state and society in Pakistan and shows they have been shaped by historical forces and personae. Hoodbhoy expertly maps the journey of the region from many millennia ago to the circumstances and impulses that gave birth to the very first state in history founded upon religious identity. He documents colonial rule, the trauma of Partition, the nation's wars with India, the formation of Bangladesh, and the emergence of Baloch nationalism. The book also examines longstanding complex themes and issues - such as religious fundamentalism, identity formation, democracy, and military rule - as well as their impact on the future of the state of Pakistan. Drawing on a range of sources and written by one of the foremost intellectuals of the region, this book will be indispensable for scholars, researchers, students of history, politics and South Asian studies. It will be of great interest to the general reader interested in understanding Pakistan"-- Provided by publisher.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.