Written Opinion: Stranger to History by Aatish Taseer ? Book Review

I found this book accidentally in Christ University library. The name of Author caught my imagination. I thought writer may be a Son or at least he is relative of Salman Taseer ? a Pakistani politician, who was assassinated by his security guard. My thought later turned in to truth. Author is a Son of Salmaan Taseer, who born out of intense passion between his Indian Sikh mother and Pakistani Politician.

This book is part travelogue and part memoir. Author has written both memoir and travelogue in alternative chapters. At the end of book, these two narrative meet and find place in same chapter. The memoir part is filled with estrangement and melancholy of father. Author lived his childhood without father. The absence of father had created gulf, which was later filled by grand parents love. The travelogue part is a journey he undertook to understand Islam.

Author has written this book with having strange idea of finding Islam and getting deeper understanding of it. I felt author is not only stranger to history of Islam but stranger to its culture and more to this He himself stranger to Islam. Author having got circumcised and getting identity as Muslim child still could not understand it. Is it not strange?

Author's understanding of Islam in this book is of impressions which is deceptive. He judges everything through western lens. This does not mean his observation on Islam are short of clarity. He discussed many valid points regarding Islamic culture and politics. He questioned many issues which had raised in my mind many times. He interviewed only those people whose frequency matches with his. I think this one is biggest mistake.

If author was in search of answers to those questions which he raised. He had ought to talked to diverse people but he failed in this regard.

I felt, author had a good marketable story to tell. His memoir arise interest in reader to find more about author life and his elegant prose keeps reader interest intact. Author got good writing and observing skill but latter one is narrowed by his own pre-conceived notions.

In sum this book calls attention and worth reading to find views of someone who is physically defined as Muslim but not practising one.

Source: http://apnaharf.blogspot.com/2011/05/stranger-to-history-by-aatish-taseer.html

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