A casual encounter between an Oxford University-educated scion of a Nawabi family and a comely young woman belonging to a Christian family of Kumaon transformed into a ‘happily ever after’ alliance. Their romantic entanglement had as its backdrop of the tug-of-war between Congress and Muslim League in undivided India. When Irene converted to Islam, her family ostracised her. Liaqat Ali Khan (1896-1951) went on to become the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and his wife Irene Pant (1905-90) attained fame as his wife and fondly came to be known as Gul-e-Ra’ana. In the 1930s, women were not easily allowed to get an education or work. The writer Raj Gopal Singh Verma narrates the fascinating story of this famous couple in the style of a fast-paced historical novel set against the complexities and upheavals of that time. After Liaqat’s assassination, the Begum brought up their two children alone and made a stellar contribution to Pakistan’s political, social, and cultural domains. She also served as the country’s finance minister and diplomat to several Western countries. On her return, she continued to work for empowerment of Muslim women of the country. She raised her voice against the dictatorial regime of Zia-ul-Haq. This book leaves no doubt that Irene Pant deserves to be counted as an iconic woman leader of South Asia, but we hardly know her.
The social and financial problems of class-ridden Victorian England are depicted vividly, and against this background the romance of Egremont, an aristocrat, and Sybil, the daughter of a poor Chartist leader, develops.
"Lady Kiah, Princess Royal of the ruling family of Kush, is contracted to marry the heir of the most powerful family in the eastern Roman Empire. Intelligent, compassionate, and deadly with a knife, Lady Kiah must prepare herself for her husband-to-be by acclimating herself to the culture and customs of her new land. But when she arrives on the shore of ancient Syria, the misadventures begin ... Daughter of Two Nations begins the tale of one woman's fateful role in the events that unfold during the fall of Palmyra, one of the most powerful city-states in the Roman Empire"--Page 4 of cover.
The social and financial problems of class-ridden Victorian England are depicted vividly, and against this background the romance of Egremont, an aristocrat, and Sybil, the daughter of a poor Chartist leader, develops.
Australia has two nations: native Aboriginal land and majority settlers territory. January 26 should be observed as national mourning day for real reconciliation in Australia. All the talk of reconciliation and apologies did not change ground situation for the Aboriginals. George Bush killed more Americans than Osama Laden killed. Americans paid heavy price for the mass hysteria and melancholia in the aftermath of September 2001. Berlin wall was brought down but walls were erected in Iraq and Palestine. Celibacy should be abandoned by Catholic priests to prevent child sex abuse. Vatican needs transparency and external scrutiny to prevent further mafia style scandals. Abortion and euthanasia should be taken out of religious contexts respecting the individuals choice
Birth of two Nations: the Republic of China and the Peoples Republic of China is a historical account how the Republic of China is formally established in 1911 after a bloody struggle that destroyed the Qing Dynasty and once and for all broke the thousands years traditional dynasty cycle. The ensuing events that led to the Peoples Republic of China as it is formally established in 1949. However, the book is more than chronological accounts. For history cannot come in a social vacuum. Factors including historical, cultural, political, and socio-economical that impact and shape the development must be taken into account to enable the readers to have a better understanding of the development. This book, therefore, explores and interprets sociologically, economically, politically, and historically from the embryonic stage to the full birth of the two nations in account of these factors and the ensuing years. The external forces and pressures, particularly from that of the Japanese aggressors, let to internal discord between the Guomindang (Nationalist Party) and the Kungchandang (Communist Party) and the civil war with great suffering by the people. The book attempts to detail the inter-relatedness of these factors with documentations and my personal and my family experience in the developmental years. My mother in particular shared with me, when I was old enough, perhaps five or old, how we survived the hardship and suffering during those years of bitter of conflict between the warlords of the Guangdong Province and Guangxi Province. Our village in the Guangning County, Guangdong Provincce situated in the border of the two provinces we took the beating first from the Guangxi warlord. I grew up during the eight years war of resistance against the Japanese aggression. Some historians considered the war to be a fourteen years war. It probably depends on which event was considered the starting point since there were so many pretexts and aggressions launched by the Japanese against China. We almost died of starvation, surviving only on sweet potatoes, weeds, and locust. My elder brothers were very bitter for they lost their chance to get an education and destined laborers for life. Personal as it may be, however, it is by no means unique. Chinese people of my cohort, 70 plus, who were in China during those years would be able to collaborate and even share familiar experience of mine and of my family. The book does not attempt to be a scientific account of the development. I tried to be as objective as I can for I am open to scrutinize by my cohort and historians. Data of the book come primarily from personal observation in the normal course of daily life and interviews, oral history from older Chinese who experienced and witnessed the development constituted a significant part of the study. Reviews and critical analysis of available data in English and Chinese related to the development. It is a crystallization of available data, particularly the oral history that should be preserved for posterity. Other sources I gratefully acknowledged. I regret and apologize for any inadvertent omission. I am specially grateful to my next door neighbor who is close to 90 years old came to the United States as a paper son worked in his fathers restaurant for a number of years. He later joined the U.S. Air Force and became a Staff Sergeant served in WWII and stationed in Kunming, China. Because his ability to speak Chinese and English, he played a significant role between the two governments China and the United States. He often commuted, in U.S. Air Force transportation between Kunming and Chongqing, the Chinese wartime capital. He recalled his experience of those years and provided me with his valuable insight of the two worlds. I am grateful to my long-time friend, Mr. Louis Lau, for his moral and sponsorship in making this research and endeavor possible. His encouragement provided me with the strength and a willingness to make sacrif
Sybil Or the Two Nations by Benjamin Disraeli, the earl of Beaconsfield, is about the Chartists' attempt to secure more rights for the working class during the mid-to-late 19th century. Excerpt: "I'll take the odds against Caravan." "In poneys?" "Done." And Lord Milford, a young noble, entered in his book the bet which he had just made with Mr. Latour, a grey-headed member of the Jockey Club. It was the eve of the Derby of 1837. In a vast and golden saloon, that in its decorations would have become, and in its splendor would not have disgraced, Versailles in the days of the grand monarch, were assembled many whose hearts beat at the thought of the morrow, and whose brains still labored to control its fortunes to their advantage."
