Adil Najam
We are planning a more detailed review of Mukhtaran Mai’s book In the Name of Honor: A Memoir and also a post on the developments with the rape laws later tonight. Meanwhile, we have of course carried a lot on Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s book In the Line of Fire: A Memoir.
However, I can’t resist the temptation to put up this picture from an Islamabad bookstore, published in the Daily Times (15 November, 2006) that shows the two books displayed side by side. I will not over diagnose it right now, but I find the portraits of both Mukhtaran and Gen. Musharraf interesting depictions, especially when placed side-by-side. I would also love to find out which book the gentleman in the background in reading.
So do keep an eye on this space for more on Mukhtaran Mai’s book and also more on the rape law developments. But, meanwhile, ponder upon this news photo.
Farzana,
If Musharraf had to have ghost writers (not one but two)to write his book how do you expect poor and illiterate Mukhtaran to write a book. Obviously, it is written by someone else.
The book being thumbed in the background does not seem to be a law book because law books are usually not embellished. Maybe the Sharia Law books are. I don’t know. But how is the book in the background relevant to all this?
From the cover, the book in the background seems like a copy of the Qur’an or a book of Hadith or something–with the gold embossed text on it…
Can someone please cconfirm if this book is by Muskhtaran Mai herself or by Kristoff. I followed the link to Amazon and it said Kristoff I do not think that is corect.
The book being read in the background is probably not the quran which is ussually thicker in this size. A lot of local law books tend to have cobers like this.
Mukhtaran Mais book is published by teh same people at Musharafs book (Simon and Schuster). Also the subtitle of the two is the same (A Memoir). Also, the titles are very similar (In the… ‘Line of Fire’ and ‘Name of Honor’). Coincidence?
The cover of Mukhtara’s book seems much more striking. A look of graceful determinantion on her face. Symbolizes her very well.