Genesis of the Bangladesh: War of Independence

Alamgir Muhammad Serajuddin's 'Genesis of the Bangladesh: War of Independence' is a scholarly examination of the events that led to India's partition, the creation of Pakistan, and the eventual emergence of Bangladesh. The book looks closely at the social, cultural, political, and economic struggles Pakistan faced, including the rise of an elite-dominated bureaucracy and the marginalization of East Pakistan from state affairs. It also discusses the two economies formula proposed by Bangali economists and the Six Points Programme, both of which laid important groundwork for independence.

Serajuddin asks a central question: was the breakup of Pakistan inevitable? He argues that Pakistan's failure to build democratic institutions that respected Bangali cultural identity and ensured equal benefits made the split unavoidable. The book traces this failure through the country's history, showing how it led to the birth of Bangladesh.

The author brings remarkable authority to the subject. A National Professor with a Ph.D. in History from the University of London and a Barrister-at-Law from Lincoln's Inn, he served as Professor of History and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chittagong. His long academic career includes fellowships at SOAS London and a visiting professorship at Georgetown University, along with numerous awards including Atish Dipankar Award and Ekushay Padak.