Friends not Masters : A Political Autobiography

Friends not Masters: A Political Autobiography is the firsthand account of Mohammad Ayub Khan, Pakistan's president, written during his time in office and first released in 1967. The book traces his personal journey, from his childhood in a village of undivided India to his education at Aligarh and Sandhurst, and his military career in the British-Indian army. With the creation of Pakistan, his narrative shifts to the political and military challenges he faced as a senior officer. The core of the book deals with the 1958 revolution, his reform agenda, and Pakistan's foreign relations with India, its neighbors, and global powers during his presidency.

Ayub Khan provides detailed recollections of his meetings with world leaders like Nehru, Kennedy, and Kosygin, and explains the reasoning behind Pakistan's policy towards China. He also discusses the development of the 1962 Constitution and his victory in the 1965 presidential election. This edition includes photographs and maps, and is part of the UPL's Road to Bangladesh Series. It remains an invaluable primary source for students and scholars interested in the political history of South Asia and the events leading up to the emergence of Bangladesh.