What do you think?
Rate this book
Friends, Not Masters
The life and times of Pakistan's first military ruler, Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, told in his own voice, from his early days through his tenure as Commander-in-Chief, then as the author of the 'Revolution' in 1958, until his victory in the presidential elections of 1965.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
122 people are currently reading
1426 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 15, 2020
Self-styled Field Marshal Ayub Khan was Pakistan's first military strongman.This book was written when he was still in power.
The account of his early life is interesting,he was born in the village of Rehana to an armyman.He went to Aligarh University for studies,and from there,British recruiters chose him for commission in the army.
He went to Sandhurst,and was one of the early Muslim officers.But he does say that even at the academy,the British treated the Indian cadets as a subject race.
He fought in World War II,then he describes the communal carnage at partition.He served in the tribal areas,(Waziristan) and describes the sheer futility of military operations there.
After independence,he was sent as GOC to East Pakistan.He saw the poverty,the underdevelopment of the area and the problems which would later lead to the events of 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh.
He was chosen as the first Pakistani chief of the army,over several other generals (one of them was killed in an air crash).
He was a controversial choice,but as he describes it,he was chosen without any lobbying on his part.Later,he was given an extension and still later,he became a self-styled Field Marshal.
Iskander Mirza imposed the first Martial Law and Ayub became its administrator.Soon,he stepped in himself and relieved Iskander Mirza to emerge as Pakistan's ruler.
After that,the book becomes dull and tedious.He goes into a detailed discussion of foreign policy and relations with the US,USSR,China,India and Afghanistan.
Pakistan aligned itself heavily with the US and entered its defence pacts,further alienating the USSR.Relations with China were good,though.
The Kashmir issue festered with India and the Indus Waters Treaty was signed with India,to solve a major issue.Nehru even visited Pakistan to sign it.
The 1965 war had already been fought when the book was written,but strangely,there is no mention of it at all in the book.Instead,the author is more concerned with the achievements of his "Revolution."
He introduced the 1962 constitution (which did not survive him) and introduced a form of indirect democracy.80,000 basic democrats would represent the people and vote for them.He sees nothing wrong with this controversial method and extols its virtues.
Then,he contested the election against Miss Fatima Jinnah (sister of Pakistan's founder) and retained power.How fair the election was is debatable,but he seems very proud of his victory.And that is where the book ends,well before he was hounded out of power by protests and agitation.
Notably,Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,his one time minister and later nemesis is not mentioned even once in the book.
(Bhutto,on his part writes that Ayub had once seriously considered the establishment of a hereditary monarchy in Pakistan,with himself as the first king.Bhutto also alleges that Ayub had tried to have him assassinated).
Ayub was an intelligent man,one can see that in his grasp of world affairs and in the manner in which he prolonged his rule for so long.But the book is mostly a self serving account of his policies.
There is one thing I'm grateful to him for,however.The creation of Pakistan's new capital Islamabad and my memories of "Islamabad the beautiful."
Can be downloaded from :
sanipanhwar.com
The account of his early life is interesting,he was born in the village of Rehana to an armyman.He went to Aligarh University for studies,and from there,British recruiters chose him for commission in the army.
He went to Sandhurst,and was one of the early Muslim officers.But he does say that even at the academy,the British treated the Indian cadets as a subject race.
He fought in World War II,then he describes the communal carnage at partition.He served in the tribal areas,(Waziristan) and describes the sheer futility of military operations there.
After independence,he was sent as GOC to East Pakistan.He saw the poverty,the underdevelopment of the area and the problems which would later lead to the events of 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh.
He was chosen as the first Pakistani chief of the army,over several other generals (one of them was killed in an air crash).
He was a controversial choice,but as he describes it,he was chosen without any lobbying on his part.Later,he was given an extension and still later,he became a self-styled Field Marshal.
Iskander Mirza imposed the first Martial Law and Ayub became its administrator.Soon,he stepped in himself and relieved Iskander Mirza to emerge as Pakistan's ruler.
After that,the book becomes dull and tedious.He goes into a detailed discussion of foreign policy and relations with the US,USSR,China,India and Afghanistan.
Pakistan aligned itself heavily with the US and entered its defence pacts,further alienating the USSR.Relations with China were good,though.
The Kashmir issue festered with India and the Indus Waters Treaty was signed with India,to solve a major issue.Nehru even visited Pakistan to sign it.
The 1965 war had already been fought when the book was written,but strangely,there is no mention of it at all in the book.Instead,the author is more concerned with the achievements of his "Revolution."
He introduced the 1962 constitution (which did not survive him) and introduced a form of indirect democracy.80,000 basic democrats would represent the people and vote for them.He sees nothing wrong with this controversial method and extols its virtues.
Then,he contested the election against Miss Fatima Jinnah (sister of Pakistan's founder) and retained power.How fair the election was is debatable,but he seems very proud of his victory.And that is where the book ends,well before he was hounded out of power by protests and agitation.
Notably,Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,his one time minister and later nemesis is not mentioned even once in the book.
(Bhutto,on his part writes that Ayub had once seriously considered the establishment of a hereditary monarchy in Pakistan,with himself as the first king.Bhutto also alleges that Ayub had tried to have him assassinated).
Ayub was an intelligent man,one can see that in his grasp of world affairs and in the manner in which he prolonged his rule for so long.But the book is mostly a self serving account of his policies.
There is one thing I'm grateful to him for,however.The creation of Pakistan's new capital Islamabad and my memories of "Islamabad the beautiful."
Can be downloaded from :
sanipanhwar.com
October 8, 2019
This is essentially an autobiography, but it seems like a total impersonal and emotionless account from a man, who carried out first coup d'etat of Pakistan in 1958. Apart from first few chapters describing his early life, the rest of the book is not catchy, with a hint of narcissism as evident in an autobiography. He has tried to justify his actions on the basis of doctrine of necessity as it was need of the hour and those actions might not be legal and constitutional but still were much needed for the benefit of the country and its people, due to the incompetent political leadership. The book came out in 1967, but there isn't even a hint of the planning of 1965 war, and it's turn-out. The major portion of the book is focused on foreign policy which is again written in a very mainstream way. Basically, I just killed some of my brain cells trying to read this one.
January 26, 2022
#Friends_Not_Masters A political biography of Ayub Khan.
In the first three to four chapters of the book Ayub Khan repeatedly maintained the idea that the military should keep itself away from politics. Yet, the book itself is his "political biography". You can imagine the level of contradictions this book does contain.
There are many points discussed in this book that seem ridiculous and I really wanted to share them with people. However, as soon as I got close to the ending of the book, I found something very interesting which has again become a topic of discussion these days. I mean whether the political system of this country should be parliamentary or presidential? There was a debate between Ayub Khan who was supporting the presidential system and Maulvi Tameezuddin, the advocate of the parliamentary system. The arguments presented by Ayub Khan seem identical to the present debates/arguments in support of the presidential system of government. Ayub Khan when found no rational answer to the questions raised by Tameezuddin, he got frustrated and replied to him on strong terms that Tameezuddin had to be quiet.
Similarly, his two chapters on the foreign policy of Pakistan demonstrate how he limited Pakistan's foreign policy only to India. Pakistan became part of CENTO and SEATO notwithstanding that the Soviet Union was in her neighborhood. Ayub Khan knew this reality, yet he didn't change the policy and prefer to be under the US influence throughout his rule.
He dubbed his take over of the country as a revolution and introduced an ideology for the country. In this way, he paved a smooth way for his successors who followed the suit subsequently and stepped into political office.
To cut the long story short, divesting opponents, pampering hardliner Islamists, taking over the country, focusing on just military muscles, and many other issues which now we see as the bottleneck in the way of progress and prosperity of Pakistan have their roots in his tenure. But when one reads his book, one finds that he blamed politicians for all malaises and portrayed himself as a Masi'ha
In the first three to four chapters of the book Ayub Khan repeatedly maintained the idea that the military should keep itself away from politics. Yet, the book itself is his "political biography". You can imagine the level of contradictions this book does contain.
There are many points discussed in this book that seem ridiculous and I really wanted to share them with people. However, as soon as I got close to the ending of the book, I found something very interesting which has again become a topic of discussion these days. I mean whether the political system of this country should be parliamentary or presidential? There was a debate between Ayub Khan who was supporting the presidential system and Maulvi Tameezuddin, the advocate of the parliamentary system. The arguments presented by Ayub Khan seem identical to the present debates/arguments in support of the presidential system of government. Ayub Khan when found no rational answer to the questions raised by Tameezuddin, he got frustrated and replied to him on strong terms that Tameezuddin had to be quiet.
Similarly, his two chapters on the foreign policy of Pakistan demonstrate how he limited Pakistan's foreign policy only to India. Pakistan became part of CENTO and SEATO notwithstanding that the Soviet Union was in her neighborhood. Ayub Khan knew this reality, yet he didn't change the policy and prefer to be under the US influence throughout his rule.
He dubbed his take over of the country as a revolution and introduced an ideology for the country. In this way, he paved a smooth way for his successors who followed the suit subsequently and stepped into political office.
To cut the long story short, divesting opponents, pampering hardliner Islamists, taking over the country, focusing on just military muscles, and many other issues which now we see as the bottleneck in the way of progress and prosperity of Pakistan have their roots in his tenure. But when one reads his book, one finds that he blamed politicians for all malaises and portrayed himself as a Masi'ha
April 2, 2016
It's really informative for the history student to consult about Pakistan history.
January 29, 2025
I have finished reading Friends Not Masters — A Political Autobiography by Mohammad Ayub Khan. He was the second President of Pakistan and the first native Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army. He came to power by ousting Pakistan’s first president, Iskandar Ali Mirza, through a military coup. His presidency ultimately collapsed amid the 1968–69 Pakistan Revolution, when millions protested against his dictatorial regime and brought it to an end.
In 1959, Ayub Khan introduced Basic Democracy in Pakistan. He blamed politicians for being corrupt and incapable of ensuring power for the common people. To counter this, he banned political activities and established a system that was essentially a mix of authoritarianism and democracy. He believed that Western-style democracy was not suitable for Pakistan.
Although he expressed sympathy for the Bengalis of East Pakistan, he is still held responsible for the events that led to the region’s separation and the eventual creation of an independent Bangladesh.
Why Did I Read This Book?
As I’ve said before, I want to learn about our War of Independence from every perspective possible. I have read books representing different political views—those of military officers, leftists, and others. It was time to read a book from the perspective of a Pakistani leader. After this, I plan to explore accounts from India’s perspective as well. After all, our independence was not a simple event. It was complex, shaped by multiple agendas and viewpoints.
What Did I Expect?
I expected this book to shed light on the background of the 1971 war and the deterioration of relations between East and West Pakistan. From the title, I assumed that the rulers of West Pakistan wanted to befriend the Bengalis, not dominate them. However, this book focuses more on Ayub Khan’s attempts to reform, unify, and strengthen Pakistan.
The phrase Friends Not Masters actually appears in a chapter on foreign policy. From that, I gather that the title reflects his desire for Pakistan to befriend major world powers rather than be subjugated by them. Fair enough.
What Have I Learned?
Years ago, I realized something: if you read Adolf Hitler’s book, you’ll find a leader brimming with patriotic zeal. But if you read The Diary of Anne Frank, you’ll see him as the vilest villain in history. Perspective matters.
In this book, Ayub Khan blames prominent figures like A. K. Fazlul Haque, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, and Khwaja Salimullah for the problems in East Pakistan. He accuses them of deliberately fostering divisions instead of resolving them. But were they really that villainous? Really?
I know people aren’t angels. Everyone has flaws, including politicians. Ayub Khan may have had some great ideas and good intentions. I even found myself agreeing with some of his points. But the reality is—he failed. And if he failed, what’s the point of blaming all the politicians for it?
I believe Bangladesh’s Interim Government could learn valuable lessons from this book. Otherwise, failure is inevitable. And failure is not an option now.
Should You Read It?
For most of you—no. But if you’re passionate about politics and political history, then absolutely, you should read it.
In 1959, Ayub Khan introduced Basic Democracy in Pakistan. He blamed politicians for being corrupt and incapable of ensuring power for the common people. To counter this, he banned political activities and established a system that was essentially a mix of authoritarianism and democracy. He believed that Western-style democracy was not suitable for Pakistan.
Although he expressed sympathy for the Bengalis of East Pakistan, he is still held responsible for the events that led to the region’s separation and the eventual creation of an independent Bangladesh.
Why Did I Read This Book?
As I’ve said before, I want to learn about our War of Independence from every perspective possible. I have read books representing different political views—those of military officers, leftists, and others. It was time to read a book from the perspective of a Pakistani leader. After this, I plan to explore accounts from India’s perspective as well. After all, our independence was not a simple event. It was complex, shaped by multiple agendas and viewpoints.
What Did I Expect?
I expected this book to shed light on the background of the 1971 war and the deterioration of relations between East and West Pakistan. From the title, I assumed that the rulers of West Pakistan wanted to befriend the Bengalis, not dominate them. However, this book focuses more on Ayub Khan’s attempts to reform, unify, and strengthen Pakistan.
The phrase Friends Not Masters actually appears in a chapter on foreign policy. From that, I gather that the title reflects his desire for Pakistan to befriend major world powers rather than be subjugated by them. Fair enough.
What Have I Learned?
Years ago, I realized something: if you read Adolf Hitler’s book, you’ll find a leader brimming with patriotic zeal. But if you read The Diary of Anne Frank, you’ll see him as the vilest villain in history. Perspective matters.
In this book, Ayub Khan blames prominent figures like A. K. Fazlul Haque, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, and Khwaja Salimullah for the problems in East Pakistan. He accuses them of deliberately fostering divisions instead of resolving them. But were they really that villainous? Really?
I know people aren’t angels. Everyone has flaws, including politicians. Ayub Khan may have had some great ideas and good intentions. I even found myself agreeing with some of his points. But the reality is—he failed. And if he failed, what’s the point of blaming all the politicians for it?
I believe Bangladesh’s Interim Government could learn valuable lessons from this book. Otherwise, failure is inevitable. And failure is not an option now.
Should You Read It?
For most of you—no. But if you’re passionate about politics and political history, then absolutely, you should read it.
April 15, 2018
Reading this book, I can't but help thinking that, here is a person who knew what he was doing. The book highlights the author's in depth knowledge in the field of statesmanship, say it, local government, foreign policy, diplomacy or constitution, and those are on top of his well known prowess in the field of war. I have an innate dislike towards military dictatorship and hence approached the book with an amount of skepticism and besides, just before reading the book I had a disappointing encounter with the autobiography of another of the Pakistan's military rulers-Pervez Musharraf. But this book and some subsequent research changed my notion about him. Ayub Khan was a visionary ruler who is rarely matched by anyone throughout the history of Pakistan and much of the development in the whole of the nascent country can be attributed to him. But unfortunately this book covered only until the election in 1965 and did not cover the war with India in the same year as well as the independence of Bangladesh. I highly recommend the book for those who are interested in the history and politics of the subcontinent.
February 4, 2016
reading a book is like searching a trove of century old jewel. you never know what to expect and what you get at the end. i feel satisfied having read this book. very interesting and different each human lives his life.
you will have better understanding of the problem of India and Pakistan and why it is bound not to be solved.
astonishing reality of Muslims in India which you can never get out of looking only at Indian arguments.
9mn Muslim refugees!
in creation of Pakistan
also Bangladeshis will get *slight* hint about how coldness of West Pakistanis existed since long time back and how furious political ambitions are of the Bengalis.
ayub Khan portrays his good doings which is of course to be credited him for; he tries to show west Pakistanis as much as in positive light as is possible but i think he to knows it is only with lot of stretching that's achieved.
he ignores 21 February 1952, not a word.
he is a successful man. studied at Sandhurst.
im still in confusion if bengalis should see him as a hero.
you will have better understanding of the problem of India and Pakistan and why it is bound not to be solved.
astonishing reality of Muslims in India which you can never get out of looking only at Indian arguments.
9mn Muslim refugees!
in creation of Pakistan
also Bangladeshis will get *slight* hint about how coldness of West Pakistanis existed since long time back and how furious political ambitions are of the Bengalis.
ayub Khan portrays his good doings which is of course to be credited him for; he tries to show west Pakistanis as much as in positive light as is possible but i think he to knows it is only with lot of stretching that's achieved.
he ignores 21 February 1952, not a word.
he is a successful man. studied at Sandhurst.
im still in confusion if bengalis should see him as a hero.
May 24, 2019
Very well written, very good for learning history of early years of Pakistan
December 9, 2015
want to read this book
July 27, 2024
Honestly, I was blown away by this book! Ayub Khan sahab's writing style is so engaging and easy to understand. I mean, I'm not a big fan of history books, but this one was like a page-turner for me!
March 6, 2023
"In the reviewer's opinion, this autobiography of Mohammed Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan, is an engaging, exhortative, and passionate statement of the way he sees himself, his enemies, and Pakistan's future. The central thesis is that the coup d'etat of 1958 was the result of a combination of parliamentary government, unstable multi-party coalition cabinets, and a federal system that produced dissonance and confusion. The portions of the book dealing with foreign relations and enemies of modernization make major political and intellectual contributions to our knowledge." (Rand corporation)
Although it is an autobiography that Ayub Khan calls a political commentary, one feels that the he have tried to cross the line in impersonal way. Apart from the chapter on his early life, Ayub Khan have rarely attempted to address the events and issues of his life in an emotional context. The thought processes that helped him to make the important decisions in his life are neglected, even presumed to have been proven correct, and only a justification given for how correct they are compared to the opposition that instigated them. There is a special tendency to have a holistic view of events. He appreciate efforts of his wife as well.
Ayub Khan portrayed himself as patriotic man whose love for the country was unquestionable and above all doubt. He justified most of his actions on the basis of what is known in legal circles as the doctrine of necessity, that is, they may not be legally and constitutionally valid but since they were invoked or taken for the good will of the people, they cannot be be refuted. He confesses his great love for the common man and dedication his fight for common man.
When it comes to world affairs, he points out that he should be seen as Asian. It was within the Asian community that he felt the need to create a permanent place of respect and strength for Pakistan. He seems to have great admiration for the world's two superpowers. On the other hand, he expresses his great disappointment that the Islamic world, especially the Arab world, does not rise to the occasion and come together on a single platform to deal with the problems it faces. On the subject of the India-Pak conflict, he is a firm believer of the two nations theory. According to him, the essence of these two countries derives from completely opposite units, and at most he only sees them coexisting as neighbors in a peaceful manner. Likewise, his view on Kashmir is also very patriotic, and although he does not go into much detail of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, he is still highly critical of the Indian approach to foreign policy issues.
Since Ayub Khan paid much attention to foreign policy issues in his biography, it was necessary for him to mention the two superpowers on the side of China. Ayub Khan tried to define the rise of the Third World and its rapidly changing position in the context of the great powers in a very radical way. Unlike other biographies, he dealt only with cases that were up front and under the guidance of the common man instead of focusing on the behind the scenes intrigues taking place in such areas.
Although it is an autobiography that Ayub Khan calls a political commentary, one feels that the he have tried to cross the line in impersonal way. Apart from the chapter on his early life, Ayub Khan have rarely attempted to address the events and issues of his life in an emotional context. The thought processes that helped him to make the important decisions in his life are neglected, even presumed to have been proven correct, and only a justification given for how correct they are compared to the opposition that instigated them. There is a special tendency to have a holistic view of events. He appreciate efforts of his wife as well.
Ayub Khan portrayed himself as patriotic man whose love for the country was unquestionable and above all doubt. He justified most of his actions on the basis of what is known in legal circles as the doctrine of necessity, that is, they may not be legally and constitutionally valid but since they were invoked or taken for the good will of the people, they cannot be be refuted. He confesses his great love for the common man and dedication his fight for common man.
When it comes to world affairs, he points out that he should be seen as Asian. It was within the Asian community that he felt the need to create a permanent place of respect and strength for Pakistan. He seems to have great admiration for the world's two superpowers. On the other hand, he expresses his great disappointment that the Islamic world, especially the Arab world, does not rise to the occasion and come together on a single platform to deal with the problems it faces. On the subject of the India-Pak conflict, he is a firm believer of the two nations theory. According to him, the essence of these two countries derives from completely opposite units, and at most he only sees them coexisting as neighbors in a peaceful manner. Likewise, his view on Kashmir is also very patriotic, and although he does not go into much detail of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, he is still highly critical of the Indian approach to foreign policy issues.
Since Ayub Khan paid much attention to foreign policy issues in his biography, it was necessary for him to mention the two superpowers on the side of China. Ayub Khan tried to define the rise of the Third World and its rapidly changing position in the context of the great powers in a very radical way. Unlike other biographies, he dealt only with cases that were up front and under the guidance of the common man instead of focusing on the behind the scenes intrigues taking place in such areas.
March 11, 2019
The book is about a patriotic dictator. The nation needs him most during the most critical phase and he delivered his best with the zeal and zest.
After independence and death of Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan needs a leader who got the power and authority to lead the country in the right direction. He played that rule superbly, on top nation had full confidence and trust on his leadership approach. Pakistan right after its birth and with the commendable leadership of Ayub Khan the country was on the track of glory and success.
The book is must read to understand the insights of Pakistan history, the critical issues after independence. The political structure rotates among the illiterate people and helpless condition of refugees.
Ayub Khan did the splendid job to settle down the land reforms, settlement of refugees, construction of dams, handling Kashmir issue, 1965 war, East Pakistan crises, and refining the constitution are his major achievements.
After independence and death of Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan needs a leader who got the power and authority to lead the country in the right direction. He played that rule superbly, on top nation had full confidence and trust on his leadership approach. Pakistan right after its birth and with the commendable leadership of Ayub Khan the country was on the track of glory and success.
The book is must read to understand the insights of Pakistan history, the critical issues after independence. The political structure rotates among the illiterate people and helpless condition of refugees.
Ayub Khan did the splendid job to settle down the land reforms, settlement of refugees, construction of dams, handling Kashmir issue, 1965 war, East Pakistan crises, and refining the constitution are his major achievements.
Read
September 24, 2020well
Highly recommended book for those who search for the history of Pakistan. How the power thown upon the shoulders of Army. When the country was in highly poor stage. But how well he managed to uplift Pakistan through his intial stages. Wise and briliiant leader who is also a creater of Pakistan Army thorugh nothing. The same facts i hv read in Shahab Nama.
Highly recommended book for those who search for the history of Pakistan. How the power thown upon the shoulders of Army. When the country was in highly poor stage. But how well he managed to uplift Pakistan through his intial stages. Wise and briliiant leader who is also a creater of Pakistan Army thorugh nothing. The same facts i hv read in Shahab Nama.
March 30, 2020
Read this one for the lulz-insights into the pretensions of Pakistan's first tin pot dictator. Amazing how he concludes that a rigged election that he won against the sister of Pakistan's founder reflected how Pakistanis preferred performance to nepotism / family connections.
July 9, 2019
The problem of Pak were identified from the very start and almost same problems are being faced today, but implementation of solution to the problems have taken a lot of time.
October 4, 2020
Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 19, 2021Had to read this for a Pak Studies project - thank God it's over
October 5, 2024
The problems of Pak were identified from the very start and almost same problems are being faced today, but implementation of solution to the problems have taken a lot of time.
March 25, 2015
This is an informative account by Self proclaimed Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Although it is widely believed that this book was actually authored by his trusted Altaf Gauhar who wrote another book on Ayub Khan but nevertheless this is a must read for political history fans and students.
It gives you an insight of a progressive mind of Gen. Ayub Khan who despite several odds was successful in bringing progress to the country.
It gives you an insight of a progressive mind of Gen. Ayub Khan who despite several odds was successful in bringing progress to the country.
Want to read
October 29, 2013lool
Want to read
August 27, 2014?
Read
October 25, 2017no thing
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews