In-depth review

As acknowledged, a good book like this provokes many questions for the reader. My question is why? If the purpose of History is to teach us then what was the obstacle for which we learnt nothing? For learning is a two way communication.

Another question. Whom does "We" refer to? The rulers or the ruled? The military, political, bureaucratic rulers or the multi-lingual people with a common faith? Any ordinary person is able to give a reasonable account of the follies and foolhardy events and escapades during the past five or more decades.

And what does "Nothing" refer to? To my mind to learn nothing is an impossible situation, similar to being fatalistic, a sort of mental rigidity and regimentation.

I couldn't agree more with the reviewer's felt need for empirical research into political involvement of NSI and DGFI, or personal accounts by privileged persons who witnessed historical events.

However any move in this direction by a researcher or writer is faced with insurmountable challenges; even if this entails a straightforward documentation on regular and routine activities. All information and communication are labeled as "sensitivity of the highest order." When such is the mindset, research and writing continue to stay put.