D. DASHPUREV and SONI. S.K.  “Reign of Terror in Mongolia 1920-1990”.

By New Delhi, South Asian Publishers, 1992, p. 93, Rs. 95,

INDIAN BOOKS OF THE QUARTER

This research-oriented study presents a true picture of modern political history of Mongolia in the context of Soviet-Mongol relationship, and gives, in details, an analytical description of the unknown side of Mongolian society. The book, covering the period from 1920-1990, high­lights, comprehensively, the real facts responsible for putting whole of the Mongolian society under a “reign of terror” which permitted economic, political and Ideological exploitation of the general masses. The authors have taken a bold initiative in presenting in true form the atrocities committed upon the public by the then regimes.

In conclution, the authors have successfully depicted the present rapid change in Mongolia since 1990 due to the Introduction of multiparty democracy and market economy.

The book is of immense value for those research scholars working on international relations, particularly, of Central Asia.[1]

REIGN OF TERROR IN MONGOLIA 1920-1990. By D. Dashpurev and S.K. Soni

New Delhi, South Asian Publishers, 1992, p. 93, Rs. 95, ISBN 81-7003-161-3.

The waves of change that followed the disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union swept over Mongolia in much the same way as it did in the Eastern Europe. Consequently a saga of torment and repression was revealed which the authors have termed as “the Reign of Terror” signifying a time of “big political crimes” by the Mongolian Communist Party against the common people.

Stalin sought to transform Mongolia into a Soviet satellite sue and how his stooges actually terrorized the people of Mongolia into submission, is the main theme of the book. One interesting feature of the work is the account of first-hand experi­ence narrated by the Mongolian scholar D. Dashpurev. Analyzing the events, how­ever, stipulated the competent involvement of his Indian counterpart S.K. Soni. The effect is a scholarly work tinged with facts, insight and thought-provoking observa­tions.

The book which is not voluminous but deals at length with the regimes of Choibalson and Tsedenbal should prove beneficial to any inquisitive reader and quite useful for the students of relevant fields.[2]

Anindyo J Majumdar, JNU