Abstract:
The present study was made while the author was in residence
for one year at the Pakistan Academy for Rural Development, Comilla,
East Pakistan, under the auspices of the Africa-Asia Public Service
Fellowship Program, Maxwell Center for the Study of Overseas Operations,
Syracuse University. The topic and broad outline of the study
were suggested in September 1964 by Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan, Vice-
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Academy and later again its
Director. Dr. Khan indicated he would like to have the Academy's
rural administration experiment placed in historical perspective,
and analysed from the point of view afforded by such perspective.
Complete freedom of investigation was provided.
This study was conducted entirely within Pakistan, primarily
East Pakistan. Whenever possible, secondary sources used are by
Pakistanis. Although it may be necessary for thoroughness of research
to go to Calcutta and London, at least limited historical research
is possible from local resources. Particularly useful in this respect
have been the Government of East Pakistan Secretariat Archives,
the British Council, the University of Dacca Library, and the District
Collectorate and Academy libraries in Comilla. To the men who
aided me in gaining access to these valuable reservoirs, my thanks
are due. Thanks are also in order to the many officials of government
and government-related institutions at all levels of the provincial
administration who kindly endured my endless questions, and
even expressed interest in the outcome of my efforts. The Academy
faculty and staff were especially helpful.
Dr. Richard Wheeler, Assistant Professor of Political Science
at the University of Michigan, was kind enough to make helpful suggestions
on organization and to read several rough-draft chapters
while he was in residence at the Academy under the Fulbright programme.
Dr. Khan read most of the rough draft. Neither of these
men, busy in their own pursuits, should be held responsible in
any way for the errors of fact or opinion which may remain.
