Freedom Under the Pakistani Sky

In 1975, Anna, a young Polish girl, travelled to Pakistan. That was supposed to be a short trip that would never be repeated, but it has, in truth, not ended yet. Pakistan, its people and its mountains have been in her heart for nearly half a century now. While researching Władysław Turowicz, a Pole whose merits for the independence of Pakistan are unparalleled by any other foreigner, Anna discovered that his wife had close links with her own family.

In 2008, thanks to friendships with many people of Pakistan and to her own persistence, Anna made a documentary film that brought back the memory of polish flyers, heroes of Pakistan.

And now, she has written down her Pakistan memories, the mountain, the aviation and the human ones. They abound with intertwined opposites: bitter frost & burning heat, love & hatred, humming mountain brooks & devastating avalanches, blood, sweat and tears & carefree fun, selfless friendship & cynical greed. Just life. Only more so!

Since the history of Polish-Pakistani connections is even more complicated than the histories of Poland and of Pakistan alone, Anna’s memories would have required footnotes and commentaries worthy of a huge (and boring…) scientific analysis. Instead, several researchers of this mutual history have expanded the book by adding short papers that explain the historical background of Anna’s adventures.

“Freedom Under the Pakistani Sky” Anna T. Pietraszek

translation by Wojtek Matusiak
Soft Cover Book, 5,5×8,5 in, 470 pages, 275 images
ISBN 978-83-960235-6-8