Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Berkeley (and a myth punctured)

Between 1949 and 1950, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the future President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, was a graduate student at UC Berkeley. During this period, he lived at 1800 Allston Way with several Indian students, including his friend Piloo Mody. They shared household chores, with Bhutto responsible for cleaning and making beds, and cooked meals together, pooling money for groceries. He was a non-resident member of the International House and worked on the dining staff, often joining conversations at the “Urdu Table.” Bhutto was also known for his active social life, as one classmate recalled his frequent dating. He would also speak to groups about Pakistan and South Asian history. Academically, Professor Hans Kelsen was a significant influence, and Bhutto often cited his teachings later later political career. He was apparently an excellent student, securing an A in a graduate political philosophy course with Piloo Mody. In September 1949, he briefly returned to Pakistan for a…