‘History an analytical discipline’

LAHORE: Punjab University Department of History and Pakistan Studies organised a session on History as Method with Prof Ayesha Jalal, a distinguished historian and professor of history at Tufts University, USA.

Prof Jalal underscored the critical need to view history as an investigative and analytical discipline rather than as a tool for ideological propagation. She expressed concern over the dominance of ideology and propaganda in Pakistani historiography, which, according to her, has significantly shaped the narrative of the nation-state. “History is not just about dates, names, and events,” she asserted, emphasising the necessity of approaching it as a critical investigation.

Highlighting Pakistan’s multicultural and heterogeneous nature, Prof Jalal called for the development of alternative popular histories and a balanced national discourse to provide a more nuanced understanding of the past. She also addressed the numerous challenges faced by Pakistani historians, including restrictions on access to archives and their inadequate management.

Prof Jalal stressed the importance of linking history with literature to make it more engaging and accessible. She lamented the decline in Urdu literacy among the youth and advocated for the revival of Persian and early modern history studies to enrich historical consciousness. On the occasion, Chairman Department of History and Pakistan Studies Prof Dr Mahboob Hussain, faculty members and students were present.