‘Our history no more than a concoction of distorted facts’ 

Speakers discuss the ‘organised misrepresentation’ of country’s historical events;
call for the nation to rise above false ideas in order to progress

Karachi

“A systematic and deliberate distortion of the country’s historical facts and events, by the state itself, has resulted in the masses being misguided and alienated from the path the Quaid-e-Azam had initially wanted the country to adhere to.”

These exhortations were made by Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Tuesday, at the University of Karachi, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 25th International History Conference - jointly organised by the KU’s Department of General History, Pakistan Historical Society, Hamdard Foundation, Higher Education Commission and the Endowment Fund Trust.

He wanted for the country to be a progressive welfare state wherein all religious minorities were free to follow through their beliefs and practices, Rabbani, however, disappointingly acknowledged that that could not be achieved.

"I dare not consider myself an authority on the subject of history and, hence, cannot relay my opinions regarding the various trends through which the South Asian history is currently being observed,” the chairman said, adding, that it was, however, essential for us to reflect on whether there have been changes in the way history is being perceived after all these years.

“Holding a discussion on various issues is still considered a taboo; our national politics continues to face similar problems as were witnessed by the people of the erstwhile decades. It seems as if we have been stranded on a crossroad, where we will continue to remain until mindsets changed."

Rabbani likened the mindset and the policies of the country’s ruling elite to that of the British Imperialists, stating that the only difference now was that the ‘Gora Sahib’ (British) had been replaced by the ‘Kala Sahib’ (locals).

“The colonial system has been replaced by neo-colonialism! Where the West used to directly rule us, it now has indirect control over our assets and is trying its best to get a complete hold over them through carefully planned strategies.”

Curriculum and extremism

Speaking on national curriculum, the Senate chairman stated that several historical facts were misrepresented, wars were glorified and terrorism was promoted.

He further stated that the country was still reeling from the negative consequences of promoting an extremist mindset on the behest of the West. “Those who blame us for training the Taliban should know that history remains witness to the actual masters of the plan.”

Rabbani called for the nation to not be apologetic towards its history but embrace it instead.

Pleading the case for democracy, he said the system was in line with Islam as Islam itself ensured the rights of minorities, women and all other oppressed sections of the society.

“The Misaq-e-Madina was the best example of democracy in Islam,” he observed adding that declarations like Magna Carta were also based on Islamic principles.

Ban on student unions

Expressing regret over the two-decade old ban imposed on students’ unions, by General Zia-ul-Haq, in varsities, he said, “It was unfortunate that we (Pakistan Peoples’ Party) despite having been formed a federal government did not do anything to revoke the ban.”

However, he mentioned that a committee tasked with submitting recommendations for restoration of the unions had been formed. The suggestions would be discussed with both the federal and provincial governments, the chairman Senate said.

Criticising the role of elements which were apparently still creating hurdles in restoration of the unions, he said it was because of these same elements that student unions were banned.

Key-note speaker of the event, Prof Dr Yasmeen Saikia, of the Arizona State University, USA, said freedom was a human’s birthright.

She observed that India and Pakistan had from the beginning been involved in different conflicts in which the state's security became of paramount importance over the individual's freedom.

Citing Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) migration from Medina to Mecca, she said it was an unprecedented historical event which led to the establishment of the world's first just and welfare state based on Islamic principles.

During the 12 years that Dr Yasmeen visited Islamabad and other areas, while she was studying Pakistani history, she observed that it was an uphill task to get access to relevant documents.

KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser while addressing the seminar urged the department of history to play a pivotal role in getting the country’s correct history inculcated in the curriculum.

Prof Dr Moonis Ahmar, dean faculty of social sciences, KU, said distortion of history was not only specific to Pakistan but the practice had been underway in a number of other countries as well.

He called for the country to learn from its mistakes and rise above them and do away with the practice of distorting history so that the country’s youth grew up with a strong curious and intellectual mindset.