Islamised, social studies textbooks in Pakistan are replete with manipulated interpretations of historical events
IT’san old adage that ?it takes three generations to make a gentleman?. But it does not apply to Pakistan, which even after 57 years of its existence is treading the path of fundamentalism. Repeated attempts on the part of India to bring peace between India and Pakistan notwithstanding, the latter is still obsessed with its ?anti-India? mania, which is reflected in its history textbooks.
In the contemporary world where history is seen as a powerful tool to mould a nation’syouth, Pakistani history textbooks are replete with manipulated interpretations of historical events. This is nothing but sowing dragon’steeth to reap the rich harvest of hate to keep alive their ?anti-India? mania. And to what extent this mania has pervaded the Pakistani society and perverted its psyche is reflected in an article ?Ideological Crossroads? by a Pakistani writer Najum Mushtaq (The News International, 10-6-2001; www.jang-group.com). He writes: ?The ideology of Pakistan? as defined to students at every school and college in the country is nothing except anti-Indianism. In every walk of life in Pakistan?from academia to journalism, from sports to bureaucracy?a vast majority of people have been inculcated with fantastic anti-India notions.
?…Phrases like the ?Hindu mentality? and ?devious Indian psyche? are part of the daily military talk. …Anti-Indianism in short run deep in Pakistani state and society.?
How the younger generation is indoctrinated with selective history, which often distorts and disconnects historical moments from their context has been brought to light by Yvette Claire Rosser in a book Islamisation of Pakistani Social Studies Textbooks (published by Rupa & Co in association with Observer Research Foundation). The book points out: ?All students in Pakistan are required to take courses called Pakistan Studies and must pass standardised tests based on that curriculum. Pakistan Studies is a compulsory subject in all secondary schools and colleges. There are numerous textbooks published under this title for the 9th class to the BA level. In general, the curriculum is a composite of patriotic discourses, justification of the Two-nation theory, hagiographies of Muslim heroes, and endemic in the discourse are polemics about the superiority of Islamic principles over Hinduism.?
Undoubtedly anti-democratic and inclined to dogmatic tirades characterised by internal contradictions, these textbooks were written and altered during Gen. Zia-ul-Haq’sregime from 1977 to 1988. Pakistan Studies, which replaced social studies comprising history and geography during Zia’sregime, was given such prominence that not only at school level but also in engineering and medical colleges it was made a compulsory subject. Yvette’sbook informs: ?Curriculum changes, institutionalised during Zia’sIslamisation campaign, required that all students also take a series of courses under the title Islamiyat, the study of Islamic tenants and memorisation of Quranic verses. Committees formed under Zia’sguidance began to systematically edit the textbooks.?
The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a directive in 1983 that textbook writers were: ?To demonstrate that the basis of Pakistan is not to be founded in racial, linguistic, or geographical factors, but, rather, in the shared experience of a common religion. To get students to know and appreciate the Ideology of Pakistan, and to popularise it with slogans. To guide students towards the ultimate goal of Pakistan?the creation of a completely Islamised State.?
Flaunting the Islamic Arab invaders? plunder in Sindh, the book Social Studies for Class VI, Chapter 7, (Published by Sindh Textbook Board, April 1997) says: ?The conquest of Sindh opened a new chapter in the history of South Asia. Muslims had ever lasting effects on their existence in the region. {…} For the first time the people of Sindh were introduced to Islam, its political system and way of the government. The people here had seen only the atrocities of the Hindu Rajas. {…} The people of Sindh were so much impressed by the benevolence of Muslims that they regarded Muhammad-bin-Qasim as their saviour. {…} Muhammad-bin-Qasim stayed in Sindh for over three years. On his departure from Sindh, the local people were overwhelmed with grief.?
But, unsurprisingly, the textbooks do not point out the fact that before 712 AD, Arab armies were defeated sixteen times by Hindu kings. An alumnus of University of Texas, Yvette points out in the book: ?When I was in Hyderabad, Sindh, I discussed the contents of this textbook with several Sindhis, who assured me that they told their children an alternative version of this story, where Raja Dahir is in fact referred to as a local ethnic
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