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—P. Parameswaran
“It is imperative to remember how proper use of history can strengthen the nation and how its abuse can create havoc for national interest. It will be a tragedy if change of government leads to total disruption of policies, keeps party interest as supreme and totally disregards the nation'sinterest,” said Shri P. Parameswaran, while releasing the Malayalam translation of Arun Shourie'sbook, The Eminent Historians, in Kochi recently. The function organised by Kurukshethra Prakashan (Pvt.) Ltd, was presided over by Prof. Thuravur Viswambharan.
Shri Parameswaran said that frustrated ‘historians?, “who remained away from their influential positions from 1998 to 2004”, have now started a vilification campaign against the Hindutva ideology. Their pet theme is ‘desaffronistion? and it is time for people to know how these gentlemen conducted the affairs while occupying high positions.”
Describing the recent D-Day Remembrance organised to remember the memory of American troops landing at Normandy 60 years ago, as a ‘demonstration of Christian unity?, he said, “it was a classic example of how historical events galvanise people and it also indicated how Christianity was going to face Islamic onslaught and terrorism. We in India too have our own historical moments of glory and pride. But we, as a nation, have miserably failed to remember or honour such events. We have forgotten the martyrs of 1857 war of Independence. Another such event has been the Partition of the country. We do not seem to have learnt a proper lesson from history,” he said.
Mentioning the recent political developments in the country, Shri Parameswaran said that the Muslim League, which was directly responsible for the Partition, had found a ministerial post in the ruling coalition. He pointed out that despite remaining in Pandit Nehru'sinterim government, the Muslim League had declared direct action due to which thousands of innocent Hindus had been killed. Even the Congress had to accede to the demand of Partition and the country was forced to go through intolerable miseries. “The very same Congress, having no regards for history, has come to such a pass that they had no qualms in admitting the League into the new ministry after a span of more than a half century. None of our historians have reacted to this dangerous act,” he said, regretting that the danger of upsurge of Islamic fundamentalism loomed large on the country with this misplaced legitimisation of the Muslim League. He said it may encourage reappearance of old Islamic ideas like the establishment of a Muslim corridor from West Bengal to Punjab.
(FOC)
