Re: End of the past?
First of all, I want to clarify that I am not defending History presented in Pakistan’s textbooks. Who knows, you are probably right; it’s absolutely rubbish.
What I am arguing against is your skewed perception of ‘History’. Likes of you just want History subject to become a tool to propagate self-invented hero worshipping for sake of it. You want the same extreme level of ‘eulogizing’ taking place in Pakistan, but this time, in the name of ethnic pride, not in religious defence. But let me tell you, if you think History the academic discipline is all about eulogizing favourite personalities or glorifying events, then perhaps you obviously don’t have sound understanding of history as a subject, and for that, I also blame those textbooks.
We need to understand and appreciate that History is much more than finding quick and cosmetic ‘new narratives’ to accommodate wider political agenda. History should be all about seeking knowledge of the past. Knowledge should be the King here.
In order to allow History subject to flourish we must campaign for greater historical investigation of range of legitimate primary sources. History is nothing without evidence, if new narratives are to be produced, they must be produced on the basis of scientific scrutiny of historical sources. Be aware that historian’s job is to assess, analyse, and evaluate sources to give a certain interpretation to the past; to help us understand it better. It is not Historian’s job to ‘tell stories’ and pass moral verdicts. This is a good historical practice.
Pakistanis intellectuals and academics must come forward to genuinely demand the widening and sharpening intellectual foundation of the history discipline. Start a campaign asking for funds to be poured into various research departments and projects so the professionally credible, crossed referenced, research and evidence based objective critical enquiries of the past can take place.
No where have I said in my posts to create a new narrative. We can’t create heroes as we don’t have many. All I have been been saying that tell the history as it is. At the moment we have invented it giving it an islamic tinge. These days even acknowledging the past is considered to be against the ideology and creation of Pakistan. See the past posts in this thread as a reference.