Last week I had a big fight again with my Libertarian friend. This time there were five of us and everyone had their own opinion as always. The sound became louder with every passing moment as the alcohol and Ganja was showing their nature and no one was ready to be defeated by other. The ‘discussion’ started because of a news in The Times of India (Delhi edition 27-Dec-08, 1st and 11th page) which says “Pak textbooks foster hate against India”. During this long argument hundreds of points and angles came across but I forgot almost all of them except only a few. I can remember, at the ending phase of our ‘discussion’ we were shouting about the role of government in education, should there be any and if yes then how much….. The impact of the news and our discussion could be understood from the fact that my libertarian friend didn’t join us in our New Year eve Party.
Briefly the news for which we were arguing-
The officially prescribed textbooks of Pakistan, especially for school students are full of references that promote hate against India in general and Hindus in Particular. Compulsory subjects like Pakistan studies and social studies are given special importance by Education Policy of Pakistan pursued since 1977 and these subjects are injecting the culture of hate and the ethos of inequality on the ground of religious faith, leading to them getting deeply ingrained in the Pakistani psyche and mindset.
The news also highlights on how History is being taught by the Pakistan government to its young innocent minds. These books explain-
* The Congress was actually a party of the Hindus.
* The British began on the one hand loot of all the things produced in this area, and on the other hand, in conjunction with Hindus, to greatly suppress Muslims.
* Muhammad Ali (Jinnah) felt Hindus wanted to make Muslims slaves. As he hated slavery, he left Congress.
* On Indo-Pak wars, the books give detailed description and openly eulogize “Jihad” and “Shahadat” and urge students to become “Mujahids”.
And there are many more dangerous and garbled version of history which has been prescribed to the children of Pakistan starting from Class III to promote hate and negative mindset. I am really unable to express my feeling for the sentence “Previously, India was part of Pakistan…”
I don’t know the reason but while reading the news I was not very surprised as it was somewhat expected. But a particular portion of the news caught my attention seriously. It is-
* In 1965, the Pakistani army conquered several areas of India, and when India was on the point of being defeated, she requested the United Nations, to arrange a ceasefire. After 1965, India with the help of Hindus living in East Pakistan, instigated people living there, and in Dec 1971 invaded. The conspiracy resulted in the separation of East Pakistan from us. All of us should receive military training and be prepared to fight the enemy. It also claims, in the 1971 war, the Pakistan armed forces created new record of bravery and the Indian forces were defeated everywhere.
Several comments and views have been registered in different media in reaction to the news from the morning it has been published. But I am feeling a bit strange that not a single reaction has come from Bangladesh. Or it would be safer if I say, I couldn’t find one.
Is it possible that no one in Bangladesh came to know about this news or no one felt the urge to make their point anywhere? I can understand about the aam-admi of Bangladesh who has no such means, but what about it’s media personnel whom I sincerely respect for their effective and impressive works, what about Bangladeshi intellectuals, it’s educationalists, politicians, government….. and most importantly what about Bangladeshi youth?
My intentions of writing this post are pretty simple.
Intention no.1: I wish to circulate the news to my friends. Instigating anyone is not at all my motive because deciding what’s right and what’s wrong is their own responsibility but for reaching any point, they should at least know what’s happening.
Intension no.2: Knowing what Bangladeshi people think about the news. I strongly believe that this particular news is not only important for India but it also seeks attention of Bangladeshi people.
The books I have read from childhood say People of East Pakistan sought independence for the sake of their mother tongue and in protest of West Pakistan’s continuous injustice and negative attitude towards Bengali people. What I am feeling might be felt by other Indians also who have come across the news but I don’t know about Bangladeshi citizen. What Bangladeshi people have gone through in past, what they have achieved, what they have lost is known by them only and no book can explain the history better. So, I want to hear from them.
The officially prescribed textbooks of Pakistan, especially for school students are full of references that promote hate against India in general and Hindus in Particular. Compulsory subjects like Pakistan studies and social studies are given special importance by Education Policy of Pakistan pursued since 1977 and these subjects are injecting the culture of hate and the ethos of inequality on the ground of religious faith, leading to them getting deeply ingrained in the Pakistani psyche and mindset.
The news also highlights on how History is being taught by the Pakistan government to its young innocent minds. These books explain-
* The Congress was actually a party of the Hindus.
* The British began on the one hand loot of all the things produced in this area, and on the other hand, in conjunction with Hindus, to greatly suppress Muslims.
* Muhammad Ali (Jinnah) felt Hindus wanted to make Muslims slaves. As he hated slavery, he left Congress.
* On Indo-Pak wars, the books give detailed description and openly eulogize “Jihad” and “Shahadat” and urge students to become “Mujahids”.
And there are many more dangerous and garbled version of history which has been prescribed to the children of Pakistan starting from Class III to promote hate and negative mindset. I am really unable to express my feeling for the sentence “Previously, India was part of Pakistan…”
I don’t know the reason but while reading the news I was not very surprised as it was somewhat expected. But a particular portion of the news caught my attention seriously. It is-
* In 1965, the Pakistani army conquered several areas of India, and when India was on the point of being defeated, she requested the United Nations, to arrange a ceasefire. After 1965, India with the help of Hindus living in East Pakistan, instigated people living there, and in Dec 1971 invaded. The conspiracy resulted in the separation of East Pakistan from us. All of us should receive military training and be prepared to fight the enemy. It also claims, in the 1971 war, the Pakistan armed forces created new record of bravery and the Indian forces were defeated everywhere.
Several comments and views have been registered in different media in reaction to the news from the morning it has been published. But I am feeling a bit strange that not a single reaction has come from Bangladesh. Or it would be safer if I say, I couldn’t find one.
Is it possible that no one in Bangladesh came to know about this news or no one felt the urge to make their point anywhere? I can understand about the aam-admi of Bangladesh who has no such means, but what about it’s media personnel whom I sincerely respect for their effective and impressive works, what about Bangladeshi intellectuals, it’s educationalists, politicians, government….. and most importantly what about Bangladeshi youth?
My intentions of writing this post are pretty simple.
Intention no.1: I wish to circulate the news to my friends. Instigating anyone is not at all my motive because deciding what’s right and what’s wrong is their own responsibility but for reaching any point, they should at least know what’s happening.
Intension no.2: Knowing what Bangladeshi people think about the news. I strongly believe that this particular news is not only important for India but it also seeks attention of Bangladeshi people.
The books I have read from childhood say People of East Pakistan sought independence for the sake of their mother tongue and in protest of West Pakistan’s continuous injustice and negative attitude towards Bengali people. What I am feeling might be felt by other Indians also who have come across the news but I don’t know about Bangladeshi citizen. What Bangladeshi people have gone through in past, what they have achieved, what they have lost is known by them only and no book can explain the history better. So, I want to hear from them.
1 comment:
well my dear friend this is well known fact that history can be misinterpreted to the coming generations by older ones....secondly in pakistan situations are different as in comparison with india. vahan par sattadhishon ko is baat ki adhik chinta rehti hai ki ayudh bhandar me astra kam pad gaye hain banisbat iske ki mulk me khane ke liye anaj nahin hai...isliye itihaas ko tod marodkar pesh karna vahan ke hukmarano ki aadat hai....unki majburi bhi ...kyunki ve aisa nahin karenge to unke pet kaise bharenge...khair mudda bahut vichlit kar dene waala hai...tumhe sadhuvaad ki ...aise mudde par dhyan akrisht karaya hai....ham khushnaseeb hain ki hamare hukmaranon ne hame itihaas jo hai jaisa hai vaise hi padhne ko diya hai....umeed hai sab jaldi shant ho amin....
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