Prejudice and Pride: School Histories of the Freedom Struggle in India and Pakistan

by Krishna Kumar

In this book, the first of its kind, Krishna Kumar explains how the history texts of both countries selectively narrate incidents or refrain from doing so for various ideological and cultural reasons. In order to show how widely the two perceptions vary, the author compares the textbooks currently used in Indian and Pakistani schools. He examines the representation of major episodes - like the 1857 rebellion, Independence and Partition - and the portrayal of personalities like Gandhi and Jinnah. The last part of the book analyses essays written on Partition by Indian and Pakistani schoolchildren.

Genres: Education, India, Nonfiction, History

274 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2001

Reviews

[Sabahat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me 16 days to complete this relatively slim book, but the length is deceiving. It packs so much in 200 pages that I would need to read a dozen other books to truly grasp the depth of the queries raised here. Krishna Kumar is clearly a brilliant thinker, able to parse every prejudice, every agenda in both Pakistani and Indian history textbooks, and comment on them with the objectivity of a sage, guiding us to a view of history that is complex and thought provoking.

[Akash Dey · Rating 5 out of 5]

How are generations of students socialized into rival 'ideas' of India and Pakistan? This book both explains and lays down the tapestry of sources from where we can understand further. As an Indian, this book opens up the doors of my self-perception.

[Mahender Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful comparison of school histories as taught in India and Pakistan.