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The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan
In this volume, Aziz sets out to correct the injustice that has been committed in Pakistan ever since its creation, and still continues. The history text books in the country have been woefully distorted for political ends. In this book, he has critiqued and provided the corrections for 66 text books being taught in the Social Studies, Pakistan Studies and History disciplines to students from grades 1 to 14. It’s indeed a courageous effort that unfortunately went unnoticed in his time. But then again, according to Aziz, he wrote this for posterity after all.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
382 people are currently reading
5423 people want to read
About the author
K.K. Aziz
57 books128 followersKhursheed Kamal Aziz, better known as K. K. Aziz was born in December 1927, in village Ballamabad near Faisalabad. He was educated at the M. B. High School Batala, Forman Christian College and the Government College, Lahore, and the Victoria University of Manchester. He has been on the academic staff of the Government College, Lahore, and of the Universities of the Punjab, London, Cambridge, Khartoum and Heidelberg, and has delivered occasional lectures at the Universities of Karachi, Peshawar, Dacca, Islamabad, Hull, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Geneva, Oxford and Bergen.
During intervals snatched from teaching abroad he has served at home as Deputy Official Historian to the Government of Pakistan, Chairman of the National Commission on Historical and Cultural Research, and Special Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister (Z. A. Bhutto). Author of over a dozen books, he is a historian of rank with an international reputation.
During intervals snatched from teaching abroad he has served at home as Deputy Official Historian to the Government of Pakistan, Chairman of the National Commission on Historical and Cultural Research, and Special Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister (Z. A. Bhutto). Author of over a dozen books, he is a historian of rank with an international reputation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 529 reviews
November 14, 2013
No small wonder that K K Aziz died in abject penury. Living in Pakistan the courageous scholar had the audacity to claim that Pakistan was created by the Hindus under the persistent nagging of the Muslims of India for greater rights. It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s declaration that India would rather live in peace without the permanent headache of the Muslim problem, which convinced the Hindus acquince to Partition. Jinnah had already, in May 1946 accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan thereby abandoning the Pakistani ideal.
Was there any significant effort by the Muslim masses for their freedom from their British masters? Yes there was by parties like Khudai Khidmatgars and Khaksars but both also were not in favour of an independent Muslim country. There were no other parties fighting to throw off the English yoke of slavery in the freedom struggle. Pakistani nationality therefore was born after 1947, and thrived as there was almost no other contesting opinion to the tailored Islamic image created by the salaried apologists. Some of the claims are clearly contradictory, and are very effectively demonstrated by the author.
The only question that troubles me is, that did the forefathers have any other choice? Especially if we accept the authors narrative that independence was thrusted upon us? Surly we had to survive, and in order to survive we created this magnificent identity myth. All identities are selective reading of history in my opinion, so we little choice in that matter. The real mistake was sanctifying this created identity as this creates fundamentalism and self delusion on a national level, which once it sets in, is pretty difficult to destroy, as the author found out for himself when he published his groundbreaking study.
‘I discovered that I knew the textbooks produced in the country, but not the country.’
The book is a seminal study clearly explaining the mindset of the Pakistani nation, explaining most of its contradictions, presenting many intriguing areas of research and unanswered questions for any prospective historian.
Like
How did a martial Muslim race not fight for independence choosing instead to remain loyal to their new masters the British?
Broken relationship between Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan.
Failure to produce a new constitution even after 4 years of power by Liaquat Ali Khan.
The complete destruction of Punjabi culture and identify.
The Partition of India can be understood by the Pakistani attitude of the secession of East Pakistan when they claim that Bangladesh was never meant to remain united from the beginning. Surely now the Hindu logic when granting Muslims their own land can now be understood?
The author makes a pretty significant statement about lying in the textbooks. He makes a direct correlation with the Pakistani profile and the persistent inconsistent textbooks that produced it. The assertion is pretty relevant in my opinion, as it does explain the self righteousness, hostile, self praise and self glorification as general attributes of a Pakistani. How much damage these books full of lies has done is an open debate but it has to be pretty significant.
A very pertinent observation is also made about Punjabis taking over the Pakistani ideology mantra, which supposedly was a UP based movement. The result was the decimation of Punjabi language as a result of this enthusiastic imposition of Urdu in Punjab.
The authors makes an astute observation when analysing lack of protests against this inaccurately taught history by the people. Protests originate from the need, ability. And need emerges from want and awareness. If most people are not aware than how will they protest?
The book is simply brilliant!!!!
Was there any significant effort by the Muslim masses for their freedom from their British masters? Yes there was by parties like Khudai Khidmatgars and Khaksars but both also were not in favour of an independent Muslim country. There were no other parties fighting to throw off the English yoke of slavery in the freedom struggle. Pakistani nationality therefore was born after 1947, and thrived as there was almost no other contesting opinion to the tailored Islamic image created by the salaried apologists. Some of the claims are clearly contradictory, and are very effectively demonstrated by the author.
The only question that troubles me is, that did the forefathers have any other choice? Especially if we accept the authors narrative that independence was thrusted upon us? Surly we had to survive, and in order to survive we created this magnificent identity myth. All identities are selective reading of history in my opinion, so we little choice in that matter. The real mistake was sanctifying this created identity as this creates fundamentalism and self delusion on a national level, which once it sets in, is pretty difficult to destroy, as the author found out for himself when he published his groundbreaking study.
‘I discovered that I knew the textbooks produced in the country, but not the country.’
The book is a seminal study clearly explaining the mindset of the Pakistani nation, explaining most of its contradictions, presenting many intriguing areas of research and unanswered questions for any prospective historian.
Like
How did a martial Muslim race not fight for independence choosing instead to remain loyal to their new masters the British?
Broken relationship between Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan.
Failure to produce a new constitution even after 4 years of power by Liaquat Ali Khan.
The complete destruction of Punjabi culture and identify.
The Partition of India can be understood by the Pakistani attitude of the secession of East Pakistan when they claim that Bangladesh was never meant to remain united from the beginning. Surely now the Hindu logic when granting Muslims their own land can now be understood?
The author makes a pretty significant statement about lying in the textbooks. He makes a direct correlation with the Pakistani profile and the persistent inconsistent textbooks that produced it. The assertion is pretty relevant in my opinion, as it does explain the self righteousness, hostile, self praise and self glorification as general attributes of a Pakistani. How much damage these books full of lies has done is an open debate but it has to be pretty significant.
A very pertinent observation is also made about Punjabis taking over the Pakistani ideology mantra, which supposedly was a UP based movement. The result was the decimation of Punjabi language as a result of this enthusiastic imposition of Urdu in Punjab.
The authors makes an astute observation when analysing lack of protests against this inaccurately taught history by the people. Protests originate from the need, ability. And need emerges from want and awareness. If most people are not aware than how will they protest?
The book is simply brilliant!!!!
April 22, 2011
Nothing extraordinary in terms of literary value but extremely important as far as historical value is concerned. K.K Aziz is one of the few and rare great historians that Pakistan has produced and his scholarship and literary acumen must not be judged by this book.
This book stands up to its promise, i.e., showing Pakistani students and parents what rubbish they are being taught on the name of History; however, it is not meant for the serious well informed reader.
This book stands up to its promise, i.e., showing Pakistani students and parents what rubbish they are being taught on the name of History; however, it is not meant for the serious well informed reader.
June 12, 2020
Not an easy read, because of the extreme repetitions of historical errors presented in the history textbooks taught in Pakistani schools, but an eye-opener when it comes to the ways in which history has been manipulated, polluted, ill-used and trampled under foot.
There are plain lies, things which have absolutely no existence in reality or fact. There are deviations of all kinds: lapses, flaws, self-deception, wishful thinking, subjective views, warped notions, loose arguments, pre-conceived ideas, parochialism, superficiality, misjudgment, misbelief, oversight, slips of pen, inattentiveness and aberrations of every variety. There are mists of errors and eccentricity which conceal the facts. There is a general blankness of mind which wallows in ignorance. The adult reader of these textbooks can only stand and stare at the drift, shift and swing away from the truth, and slowly sink into a state of mental numbness. To imagine the effect they have on the plastic, inquisitive, observant, alert mind of the young student is to contemplate dark despair.
How beautifully K.K.Aziz has described the level of horrible distortion which has been done in the course of history, what true paths have been missed in their journey to disaster. It contains four chapters whose titles I really want to mention here:
1. The Prescribed Myths
2. The Calamity of Errors
3. The Road to Ruin
4. The Burden of Responsibility
The book is terribly cluttered because of the fact that K.K.Aziz published these historical anomalies in a series of columns and only thought of arranging them, highlighting them, and correcting them after being demanded the facts. So, he set out to check the history and Pakistan Studies textbooks from grade 1 to 12, and found out that the books lack judgment, knowledge, perception, understanding, learning, scholarship, consistency of thought rigor, attention to truth, precision, accuracy, validity, high fidelity to fact, exactitude and clarity - in short, every quality that a textbook possess. From the events of 1857, to the foundation of Indian National Congress, Simla Deputation, All India Muslim League, Lucknow pact, Punjab Unionist Party, Nehru Report, Round Table Conferences, Iqbal's Allahabad address, 1935 reforms, 1937 elections, Lahore resolution, the NWFP referendum, even the date of creation of Pakistan has been misquoted, misconstrued, misinterpreted and distorted by all textbooks. After the creation of Pakistan, the reality of almost all the major events has been tampered. The 1956 constitution, General Ayub's coup, his ruler, 1962 constitution, 1965 war, Ayub's transfer of power to Yahya, the 1971 break-up of Pakistan, Zia's coup, and him being the ruler of Pakistan. The book stands there as it came out in 1993.
The failure of the makers of textbooks results in distorting child psychology, a mind which is ripe and ready to be constructive, filling it with total non-sense, sending the following message to the students and through them, to the entire nation:
- Follow the government in office.
- Always support the military rule.
- Glorify wars.
- Hate India.
- Fabricate an Anti-colonial past.
- Give the entire credit of the creation of Pakistan to the Aligarh Movement and the United Provinces.
- Impose a new culture in Pakistan.
- Tell lies.
Banhold Brecht once said that the past had to be bared to settle all accounts. so that then one could proceed further. He was right. To know our past is the first step towards understanding our present and planning our future. But Pakistanis seem to believe in covering their past with fumes of falsehood and make-believe, which no wind of reality can blow away. Their view of history is made up of principled forgetfulness. willed oblivion and purposeful silence. K.K.Aziz ends his argument with "Is anybody listening?"
There are plain lies, things which have absolutely no existence in reality or fact. There are deviations of all kinds: lapses, flaws, self-deception, wishful thinking, subjective views, warped notions, loose arguments, pre-conceived ideas, parochialism, superficiality, misjudgment, misbelief, oversight, slips of pen, inattentiveness and aberrations of every variety. There are mists of errors and eccentricity which conceal the facts. There is a general blankness of mind which wallows in ignorance. The adult reader of these textbooks can only stand and stare at the drift, shift and swing away from the truth, and slowly sink into a state of mental numbness. To imagine the effect they have on the plastic, inquisitive, observant, alert mind of the young student is to contemplate dark despair.
How beautifully K.K.Aziz has described the level of horrible distortion which has been done in the course of history, what true paths have been missed in their journey to disaster. It contains four chapters whose titles I really want to mention here:
1. The Prescribed Myths
2. The Calamity of Errors
3. The Road to Ruin
4. The Burden of Responsibility
The book is terribly cluttered because of the fact that K.K.Aziz published these historical anomalies in a series of columns and only thought of arranging them, highlighting them, and correcting them after being demanded the facts. So, he set out to check the history and Pakistan Studies textbooks from grade 1 to 12, and found out that the books lack judgment, knowledge, perception, understanding, learning, scholarship, consistency of thought rigor, attention to truth, precision, accuracy, validity, high fidelity to fact, exactitude and clarity - in short, every quality that a textbook possess. From the events of 1857, to the foundation of Indian National Congress, Simla Deputation, All India Muslim League, Lucknow pact, Punjab Unionist Party, Nehru Report, Round Table Conferences, Iqbal's Allahabad address, 1935 reforms, 1937 elections, Lahore resolution, the NWFP referendum, even the date of creation of Pakistan has been misquoted, misconstrued, misinterpreted and distorted by all textbooks. After the creation of Pakistan, the reality of almost all the major events has been tampered. The 1956 constitution, General Ayub's coup, his ruler, 1962 constitution, 1965 war, Ayub's transfer of power to Yahya, the 1971 break-up of Pakistan, Zia's coup, and him being the ruler of Pakistan. The book stands there as it came out in 1993.
The failure of the makers of textbooks results in distorting child psychology, a mind which is ripe and ready to be constructive, filling it with total non-sense, sending the following message to the students and through them, to the entire nation:
- Follow the government in office.
- Always support the military rule.
- Glorify wars.
- Hate India.
- Fabricate an Anti-colonial past.
- Give the entire credit of the creation of Pakistan to the Aligarh Movement and the United Provinces.
- Impose a new culture in Pakistan.
- Tell lies.
Banhold Brecht once said that the past had to be bared to settle all accounts. so that then one could proceed further. He was right. To know our past is the first step towards understanding our present and planning our future. But Pakistanis seem to believe in covering their past with fumes of falsehood and make-believe, which no wind of reality can blow away. Their view of history is made up of principled forgetfulness. willed oblivion and purposeful silence. K.K.Aziz ends his argument with "Is anybody listening?"
November 4, 2015
This is a "must read" for any reader who'd like to read as to how the history of Pakistan was treated; how the fallacies were developed and how the facts were either omitted or destroyed in our textbooks. However, I can't help highlighting two (not too significant) shortcomings in this work:
1- While attempting to correct the mistakes/omissions/fallacies stuffed in our textbooks, Aziz should have given equal importance to the presentation of references in footnotes/endnotes. Most of the references are provided only casually in the main text. This does not understate the importance of the book as Aziz correctly identifies the mistreatment of history in our textbooks. Nonetheless, for curious readers who haven't already read authentic historical work on Pakistan, separately providing references would have been much helpful.
2- At one point, I found the author's opinion about the Urdu-speaking migrants absurd and quite shocking. While (correctly) attempting to highlight the important and neglected role of the Muslims of Bengal in Pakistan movement, author (almost) completely downplayed the role of Urdu-speaking migrants.
Nonetheless, book is highly recommended based on the importance of subject, author's meticulous research, the critical thinking it induces and the strong base it established for further work.
1- While attempting to correct the mistakes/omissions/fallacies stuffed in our textbooks, Aziz should have given equal importance to the presentation of references in footnotes/endnotes. Most of the references are provided only casually in the main text. This does not understate the importance of the book as Aziz correctly identifies the mistreatment of history in our textbooks. Nonetheless, for curious readers who haven't already read authentic historical work on Pakistan, separately providing references would have been much helpful.
2- At one point, I found the author's opinion about the Urdu-speaking migrants absurd and quite shocking. While (correctly) attempting to highlight the important and neglected role of the Muslims of Bengal in Pakistan movement, author (almost) completely downplayed the role of Urdu-speaking migrants.
Nonetheless, book is highly recommended based on the importance of subject, author's meticulous research, the critical thinking it induces and the strong base it established for further work.
June 16, 2012
This book sums up as to what is wrong with us. The book ends with 'Is anyone listening', so far it seems no one is and also that no one is really interested in listening. If this continues we will be beyond help!
June 19, 2022
Few years back I’ve read a quote that touched the bottom of my heart and never left my mind since then. It is “If studying history always makes you feel proud and happy, you probably aren’t studying history. Studying history will sometimes make you uncomfortable. Studying history will sometimes make you feel deeply upset. Studying history will sometimes make you feel extremely angry”. But I was always proud of my history as we’re the perfect people on earth, who never make mistakes. This quote made me rethink and relearn.
Found this book randomly and started reading it. It was the book that made us rethink and relearn the historical facts. A courageous scholar providing answers for prohibited questions. I call it prohibited question because it has been prohibited by our minds to never question what we already know. Even though what we know cannot be the absolute truth.
K.K. Aziz highlighted some major historical events including One Unit and Separation of Bangladesh. In this book, first he puts direct quotes from history textbooks used in Pakistan, and then provides his own analysis. If our textbooks contain some myths and fake information, can’t we fix them?! Learning from history is torch for a bright future. This book is a must read if you’re interested in history. One of the things continuously disturbed me while reading the book. It was the continuous repetition of each part in the book, by quoting the same part multiple times. However, each time I have skipped such parts for saving my time.
Found this book randomly and started reading it. It was the book that made us rethink and relearn the historical facts. A courageous scholar providing answers for prohibited questions. I call it prohibited question because it has been prohibited by our minds to never question what we already know. Even though what we know cannot be the absolute truth.
K.K. Aziz highlighted some major historical events including One Unit and Separation of Bangladesh. In this book, first he puts direct quotes from history textbooks used in Pakistan, and then provides his own analysis. If our textbooks contain some myths and fake information, can’t we fix them?! Learning from history is torch for a bright future. This book is a must read if you’re interested in history. One of the things continuously disturbed me while reading the book. It was the continuous repetition of each part in the book, by quoting the same part multiple times. However, each time I have skipped such parts for saving my time.
June 19, 2021
Don't let the three stars throw you off, the content of the book is 5/5 the only reason for rating it three stars is because of its writing style, with that being said, this book is a big fuck you to Pakistani history textbooks which I've been taught, Every Pakistani deserves to know the truth, in my opinion, every Pakistani reader should read this.
August 22, 2020
My first response upon reading K.K.Aziz's 'The Murder of History' was not surprise but outrage, I didn't ambivalently wonder 'How could they do this?', but angrily questioned 'How DARE they do this?' I felt like all those misguided generations including mine have been robbed of a chance to construct a more meaningful identity as compared to the confused swamp that it has become.
Published in the the early 90s, The Murder of History lays bare - with incriminating evidence from a plethora of textbooks - the fallacious and fraudulent history that has been taught, and continues to be taught, at all levels of public educational institutions. Here rewritten, deceitful mythologies are clearly concocted with an Islam-centric, Hinduphobic, and religio-nationalistic intent in order to mould and condition young minds into myopic tools of the State.
The book reads like a prophetic foreboding of what is to come and three decades later these predictions have come to pass and we have come to suffer it. Our celebration of idol destroyers and violent conquerors has led to fetishizing a supremacist future where one ideology reigns supreme and words like shaheed, ghazi, and ghazwa are aspirational ones.
What's worse, I found myself reading the very prejudiced myths that I was taught in school even though I attended a private school where the Cambridge board's curriculum was followed. Even the 2% or so privileged Pakistanis are not safe from this ubiquiotus Nazi-esque mass-conditioning. Whether this continues today, I am not sure. But if Biology students can disregard Evolution (despite studying it as a fact integral to their curriculum) due to conditioned biases, I'm afraid History is a more guileless prey to such predatory conditioning.
Why did the educated class of the time not oppose this propaganda and allow this to happen? Why does this book remain obscure despite its evidences and warnings? Did the Pakistani lack of self-reflection already exist or was it brought about by such miseducation? Ironically, K.K.Aziz himself laments in this book, that given the comfort of the myths propagated by these textbooks, the people themselves will choose to ignore their false origins. Again, this was 30 years ago, and the rest is History.
Published in the the early 90s, The Murder of History lays bare - with incriminating evidence from a plethora of textbooks - the fallacious and fraudulent history that has been taught, and continues to be taught, at all levels of public educational institutions. Here rewritten, deceitful mythologies are clearly concocted with an Islam-centric, Hinduphobic, and religio-nationalistic intent in order to mould and condition young minds into myopic tools of the State.
The book reads like a prophetic foreboding of what is to come and three decades later these predictions have come to pass and we have come to suffer it. Our celebration of idol destroyers and violent conquerors has led to fetishizing a supremacist future where one ideology reigns supreme and words like shaheed, ghazi, and ghazwa are aspirational ones.
What's worse, I found myself reading the very prejudiced myths that I was taught in school even though I attended a private school where the Cambridge board's curriculum was followed. Even the 2% or so privileged Pakistanis are not safe from this ubiquiotus Nazi-esque mass-conditioning. Whether this continues today, I am not sure. But if Biology students can disregard Evolution (despite studying it as a fact integral to their curriculum) due to conditioned biases, I'm afraid History is a more guileless prey to such predatory conditioning.
Why did the educated class of the time not oppose this propaganda and allow this to happen? Why does this book remain obscure despite its evidences and warnings? Did the Pakistani lack of self-reflection already exist or was it brought about by such miseducation? Ironically, K.K.Aziz himself laments in this book, that given the comfort of the myths propagated by these textbooks, the people themselves will choose to ignore their false origins. Again, this was 30 years ago, and the rest is History.
September 13, 2016
an eye opener on lies told in Pakistani textbooks; the way history is molded and fabricated to suit best the ruling class of the country; the way local cultures of Pakistan are replaced and predominated by some imported culture and the way mind of our kids spoiled by feeding them with hatred, narcissism and lack of truth .K K aziz sahab not only criticized the content of text books but give a concise account on how history should be dealt in Pakistan. a must read
January 24, 2016
The book was never the idea, initially. The author a history professor at one of Pakistan's prestigious universities wrote a series of articles in newspapers to clear some false but popular myths in order to put historiography correct. As he puts it that he was expecting a hue and cry from clerics, zealous patriotics but nothing happened. All that came in were demands that having pointed out the wrongs he must tell now what are the rights of history. there came the moment of truth for the author. Who all along thought that the real facts were known to the people which was not the case.
He thus picked up the history course books from grade 3 to grade 12 and studied them and was horrified to see the wrong historiography. Thus started this book. Which points out the wrongs and gives the corrections.
Two things strike you when you read this; (One) It will break myths long established so be open. (Two) Its very repetitive. As the same thing comes over and over in different books thus the writer makes it a point to bring it up again and again. thus it must be said he might be a good historian but isn't at all a good writer.
This is one book which shall be read by all, in Pakistan, howsoever painful and laborious the experience may prove.
He thus picked up the history course books from grade 3 to grade 12 and studied them and was horrified to see the wrong historiography. Thus started this book. Which points out the wrongs and gives the corrections.
Two things strike you when you read this; (One) It will break myths long established so be open. (Two) Its very repetitive. As the same thing comes over and over in different books thus the writer makes it a point to bring it up again and again. thus it must be said he might be a good historian but isn't at all a good writer.
This is one book which shall be read by all, in Pakistan, howsoever painful and laborious the experience may prove.
February 15, 2017
More of research typed writing
5 stars for detailed research
5 stars for detailed research
November 3, 2020
The book was not the idea initially. The author wrote a series of columns in a Pakistani English newspaper pertaining to the fallacies that can be found in Pakistan History textbooks. The columns aroused the curiosity of some of the readers and they started demanding the correct versions of the fallacies mentioned. To fulfill that wish, the writer started writing this book – the murder of history.
The murder of history is an account of all the blunders, fallacies and lies taught through the Pakistan History textbooks in Pakistan. The author took around 60 of the English and Urdu medium textbooks of Pakistan History and reviewed them. In the first chapter of the book, he underscores all those inaccuracies and exaggerations found in these books.
I would present some of those fallacies in this paragraph. The first and most common, according to the author, is the date of independence of Pakistan. In every textbook, it is written to be on the 14th of August. Other such inaccuracies include: claiming 23rd March to be the day Lahore Resolution was passed, in 1857; the people of Indian fought ‘the war of independence’ against the British, Allama Iqbal dreamed of a separate independent Muslim state, Indian National Congress was a Hindus party exclusively, Quaid e Azam and Allama Iqbal had degrees in Law from foreign universities, India is Hindu state and all Hindus are bad, the Muslim League opposed the Simon commission, the Muslims of India made tremendous sacrifices to win their freedom, Urdu was the language of masses in northern south Asia before independence, our national dress is shalwar; kameez or kurta; sherwani and Jinnah cap, the military superiority of Pakistan forced India to accept a cease-fire in 1965 war, and the list goes on.
“History has been manipulated, polluted, ill-used, and trampled underfoot. Every means of destruction has been employed to achieve the purpose. There are plain lies, things which have absolutely no existence in reality or fact. There are deviations of all kinds: Lapses, flaws, self-deception, wishful thinking, subjective views, warped notions, loose arguments, pre-conceived ideas, parochialism, superficiality, misjudgment, misbelief, oversight, slips of pen, inattentiveness, and aberrations of every variety. There are mists of errors and eccentricity which conceal the facts. There is a general blankness of mind which wallows ignorance. The adult reader of these textbooks can only stand and stare at the drift, shift, and swing away from the truth, and slowly sink into a state of mental numbness. To imagine the effect they have on the plastic, inquisitive, observant, alert mind of the young student is to contemplate dark despair."
In the second chapter of the book, according to the author, he relates a factual account of history. All the errors enumerated in chapter one are re-visited and explained factually through research. For example, according to the author, the viceroy transferred the power to Pakistan on 14th August because he couldn’t be present in Karachi and New Delhi at the same time. But it doesn’t mean that Pakistan gained its independence on 14th August. “The Indian Independence Act did not provide for it”, says the author. In the same way, the Lahore Resolution was adopted on 23rd March, but it was passed on 24th March. What happened in 1857 was a mutiny, not a war. The revolt was only in Delhi and certain parts of the United Provinces. The rest of India was calm and indifferent. Iqbal’s proposal amounted to this that the Muslim majority provinces (NWFP, Punjab, Sindh, and Baluchistan only) should be merged to form a single province of the proposed Indian federation. The demand was nothing more than this. The Indian National Congress wasn’t an exclusively Hindu party but represented the whole of India and had many prominent Muslim leaders of the time. These and many more are well explained in the second chapter of the book.
The third chapter talks about the impact of these lies and exaggerations on children (and anyone whose source of historical knowledge is the textbook). The author argues that the content and the get-up of these textbooks, instead of fostering a love for books in children, develop a dislike for the books. These textbooks try to propagate the following ideas.
• Follow the government in office
• Support military rule
• Glorify wars
• Hate India
• Fabricate an anti-colonial past
• Give the entire credit to Aligarh and the United Provinces [for Pakistan’s creation]
• Impose a new culture in Pakistan [that of United Provinces]
• Tell lies
Of all the things mentioned, there are certain aspects of history (or the present) that are completely avoided by these textbooks.
• Cultural inferiority complex in the indigenous population of Pakistan [as the United Provinces’ culture is the source of Pakistan culture]
• Exclusion of Bengal from the national consciousness
• The Khaksar movement
• The pro-Congress Muslims
• The Punjab Unionist Party
• The Khudai Khidmatgars
• Modern Islamic thought
After dealing with “a hair-raising array of logical fallacies, biased statements, irrational distortions, misleading affirmations, hypocritical and self-righteous pronouncements, leaps of imagination, and plain inaccuracies”; the author deals with the question ‘who bears the responsibility for the contents and the quality of the matter presented?’. The burden of responsibility, according to the author, lies on the establishment, the authors, and the teachers.
“…we have nothing but stark despair staring us in the face and promising rack and ruin. Is anybody listening?”
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has read/studied Pakistan History books. This book would open their eyes to what they have been taught and why. It is a hair-raising account of what we are taught in the name of history. The author is bold in pointing at any mistake and inaccuracy in the textbooks. He writes not only from an academic/research point of view but also from a personal emotional side. He really wants us to realize the implications of this ‘murder of history’ at the hands of the establishment of the country.
The book is an easy read. The references to textbooks were mostly repetitive, but I think the author wanted to make a strong case. The book is so well researched and well written that I would give it a full 5/5.
The murder of history is an account of all the blunders, fallacies and lies taught through the Pakistan History textbooks in Pakistan. The author took around 60 of the English and Urdu medium textbooks of Pakistan History and reviewed them. In the first chapter of the book, he underscores all those inaccuracies and exaggerations found in these books.
I would present some of those fallacies in this paragraph. The first and most common, according to the author, is the date of independence of Pakistan. In every textbook, it is written to be on the 14th of August. Other such inaccuracies include: claiming 23rd March to be the day Lahore Resolution was passed, in 1857; the people of Indian fought ‘the war of independence’ against the British, Allama Iqbal dreamed of a separate independent Muslim state, Indian National Congress was a Hindus party exclusively, Quaid e Azam and Allama Iqbal had degrees in Law from foreign universities, India is Hindu state and all Hindus are bad, the Muslim League opposed the Simon commission, the Muslims of India made tremendous sacrifices to win their freedom, Urdu was the language of masses in northern south Asia before independence, our national dress is shalwar; kameez or kurta; sherwani and Jinnah cap, the military superiority of Pakistan forced India to accept a cease-fire in 1965 war, and the list goes on.
“History has been manipulated, polluted, ill-used, and trampled underfoot. Every means of destruction has been employed to achieve the purpose. There are plain lies, things which have absolutely no existence in reality or fact. There are deviations of all kinds: Lapses, flaws, self-deception, wishful thinking, subjective views, warped notions, loose arguments, pre-conceived ideas, parochialism, superficiality, misjudgment, misbelief, oversight, slips of pen, inattentiveness, and aberrations of every variety. There are mists of errors and eccentricity which conceal the facts. There is a general blankness of mind which wallows ignorance. The adult reader of these textbooks can only stand and stare at the drift, shift, and swing away from the truth, and slowly sink into a state of mental numbness. To imagine the effect they have on the plastic, inquisitive, observant, alert mind of the young student is to contemplate dark despair."
In the second chapter of the book, according to the author, he relates a factual account of history. All the errors enumerated in chapter one are re-visited and explained factually through research. For example, according to the author, the viceroy transferred the power to Pakistan on 14th August because he couldn’t be present in Karachi and New Delhi at the same time. But it doesn’t mean that Pakistan gained its independence on 14th August. “The Indian Independence Act did not provide for it”, says the author. In the same way, the Lahore Resolution was adopted on 23rd March, but it was passed on 24th March. What happened in 1857 was a mutiny, not a war. The revolt was only in Delhi and certain parts of the United Provinces. The rest of India was calm and indifferent. Iqbal’s proposal amounted to this that the Muslim majority provinces (NWFP, Punjab, Sindh, and Baluchistan only) should be merged to form a single province of the proposed Indian federation. The demand was nothing more than this. The Indian National Congress wasn’t an exclusively Hindu party but represented the whole of India and had many prominent Muslim leaders of the time. These and many more are well explained in the second chapter of the book.
The third chapter talks about the impact of these lies and exaggerations on children (and anyone whose source of historical knowledge is the textbook). The author argues that the content and the get-up of these textbooks, instead of fostering a love for books in children, develop a dislike for the books. These textbooks try to propagate the following ideas.
• Follow the government in office
• Support military rule
• Glorify wars
• Hate India
• Fabricate an anti-colonial past
• Give the entire credit to Aligarh and the United Provinces [for Pakistan’s creation]
• Impose a new culture in Pakistan [that of United Provinces]
• Tell lies
Of all the things mentioned, there are certain aspects of history (or the present) that are completely avoided by these textbooks.
• Cultural inferiority complex in the indigenous population of Pakistan [as the United Provinces’ culture is the source of Pakistan culture]
• Exclusion of Bengal from the national consciousness
• The Khaksar movement
• The pro-Congress Muslims
• The Punjab Unionist Party
• The Khudai Khidmatgars
• Modern Islamic thought
After dealing with “a hair-raising array of logical fallacies, biased statements, irrational distortions, misleading affirmations, hypocritical and self-righteous pronouncements, leaps of imagination, and plain inaccuracies”; the author deals with the question ‘who bears the responsibility for the contents and the quality of the matter presented?’. The burden of responsibility, according to the author, lies on the establishment, the authors, and the teachers.
“…we have nothing but stark despair staring us in the face and promising rack and ruin. Is anybody listening?”
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has read/studied Pakistan History books. This book would open their eyes to what they have been taught and why. It is a hair-raising account of what we are taught in the name of history. The author is bold in pointing at any mistake and inaccuracy in the textbooks. He writes not only from an academic/research point of view but also from a personal emotional side. He really wants us to realize the implications of this ‘murder of history’ at the hands of the establishment of the country.
The book is an easy read. The references to textbooks were mostly repetitive, but I think the author wanted to make a strong case. The book is so well researched and well written that I would give it a full 5/5.
July 23, 2024
How to brainwash an entire nation 101. This book is essential reading for literally every Pakistani. Even after 31 years the observations made by K.K Aziz are still relevant regarding the Pakistani intelligentsia and that is honesty just sad. The start of the book is a bit tedious as the author painstakingly points out the lies which the state has promoted since its inception. But dont let that stop you from going through the book as the second and third part just keep on getting better and better.
He is absolutely merciless when critiquing the 'academic' appartus which is responsible for writing and promoting absolute BS as history. The establishment and the politicians are also not spared as they have also been intent on this hideous brainwash for their own benefits. It's a perfect storm and the price is paid by the millions and millions of students who live in La La land for the rest of their lives.
At the very end the author asks a simple question. "Is anybody listening?" The answer after 3 decades is sadly no. For how long will this charade last? It's anybody's guess....
He is absolutely merciless when critiquing the 'academic' appartus which is responsible for writing and promoting absolute BS as history. The establishment and the politicians are also not spared as they have also been intent on this hideous brainwash for their own benefits. It's a perfect storm and the price is paid by the millions and millions of students who live in La La land for the rest of their lives.
At the very end the author asks a simple question. "Is anybody listening?" The answer after 3 decades is sadly no. For how long will this charade last? It's anybody's guess....
November 15, 2020
I wonder and worried for the author safety and security after finishing this book. Because you can't write such things while in Pak.This is truly an eye opener book. A butcher of history with commission and omission truly damage some serious injury to many Pakistani young minds. Glad I found this treasure and realise what a fun word nationalism is..
Thank you K.K for your immense effort and contribution in writing such a bitter truth.
I hope one day there will be many standing and respond to your last query "Are you listening?"
Yes, I am sir. And it truly shaken me and changed me about wearing a badge of nationalism and patriotism proudly.
'There is no such proud anymore!'
Thank you K.K for your immense effort and contribution in writing such a bitter truth.
I hope one day there will be many standing and respond to your last query "Are you listening?"
Yes, I am sir. And it truly shaken me and changed me about wearing a badge of nationalism and patriotism proudly.
'There is no such proud anymore!'
August 30, 2022
I still remember studying Pakistan studies during school days and whole heartedly believing everything it said, hyped up with nationalistic and religious jargon. But that last till I started taking genuine interest in history and began reading outside the textbooks prescribed at schools, initially not without a skeptical eye though. Once it started to set in that those firmly ingrained ideals were nothing but tempered propaganda one wall of falsehood after another started to fall. The more hooks you read the more disillusioned you get realizing that every single official version is nothing short of lie and full of deceit. I have read a bit outside the prescribed school books, and still this book was an eye opener. What we teach our kids is not history but an ugly amalgamation of nationalism and fundamentalism, blatant propaganda and dictator worshiping.
Aziz, picked one book after another, written both in Urdu and English, and ripped them apart for all the falsehood they have been spewing over the years. And still unfortunately, his book is not as widely read as thise textbooks, which is studied in schools, public or private, from grade 1 to 12, and sometimes even further.
The style of writing is rather informal. At places writer failed to keep his emotions out of the text, but then I can understand his frustration, as it is reflected in his words. If I was a teacher or student of history I would be equally frustrated by the amount of garbage we are taught in the name of history.
I was constantly surprised while reading the book that it is actually available in Pakistan and hadn’t been removed from the shelf, for Aziz minces no words against his very justified and open criticism of the army rules, calling them what they actually were; dictatorships, nor he bows down to the religious leaders and their never ending dual standards and rise to extremism. Aziz keeps telling us throughout the book how muslim leaders or the so called rulers of India before them were not the epitome of greatness we place them on. He questions why the British are the usurpers and tyrants but Muslims, who came to India in the similar fashion, are not described in the similar words? Why Britishers were the invaders while muslims were conquerers? But that’s not the only question he asks. To know more, read the book.
The writing style is quite confusing in the beginning but as you proceed you start to get a sense of it. There are quite a few editorial mistakes in the book. I hope the publishers would look into them and rectify them in the later editions.
Aziz, picked one book after another, written both in Urdu and English, and ripped them apart for all the falsehood they have been spewing over the years. And still unfortunately, his book is not as widely read as thise textbooks, which is studied in schools, public or private, from grade 1 to 12, and sometimes even further.
The style of writing is rather informal. At places writer failed to keep his emotions out of the text, but then I can understand his frustration, as it is reflected in his words. If I was a teacher or student of history I would be equally frustrated by the amount of garbage we are taught in the name of history.
I was constantly surprised while reading the book that it is actually available in Pakistan and hadn’t been removed from the shelf, for Aziz minces no words against his very justified and open criticism of the army rules, calling them what they actually were; dictatorships, nor he bows down to the religious leaders and their never ending dual standards and rise to extremism. Aziz keeps telling us throughout the book how muslim leaders or the so called rulers of India before them were not the epitome of greatness we place them on. He questions why the British are the usurpers and tyrants but Muslims, who came to India in the similar fashion, are not described in the similar words? Why Britishers were the invaders while muslims were conquerers? But that’s not the only question he asks. To know more, read the book.
The writing style is quite confusing in the beginning but as you proceed you start to get a sense of it. There are quite a few editorial mistakes in the book. I hope the publishers would look into them and rectify them in the later editions.
January 7, 2023
An effort truly deserving of all our utmost respect, not only is it a comprehensive critique of the textbooks but a demonstration for future writers of the country on how to actually write a book
January 17, 2015
Mr Aziz deserves the praise, for he has raised a grave topic of our ever-worse educational system, and its result in bringing up an miss-literate generation without teaching it the proper history, both of Pakistan and Islam.
But the writer, being one of the so-called liberal class of our country, is strayed while defining certain events in his book. One of them, I would like to raise, is trying to prove the 1857 war as not a "war of independence". In attempt of this, he quotes Mirza Ghalib and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan being against this war, the later calling it a revolt in his famous 'risala asbab e baghawat e hind' and the former using the term 'Rastkhez e beja' for the war and shows his respect and loyalty to the British Imperialism. Ghalib was just a court poet, lauding Mughals at their time, and British afterwards.
Applying the attitude of these two persons,though there may be a little more, on the general behavior of the Muslims of that time, is a serious mistake done, whether deliberately or unintentionally.
But the writer, being one of the so-called liberal class of our country, is strayed while defining certain events in his book. One of them, I would like to raise, is trying to prove the 1857 war as not a "war of independence". In attempt of this, he quotes Mirza Ghalib and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan being against this war, the later calling it a revolt in his famous 'risala asbab e baghawat e hind' and the former using the term 'Rastkhez e beja' for the war and shows his respect and loyalty to the British Imperialism. Ghalib was just a court poet, lauding Mughals at their time, and British afterwards.
Applying the attitude of these two persons,though there may be a little more, on the general behavior of the Muslims of that time, is a serious mistake done, whether deliberately or unintentionally.
January 4, 2021
It’s a matter of sorrow that our textbooks on history, like many other countries, teach highly propagated accounts of history since we are dominated by a very strong nationalistic ideology.
As Pakistani historian Ayesha Jalal states, "Pakistan's history textbooks [are] amongst the best available sources for assessing the nexus between power and bigotry in creative imaginings of a national past."
Agreeing with the thoughts of Ayesha Jalal, I find our textbooks a source of spreading lies, hatred, bigotry and prejudice by building a hate culture towards India, glorifying the Military Dictatorship and Wars, considering the political leadership inept and incompetent and omitting reference of the contrubution of Bengali's in Indian independence and the Pakistan movement.
Results of these distortions and falsehood have been horrendous and history students seem to acquire a very bias, narrow and superficial view of the world.
As Pakistani historian Ayesha Jalal states, "Pakistan's history textbooks [are] amongst the best available sources for assessing the nexus between power and bigotry in creative imaginings of a national past."
Agreeing with the thoughts of Ayesha Jalal, I find our textbooks a source of spreading lies, hatred, bigotry and prejudice by building a hate culture towards India, glorifying the Military Dictatorship and Wars, considering the political leadership inept and incompetent and omitting reference of the contrubution of Bengali's in Indian independence and the Pakistan movement.
Results of these distortions and falsehood have been horrendous and history students seem to acquire a very bias, narrow and superficial view of the world.
May 23, 2017
every Pakistani Punjabi should read this book. One of its kind book ever written in my country. It exposes how words were twisted to bear a stunted nation. the text books were engineered to assure that intlectual horizon remain dark, rather become even darker. In my humble view, every person with a fragment of thinking mind and who is to live life in my country, must , must, must read it
October 5, 2021
If someone wants a good fact-based, unbiased history book then this is not the book for it!
Exaggerated facts ! Was difficult to read and trust the author since he had a clear bias towards a side which very obviously tainted his entire narrative.
So much repetition
Could only read 30 pages from chapter 1 and 30 from chapter 2
Exaggerated facts ! Was difficult to read and trust the author since he had a clear bias towards a side which very obviously tainted his entire narrative.
So much repetition
Could only read 30 pages from chapter 1 and 30 from chapter 2
Read
April 13, 2013
December 28, 2015
An eye opener. Every parent must buy this book for their children, if they are taught in Pakistani schools.
September 13, 2017
Caution: "Read this book at your own risk. It might cause serious damage to your ignorance of history."
I can't comment on content of the book as its title sums it up. Peace.
I can't comment on content of the book as its title sums it up. Peace.
May 2, 2018
My detailed review:
http://aliammaryasir.com/2018/05/02/o...
http://aliammaryasir.com/2018/05/02/o...
September 21, 2019
Now i doubt everything i read in my text book. this book shows us how we are ruining our generations . I think every country do this to their people to hide their ugly face of history.
November 8, 2024
The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan by K.K. Aziz is a bold and incisive examination of the inaccuracies, distortions, and biases present in Pakistan’s history textbooks. Aziz, a respected historian, embarks on a mission to expose how the education system has manipulated historical narratives, often sacrificing factual accuracy in favor of ideological agendas.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
November 14, 2024
The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan by K.K. Aziz is a bold and incisive examination of the inaccuracies, distortions, and biases present in Pakistan’s history textbooks. Aziz, a respected historian, embarks on a mission to expose how the education system has manipulated historical narratives, often sacrificing factual accuracy in favor of ideological agendas.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
November 15, 2024
The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan by K.K. Aziz is a bold and incisive examination of the inaccuracies, distortions, and biases present in Pakistan’s history textbooks. Aziz, a respected historian, embarks on a mission to expose how the education system has manipulated historical narratives, often sacrificing factual accuracy in favor of ideological agendas.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
November 15, 2024
The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan by K.K. Aziz is a bold and incisive examination of the inaccuracies, distortions, and biases present in Pakistan’s history textbooks. Aziz, a respected historian, embarks on a mission to expose how the education system has manipulated historical narratives, often sacrificing factual accuracy in favor of ideological agendas.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
November 15, 2024
The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan by K.K. Aziz is a bold and incisive examination of the inaccuracies, distortions, and biases present in Pakistan’s history textbooks. Aziz, a respected historian, embarks on a mission to expose how the education system has manipulated historical narratives, often sacrificing factual accuracy in favor of ideological agendas.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
His work reveals how students are taught a version of history that omits significant facts, glorifies certain figures, and demonizes others, leading to a skewed understanding of the country's past and its relations with other nations.In a methodical and critical manner, Aziz dissects textbooks, highlighting specific examples of misinformation and propaganda.
He argues that this manipulation of history not only limits students' ability to develop a balanced understanding of the past but also contributes to a society shaped by myths rather than truths. Aziz's critique goes beyond mere criticism; he advocates for an educational reform where history is taught with integrity and objectivity, free from political influence and nationalist agendas.The Murder of History is a courageous call to action for educators, policymakers, and citizens to reconsider the importance of historical accuracy in shaping a nation's identity and future.
Aziz's compelling arguments challenge readers to reflect on the power of education and the consequences of tampering with historical truth. This work is essential for those interested in the role of education in society and serves as a vital contribution to discussions on curriculum reform in Pakistan.
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