Historians urged to sift emotional, sentimental contents from subcontinent freedom struggle

Well known Academic Dr N A Baloch has called upon the historians to get together and sift emotional and sentimental contents from the history of India and Pakistan, beginning from the freedom movement and ending in the partition of the subcontinent, and present a literature based upon facts.
A former vice chancellor of Sindh University and International Islamic University, Islamabad, Dr Baloch, speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the two-day international conference on 'All India Muslim League's Foundation Centenary', jointly organised by 'Pakistan Study Centre', University of Karachi, and Pakistan Historical Society, at the Arts Auditorium, University of Karachi on Friday said, "Sixty years down the road, much has changed, and there is need to reflect and analyse the past and adjust the future accordingly."
He dwelt in detail on factors leading to the creation of Pakistan. In his opinion, it was the process of gradual marginalisation of the Muslim community and their alienation from political, social and economic activities in the undivided India that led to their discontentment and search for a leader capable of taking them out of the mire.
He paid tributes to the wisdom and vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah who fought on the single-point agenda--creation of Pakistan--and took it to its natural conclusion.
He said that the leadership of Jinnah was based upon principles, commitment to Muslim cause, and justice for all stakeholders so that the people of the subcontinent could live a better life after the departure of the British rulers. "He wanted complete harmony among the different people living in the subcontinent," he added.
He said that he would not discredit the literature on the freedom movement heavily loaded with emotional and sentimental outburst but it was time to sit back and reflect.
He said that historians should now examine the literature produced on Pakistan and India and attempt its cleansing. "Cleansing in the sense that emotional and sentimental content in the Indo-Pak history, that does not lead to objective findings and conclusions, is marked separately."
He said that historical record could not be compiled objectively, and there were reasons for this lapse. "It is time to go for facts and look back into the past with clear understanding of the events. Consider the present and plan the future so that the youth of the two countries live a better life."
Dr Baloch said that Muslim League pursued a single-point agenda and that was Pakistan movement, creation of an independent homeland for the marginalised Muslim community of India. "But now that phase is over. It is time to think for the future we want to live in."
Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi, in his presidential remarks emphasised the need for interaction among the scholars of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Referring to participants of the conference from Malaysia, England, India and Bangladesh he said that it would provide a platform for scholarly discussion.
He said, "Continuos interaction among the scholars--national and international--will be more beneficial for the youth of the region than to the participants of the discussion." He said that events changed and left imprints for the new generations to read from. "Scholarly discussion is the only way to understand the language of imprints and present it in simple form for the benefit of the coming generation," he said.
"Relationship between India, Bangladesh and Pakistan depend upon the youth of these countries. We should detach ourselves from emotions and sentiments and guide them in the right direction based upon facts of life," he added.
He said that after more than 60 years of partition it would be unfair if India, Bangladesh and Pakistan looked at the history from their own perspective and took a view based on events favourable to them. "This would be a recipe for disaster. What is needed is an overall objective view, independent and in true perspective of ground realities is needed."
Siddiqui said: "On this occasion of this conference, when All India Muslim League's Foundation Centenary is being observed, it is important to give a sense of feeling to our youth in the region that they should be well aware of political events taking around them. These may be local, regional or global events and should not be allowed to pass unacknowledged. The youth should be encouraged to form opinion and act accordingly."
Professor Sharif al Mujahid, HEC Distinguished National Professor, in his brief remarks recounted events that led to the formation of the All India Muslim League and its various phases of success and failures, contribution of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the creation of Pakistan.
Comparing two historic events--French Revolution and creation of Pakistan--he said that the French Revolution was bookish in nature while Pakistan is the creation of hard work. He said that the Muslim League had its periods of pride, frustration and failures. "Jinnah's greatest--one achievement--Pakistan--overshadows all its (Muslim League) failures and disappointments."
Others who spoke were President of Hamdard Foundation, Sadia Rashid, General Secretary of Pakistan Historical Society, Dr Ansar Zahid Khan, delegate from India Professor M. Aslam Javed, and Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed.
Participants from India included Professor Dr Uma Singh, Professor Dr Ajeet Javed and Dr M. Aslam Javed. Professor Shamsur Rehman comes from Bangladesh, Dr Iftikhar Malik from the UK and Arshad Islam from Malaysia. These scholars will address subsequent sessions.