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The Islamabad Cultural Forum on Friday held a panel discussion on War of Independence of 1857 in connection with the 150th anniversary of war.
Professor Ashfaque Saleem Mirza, a historian and philosopher, read out a detailed paper on the subject that appeared to be much influenced by the popular view- fuelled by the American invasion of Iraq in 2002, that the invasion was aimed at to garbe the resources of Middle East, particularly Iraq because the US was getting depleted of black gold, oil.
However, he made it clear in his introductory statement that history has no objective analysis and it did not offer a middle course. Either, it is a perspective events from the national standpoint, or seen through the lens of adversarial nations.
Ashfaq said the War of Independence erupted because the British had decided to get hold of natural resources of sub continent. At that time it was using 53 per cent of world iron and 55 of coal- and India was rich in both.
He said that the chaotic state of affairs of country under Mughal emperor caused to be an invitation to a superior power armed with the latest technology of warfare to pounce on a country and take over its natural resources.
But his point of view was challenged by other discussants. Shaukat, another panellist, quoted from Israeli, who said the British had a preplanned design to gather money from confiscating lands from Mughal elites and refuse to pay compensation reneging on signed contract.
Mirza said the personality of Bahadur Shah Zafar for the decadence of the court was not so important in the War of Independence. The revolt of the Indian soldiers of British army was more important. Ms Marvi opined that the Britain succeeded because they played 'divide and rule' card.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

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