Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit

Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - Messing up the Past [Druckversion]

Messing up the Past
Evolution of History Textbooks in Pakistan, 1947-2000

The textbook war
"...the importance of education and the type of education cannot be over-emphasized... there is no doubt that the future of our State will and must greatly depend upon the type of education we give to our children, and the way in which we bring them up as future citizens of Pakistan... we should not forget that we have to compete with the world which is moving very fast in this direction. "
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: message to Education Conference 1947

Textbook war is not unique to Pakistan and India. Japan and Korea are also entangled in similar controversies over narratives depicting the past. Israel and Palestine have similar problems. Besides these examples, Franco-German, German-Polish and, during the chilly days of the cold war, USA and former USSR's projection of each other's demonized images and narratives, bear testimony to the fact that textbooks have been used and abused to create perceptions about others in a derogatory sense by many countries.

Although this study is unique in its approach and content, the inspiration and examples of the studies conducted by the above scholars and educationists have provided the intellectual framework necessary for the completion of our work. It becomes an objective obligation to mention their efforts and also express our gratitude to all of them. Their studies have been an integral part of our research process. However, the findings that result from this research do not necessarily represent the opinions or policy positions of the other authors or institutions.