I have always been very patriotic. Someone who still believes this country will one day become what it was supposed to become. I always used to scream at top of my lungs at Wagah border. And I absolutely loved the Pakistan army. Seems like I really was "ill-informed".
When my Pakistan studies teacher used to teach me about the Pakistan army's heroics in its wars against India, i used to feel very proud. And when I read the books, my opinions were shaped accordingly. I gave my Pakistan studies CIE in 2016, so that's when all of this was happening.
Fast-forward 3 years, and I enroll in Pakistan studies at LUMS. The narrative changed, and so did my reaction. The "hainnnn" really was a constant during lectures.. well I didn't say it out loud but still.
I was too young to understand how the content of books that we consume at early stages has this immense power of shaping our opinions and how we see the world. I started to understand this when I read history through the lens of different perspectives, which is how it should be.
When youngsters consume content that spreads hate between groups, tensions can rise, leading to conflict. When Afghanistan children studies content with violent images, and guns examples in it, it had to had consequences.
I believe the world has a huge responsibility in making sure every step is taken to prevent content that spreads hatred between groups because this can essentially lead to conflicts in regions that has consequences not just limited to that particular region, especially in today's world.
Curriculums should be designed to produce a well-rounded personality, that believes in peaceful coexistence and respects differences in opinions, which is where Pakistan currently lacks,
Usama Khan
23110179
Totally agree with you on this. We need to take active measures to challenge this nationalistic and extremist point of view. However, when we look at our nation from a broader lens that seems almost impossible to do. How do we begin to change the minds of the people who possess such deep hatred towards our neighbors? How do we challenge their beliefs that they formed from such an early age? How do we get them to listen? to care? In your opinion, do you think the way forward should begin with changing the curriculum or encouraging the people to become more aware on their own?
Being part of Matric and Fsc, our books were so biased I remember fighting with some Indians on Facebook and telling them we won the war in 1965 and they kept laughing at me and asked me to do a basic Google research. That day i came to know the reality that it was never a victory rather a ceasefire.
I do agree with you on all the emotions you had for the country and for the Arm forces. We are on the same line till this. but respectively I would like to put a counter fact on your thoughts that I think it depends on the purpose of the book. A school textbook for young children does not really go into complex issues or excessive violence because the children are not ready for that level of understanding. Society has decided that’s not appropriate. Or the department of education does not consider it valid to highlight the differences in opinion on the very basic levels.
I completely agree with you the picture that is painted of history more often then not preserves the country where it is told, history is an expansive arena one that can have great influences on those who choose to go into it, though when history is a mandatory subject and shapes the minds of the future of countries there need to be reasonable measures that are placed to assure that the version of history we inform young adults with don’t create and fuel tensions in further generations. Improvements can be made by using diverse historical evidence rather then only one perspective a more holistic teaching entirely
I agree with you. When teaching history in schools, both perspectives should be given equal weightage without forcing one opinion on the students and demonising the other. I think a country should own up to its mistakes and be more empathetic when dealing with the voices that have been violently quietened. In doing so, students will understand where their ancestors went wrong and hopefully will refrain from making the same mistakes themselves. This can all lead to a more peaceful and tolerant coexistence hopefully!