While the age-old propaganda machine i.e. media is a state apparatus we all are somewhat aware of, this blog will glance at the use of the academic curriculum and its indirect role in increasing conflict in students.
During my Olevels, we were constantly told as well as taught how Pakistan Army won all the wars, resolved with perfect grace every conflict and how noble of a Muslim nation Pakistan is. Interestingly, in the same narrative construction it was always the “other” Hindus, Sikhs and non-Muslims who killed and slaughtered Muslims during the partition and committed frightening atrocities – causing students to develop a certain hate amongst Hindus and Sikhs from their early age.
However, coming to university and studying history from a comparative analysis and actually “academic” perspective in Pakistan Studies, I truly realized the magnitude of conditioning and narrative building that I had been a consumer of. For exp, the brutalities of the Pakistani Army rampant raping and murdering our own Bengali Muslims and East Pakistanis during the 1971 war was only the tip of the iceberg.
Now, my point here is not to demean Pakistan Army, as with all state institutions over the globe this is evident. But the point is to create awareness that the schools are telling lies about our history and while trying to hide facts – the curriculum is actually telling the students to automatically hate India without telling Pakistan’s own horrors. This hate towards Non-Muslims such as Hindus and Sikhs leads to a mental animosity and conflict between Muslims and Non-Muslims.
Completely agree on this! I've felt victim to this as well and Pak St. at uni really was an eye opening experience. I remember back in O levels how our history teacher ended up in a really heated argument with a few of the students because she kept blaming Bangladesh for the 1971 war, when in reality we all know what the truth is. However, I also think we can never have a 'real' narrative; even looking globally, we can see how every country will always have a history that suits them. Just like that, Pakistan would never show itself in the wrong (which in itself, is a bad thing) but regardless, there will hardly be any changes.
Really appreciate you bringing this up! t is disheartening to learn about the way history is sometimes rewritten or manipulated in academic curricula, as it not only perpetuates biases but also hampers the development of critical thinking skills among students. The "rewriting" of history is a phenomenon observed in various contexts around the world, and it is a concerning trend that undermines the pursuit of knowledge and truth. When history is rewritten to fit a specific narrative or agenda, it distorts the understanding of past events and perpetuates a skewed view of reality.
I appreciate this blog! I think university and its curriculum truly allowed most of us to deconstruct the misinformation we were fed in our O-Level days. I think its even more harmful that we were taught these things at the young age because we had to repeat and memorize the same false facts again and again for three years for the CIEs and that made these events more ingrained in our heads. So to take a step back and realize that everything you've ever been told was propaganda is certainly a difficult task, but something we are all responsible to do. I also think another thing we need to tackle now is to be more critical of Pakistani films or…
Thank you for shedding light on the issue of narrative construction and the role of the academic curriculum in shaping perceptions and fostering conflict among students. I completely agree with your observations regarding the conditioning and biased narrative that is often present in the education system.
It is indeed concerning how historical events are often presented from a one-sided perspective, emphasizing victories and heroism while conveniently overlooking or downplaying the darker aspects. This selective storytelling not only hinders the development of a critical mindset but also perpetuates a sense of superiority and animosity towards other communities.
Additionally, it is essential to foster an environment that promotes open dialogue and encourages students to question the narratives presented to them. By engaging…
A very relatable blog! I vividly remember that o levels was the first time that as a student, we were subtly exposed to the realities behind the 1965 and 1971 wars in which the Pakistani army had always been painted as the hero until that point. Such realisations and subsequent questions even led to the state putting a ban on the official history textbook for O level kids by Nigel Kelly, I believe. It is quite dangerous to witness the extent that the state propaganda can go to for saving their grace in front of the general populace so much so that they even compromise on the educational material for students as long as it does not suit their interests.