50 Years of Independence: The History of Bangladesh's Independence as presented in Pakistani textbook

"Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, succeeded in making a play in the name of independence."

"Pakistan has been isolated phenomenon Bo Law of unchallenged result of the secret agreement."

This is how the history of Bangladesh's independence is written in a textbook called 'Pakistan Studies' approved by the government in Pakistan. This book blames many internal and external factors for the disintegration of East Pakistan.

It has been 50 years since the birth of Bangladesh, but the demand for Pakistan to apologize to the people of Bangladesh still arises.

Bangladesh has filed war crimes charges against Pakistan. But Pakistan has repeatedly denied the allegations. But is there any mention of these allegations of Bangladesh or Bangladesh's freedom struggle in the curriculum of Pakistan?

Bangladesh, or the then East Pakistan, which was considered to be the right hand of Pakistan, became so different, how is it presented in Pakistani school textbooks?

'The reasons why East Pakistan became isolated'

School children first learn about the birth of Bangladesh in Pakistan when they are in the ninth grade, when they are 15 or 16 years old. Official school textbooks vaguely cover the events of 1971. This description is limited to two or three pages, there is nothing very detailed.

In contrast, the book "Pakistan Studies" taught in private schools at the "O level" contains a detailed account of the discontent between the eastern and western parts of Pakistan. However, in public and private schools - one thing is common in both curricula - the allegations made by Bangladesh are largely ignored.

Many times 14 reasons for the secession of East Pakistan are mentioned, many times nine reasons are mentioned. These minor changes have been going on in the history textbooks of Pakistan for many years, in different governments and in different political times.

Explaining these reasons, not only is India described as an enemy state, but also as part of a "foreign conspiracy" - India is blamed for the break-up of Pakistan.

'Religious identity'

Professor AH Nair, an educationist in Pakistan, said that since the creation of Pakistan, the people of the government have thought that only one religion can unite East and West Pakistan. So they have "taught history in such a way as to create a religious identity."

Another reason for the disintegration of East Pakistan is how "Hindu teachers play a vital role in poisoning the minds of young Bengalis." No, that is also one of the reasons for the break up of Pakistan.

Referring to the way Bengalis were viewed by the people of West Pakistan before the creation of Bangladesh, Professor Nair said, "In our eyes, the Bengalis were a starving, five-foot-tall, weak nation. And we are a high caste people. So they were looked down upon."

Impact on students

In the 1990s, a book by renowned Pakistani writer and historian Khurshid Kamal Aziz (KK Aziz) was published, entitled The Murder of History. It criticized the history textbooks taught in Pakistan.

According to KK Aziz, reading Pakistani history textbooks, Pakistani boys and girls are growing up with only two ideas about the secession of Bangladesh or East Pakistan.

The first is that East Pakistan was troubled, and naturally unfaithful to West Pakistan. Therefore, the birth of Bangladesh has been good for Pakistan. Or they consider the secession of Bangladesh as an insignificant event of the past.

According to KK Aziz, it was a deliberate attempt to keep students in the dark about what happened before 1971.

Professor Nair also spoke about the impact this has had on students. He says what the Pakistani government wanted. So that's actually happening. These boys and girls have created the impression that India is the enemy and Pakistan is the victim of oppression here.

What has Pakistan gained by teaching such history?

Asim Sajjad Akhtar, a Pakistani columnist and educationist, said, "If you want to create some slaves who will say yes to everything you say, shout war and clap your hands, then maybe there is a benefit. But if you If you want to create some people in society who are not only creative, but also capable of criticizing, then you as a state have completely failed. "

Asim Sajjad said, "Any important research effort in this regard has been thwarted. Those who want to preserve the state commentary on 1971 do not want to see any change in this regard."

"Pakistan is not doing this alone"

How is the birth of Bangladesh portrayed in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India? Researcher Anam Zakaria visited these three countries and tried to understand how the events of 1971 were viewed from different perspectives in these three countries.

Anam Zakaria told the BBC that history from these three countries could be viewed from different perspectives.

Is Pakistan the only country that is presenting history from its own point of view in the curriculum?

Answering this question, Asim Sajjad said that every country wants to build its citizens within a specific vision. So in this context, Pakistan is not alone in doing this. "

But he described the story of a successful separatist movement in Pakistan as ridiculous.

Asim Sajjad said, "Even today, we are telling our children that 54% of the people of Pakistan, who were part of this Pakistan, have taken part in a foreign conspiracy. In my view, this is absolutely ridiculous."

The role of teachers

Professor AH Nair, referring to the role of teachers in this regard, said, "They themselves have in their minds what they have learned in childhood."

"When they come across students who have a lot of questions and curiosities in their minds, these teachers also resort to the slogans included in the curriculum. After that there is no more opportunity for discussion."

According to him, "very few teachers can be found who discuss these on the basis of logic."

As a teacher, Anam Zakaria visited classrooms in India and Pakistan and came to the conclusion that the kind of history that is being taught to children is fueling hatred and intolerance in society.

According to him, there is no harm in letting students know what the role of these three countries was in 1971, but it will be of great benefit.

"I have heard of many West Pakistani poets, soldiers, political activists and feminist activists who opposed the military operation."

"These are a lot of inspirational stories and I really want to hear their stories."