"Should it be a matter of criticism if I deplore "government-sponsored attempts to rewrite Indian history in the interest of minorityism by suppressing unpalatable truths about the character of Muslim rule"? I have quoted from government circulars addressed to authors of school and college textbooks. Here some instructions/suggestions are reproduced. These appear on p. 70 of the Legacy. "Muslim rule should not attract any criticism... Destruction of temples by Muslim invaders and rulers should not be mentioned... Ignore and delete mention of forcible conversions to Islam" etc., etc. Curiously enough the instructions themselves admit of destruction of temples and forcible conversions. Why are there no instructions about writing the history of the ancient (Hindu) period or the British period? Does it mean that the record of Muslim rule in India alone is unmentionable? Or, does it mean that only the destruction of temples by Muslim rulers and invaders should not be mentioned (for the appeasement of one minority), while destruction by Portuguese invaders and rulers should be freely mentioned? Evils of Hindu society may be discussed but the evils of Muslim society should not. Warren Hastings, Wellesley and Dalhousie may be impeached relentlessly but no Muslim governor or ruler. These are double angles of approach, double standards of judgement recommended for writing Indian history. But this is actually being done by historians engaged by the establishment for writing school and college textbooks."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Chapter 7, A Riposte on Reviews
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/K._S._Lal
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
K. S. Lal
1920 – 2002
Kishori Saran Lal (1920 – 2002) was an Indian historian. He wrote many historical books, mainly on medieval India. Many of his books, such as History of the Khaljis and Twilight of the Sultanate, are regarded as standard works.
100 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by K. S. Lal →
Related Quotes
"In brief, the onus of protecting Hindus against Muslim and Christian proselytization falls on Hindu social and cultur…"
"Many women from Hindu rulers’ families were forcibly married by Muslim kings throughout the medieval period and yet o…"
"Yet K.S. Lal maintains that for several decades the Left-liberals in the history establishment have discriminated aga…"
"I have tried my utmost to be judicious in my conclusions, and have neither explained an act or policy to the extent o…"
"With the Muslim conquest the position of Indian women suffered a set-back."
"Muslim conquest was not without its blessings in Bengal. There, as elsewhere, developed an understanding between Hind…"
"But even in the deepest darkness light persists. Timur’s gruesome invasion had a silver lining. Hindus and Muslims al…"
"Ziyauddin's sarcasm is incisive. Occasionally his sardonic humour helps him to sum up his ideas in a few words. His r…"
"If the medieval chronicler cries out "Jihad" it is not heard, but if he cries out persistently, it is claimed that he…"
"Bias or prejudice born out of chauvinism and imaginary interests of national glorification is not only undesirable, i…"