LAHORE, Sept 25: Distortion of history for the promotion of state-initiated culture was criticized at a discussion on Subversion of Education and Culture here on Sunday. Speaking on state-initiated cultures during a discussion arranged by the Community Relief and Development Organization for visiting students and teachers of Saint Stephen’s College, New Delhi, Tanvir Afzaal said that state televisions in the region had promoted the philosophy of patriotism based on enmity with neighbouring countries till 1990’s due to their monopoly on the media. They could not use the media for the purpose anymore due to availability of alternative sources of information in the form of private channels.

He said Islam was spread in the sub-continent by the saints, but credit had been wrongly given to the Muslim rulers instead. He said the culture of India and Pakistan had not been divided despite partition because it was an organic phenomenon and had nothing to do with the borders.

Speaking on Distortion of Textbooks, Dr Mehdi Hassan said interpretation of history was different in India and Pakistan. He said not only history but even physics and chemistry were distorted during the regime of Gen Ziaul Haq. Hatred between the Hindus and the Muslims had started developing after 1857. The Hindus started cooperating with the British as they considered the Muslims invaders, he said. The people of the two countries should not be over enthusiastic about the peace process as it would take a long time to mature, he added.

Dr Hassan said India and Pakistan had completely different political cultures. All the 22 governments were changed in Pakistan through extra-constitutional measures due to its feudal culture, he said and added that on the other hand all the 14 Indian government were changed democratically.

He said the establishment had started asserting itself from the very beginning and had prevented the broadcast of Quaid-i-Azam’s Aug 11 address to the opening session of the Constituent Assembly in 1947 in which Mr Jinnah had said the religion was a matter of personal faith and would not play any role in the politics of India and Pakistan.

He said description of Pakistan as a theocracy was also a distortion of history.

Saint Stephen’s College Professor Tasnim Soharwady also spoke on the occasion.