HYDERABAD, Oct 21: Noted historian and editor of Lahore-based quarterly journal Tarikh Dr Mubarak Ali has stressed the need for re-writing the history of Sindh to highlight and project those people who have been ignored by the historians.

Speaking at a one-day “Sindh History Conference”, held under the aegis of Tarikh at the seminar hall of the Sindhi Language Authority here on Sunday, Dr Ali said the history of Sindh had been distorted.

He said universities and research institutions of the country had lost their importance because history was being written in accordance with the policies and philosophies of the rulers.

He stressed the need for setting up private research institutions which could write correct history.

Dr Ali said the ruling class had always opposed changes and tried to maintain status quo as they thought any change would adversely effect their position.

Isra University Vice-Chancellor Dr Asadullah Kazi, who presided over the conference, said some historians studied the past to understand how the people of early times had acted and thought and the others seek to draw lessons from those actions and thoughts as guidelines for the present day policies.

He, however, said historians sometime present different interpretation of the past.

He said our history revealed that in the past we had often ignored the populace in undertaking major projects or implementing decisions.

Dr Kazi said polarization of views on certain issues was eminent and added there was an urgent need to sit together and hold a dialogue to resolve such problems.

Badar Abro, read a paper on “Rock Carving on the Hills of Kheethar” and said it resembled the language of Moinjodaro.

Prof Ejaz Qureshi read a paper on the history of irrigation system in Sindh during the British period and said during this period more attention was paid to the development of irrigation system of Punjab than Sindh.

Dr Pervez Vendal of Lahore read a paper on the effects of geography on the history of Sindh. In his opinion the true history was based on the people and not on the rulers.

Prof Tanvir Junejo of the Sindh University spoke on the political and social structure of the Samoon period.

Jam Saqi, Wali Ram Walabh, Hameed Sindhi, Sirajul Haq Memon, Ishtiaq Ansari, M. H. Panhwar and Shamsuddin Ursani, attended the conference.