A Short History of Pakistan

A Short History of Pakistan

:"Note : This article is about an academic publication. For details on the actual history of Pakistan see History of Pakistan"

Infobox Book
name = A Short History of Pakistan
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi General Editor
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Pakistan
language = English
series = History of Pakistan series
subject = History of Pakistan
genre =
publisher = University of Karachi Press
release_date = 1967, 1984, 1992
english_release_date =
media_type =
pages = 934
isbn = 969-404-008-6
preceded_by =
followed_by =

A Short History of Pakistan is an edited book published by University of Karachi Press and comprises four volumes. The book is edited by Prof Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi and provides a comprehensive account of the history of the Pakistan region and its people from the prehistory leading to the creation of Pakistan. Complete set of four volumes are sequentially titled as, "Book One: Pre-Muslim Period by Ahmad Hasan Dani"; "Book Two: Muslim Rule under the Sultans by M. Kabir"; "Book Three: The Mughul Empire by Sh. A. Rashid"; and, "Book Four: Alien Rule and the Rise of Muslim Nationalism by M. A. Rahim et al."

This book is significant as probably the first serious attempt to paint an overall picture of the early history of Pakistan region. Given that the book deals with periods of history prior to the creation of Pakistan, it has been described as, point of fact, a history of the northern part of the entire Indian subcontinent with special emphasis on the region that presently is Pakistan. [http://www.jstor.org/view/0030851x/dm991959/99p1005f/0 Basham, A.L., Pacific Affairs] , University of British Columbia, pp. 641-643, 1968] Some of the essays have been criticized by peer reviewers as being insufficiently objective about relations between Indian Muslims, Hindus and the British political classes.

Preamble

At the preface, I H Qureshi addresses the common question as to whether it is possible to disentangle the history of Pakistan from the history of India? He maintains that although for certain periods Pakistan shares common history with modern day India, there are periods of regional history with local significance that were actually dominated by the events outside the subcontinent, especially in Central Asia and Iranian plateau. There have also been times when the region actually became arbiter of the subcontinent’s historical destiny.

Critiques on four volumes

Book One: Pre-Muslim Period by A.H. Dani

Critique by Arthur Llewellyn Basham: Author of the first volume, Prof A. H. Dani is not only an expert archaeologist and prehistorian, but also an able Sanskritist with a very important study of Indian palaeography to his credit. Its interest for the non-Pakistani reader lies chiefly in the attempt to find common factors in the ancient culture of what is now Pakistan. Although a great treasure of ancient Buddhist artefacts is discovered, no significant specimen of Mauryan Empire and Mauryan art is to be found in Pakistan. Gupta Empire also had little influence here. The book has been praised by Basham as "a work which no sensible Pakistani or Indian could object to or accuse of undue prejudice"

Book Two: Muslim Rule under the Sultans by M. Kabir

Critique by Philip B. Calkins: This volume gives a survey of the history of the Sultanate period. After an introductory chapter which describes some of the sources for the history of the period, nine chapters are devoted to an account of the Sultanate, its Muslim antecedents in Sindh and Afghanistan, and the independent Muslim kingdoms which developed out of it. The final chapter deals with administration, society and culture. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this volume is historiographical rather than historical, since it is part of a series of Pakistan and Muslims since their arrival in the sub-continent. [http://www.jstor.org/cgi-bin/jstor/viewitem/0030851x/dm991959/99p1006g/0 Calkins, P. B. Pacific Affairs,] University of British Columbia, pp. 643-644, 1968] Calkins, calls for a more deeper analysis of the history than presented in this volume. Despite of the apparent image of "the official Pakistani point of view" intended to be used as textbook for undergraduate students, the volume should have been able to offer more for those who desire more rudimentary knowledge of sultanate period. He praises the particular aspect of the book as "historigraphical rather than historical".

Book Three: The Mughal Empire by Sh. A. Rashid

Critique by Fritz Lehman: Given that this book is intended as a textbook for Pakistani undergraduates, Shaikh Ahmed Sarhindi predictably appears as the chief preserver of separate Islamic identity in India, yet only a very general and most inadequate description of his ideas and his influence is given. Chapters on Akbar and Aurangzib are the longest and the most revealing. The tone of the book in general is more reasonable and moderate than such earlier publications. Assessment of the Marathas, for example, while unsympathetic is fair to the facts. [http://www.jstor.org/cgi-bin/jstor/viewitem/0030851x/dm991959/99p1007h/0 Lehmann, F.] , Pacific Affairs, University of British Columbia, pp. 644-645, 1968]

Lehman criticizes the volume's implications that Muslims living under "Hindu rule" was "the worst disaster in the history of Islam in South Asia", a view he describes as 'consistent with the Two-Nation Theory', but one that he finds "disquieting".

Book Four: Alien Rule and the Rise of Muslim Nationalism by M. A. Rahim et al

Critique by Aziz Ahmed: Determination of national identity quite understandably tends to re-evaluation of history. The educator’s job is to make such re-evaluation available to the university student. It needs further analysis whether the Hindu officials of the Bengal Nawwabs conspired with the East India Company because they were Hindus or because, like Muslim officials, they were simply greedy. [http://www.jstor.org/view/0030851x/dm991959/99p1008i/0 Ahmed, A.,] Pacific Affairs, University of British Columbia, pp. 645-647, 1968]

Ahmad criticizes this volume as a "warped subjectivity", and the portrayal of British rule in the region as "merely the lesser weakness of Rahim's historical presentation. His greater weakness is a complete lack of objectivity". According to the reviewer, the book's portrays Hindus and the British as "villains" and Muslims as "victims". The further write that the narrative is "dangerous" for it will not guide younger historians in Pakistan towards proper national self-criticism..

Quotes from the book

Editions

* Qureshi, I.H., 1967, A Short History of Pakistan. University of Karachi Press. (First edition)
* Qureshi, I.H., 1984, A Short History of Pakistan. University of Karachi.
* Qureshi, I.H., 1992, A Short History of Pakistan. University of Karachi, pages: 934, Paperback. ISBN 969-404-008-6

Notes

See also

* History of Pakistan
* Lahore Resolution
* Pakistan Movement


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • History of Pakistan — also see History of AJK · Balochistan · G B · KPK · Punjab · Sindh Timeline of Pakistan …   Wikipedia

  • Military history of Pakistan — The roots of the Pakistan army traces back to the British Indian Army which included several personnel from present day Pakistan. In picture are troops of the famous Khyber Rifles striking a pose. 1895. The military history of Pakistan… …   Wikipedia

  • Pakistan Movement — The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik e Pakistan (Urdu: تحریک پاکستان) refers to the historical movement to have AN independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned… …   Wikipedia

  • Pakistan Army — Founded 14 August 1947 Country …   Wikipedia

  • Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction — Pakistan Nuclear program start date January 20, 1972 First nuclear weapon test May 28, 1998 First fusion weap …   Wikipedia

  • Pakistan Navy — s Crest Active August 14, 1947 Present …   Wikipedia

  • History of Burma — Prehistory 11,000–200 BCE Pyu city states 200 BCE–835 CE Mon kingdoms 825?–1057 Arakanese kingdoms 788?–1406 …   Wikipedia

  • History of Canada — This article is part of a series Timeline …   Wikipedia

  • History of Japan — Paleolithic 35,000–14,000 BC Jōmon period 14,000–300 BC Yayoi period 300 BC–250 AD Kofun period …   Wikipedia

  • Pakistan Monument — National Monument of Pakistan General information Type Public monument Location …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”