History teaches us wisdom. History also talks about Victors and losers. It talks about some of our ancestors who won battles and some who lost them badly. History books ideally should teach us peace, what a precious thing it is and how hard one has to work to achieve it.
Unfortunately, in today’s times when the far right is ruling the majority of the countries histories are dug up, and all controversial subjects and figures hauled out to draw outlandish comparisons with the contemporary times. Though by and large Kashmir has been safe from this infection but every now and then stray efforts are being made to bring present time into a head on collision with the past.
We have had rulers like Zainul Abidin. And we have had rulers like Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras also. What Akbar signifies for the mainland India, he may not necessarily signify for Kashmir. But that is history, it better be a part of lullabies to help lull children into sleep. Likewise there have been Akbars and Aurangzebs or Zainul Abideens and Sultan Sikanders. As they say history is a mixed bag. There are skeletons in everybody’s wardrobe. If you point to skeletons in our wardrobe then we will point to a dozen in your wardrobes.
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This pettifogging makes contemporary times a very dangerous times to live in. Our current political aspirations should not fanatic streaks to them and even if it has it should not draw mileage from past happenings.
History can teach us a great deal. Provided that we are good students and learn from it to make our presents better.
