ARUN SHOURIE

In 2008 Pakistani Islamic terrorists, with the support of the Pakistani military, attacked Mumbai, India killing innocent civilians. Shoune was one of the Indian politicians who called for retaliation. The Indian government, however, restrained its forces and did not increase the cycle of violence.

This is an example of the politicization of history. Late in the first millinium Islamic warriors invaded and conquered much of Hindu India. The Muguls controlled much of India for hundreds of years. When the English conquered India, the Muslims rejected Western education and legal systems while the Hindus did not. After several generations the Hindus, better educated, and more sophisticated in Western ways took advantage of the numerical majority and regained control under the British. With Independence, Islamic nationalists insisted upon partition of the country creating a Muslim country, Pakistan. Millions of Indians were murdered in internecine attacks during the partition. Subsequently, Muslim historians have written one version of the history of India, while Hindu historians have written another. They appear to come from different planets or parallel universes. British historians have a third universe.

In 2008 Pakistani Islamic terrorists, with the support of the Pakistani military, attacked Mumbai, India killing innocent civilians. Shoune was one of the Indian politicians who called for retaliation. The Indian government, however, restrained its forces and did not increase the cycle of violence.

This is an example of the politicization of history. Late in the first millinium Islamic warriors invaded and conquered much of Hindu India. The Muguls controlled much of India for hundreds of years. When the English conquered India, the Muslims rejected Western education and legal systems while the Hindus did not. After several generations the Hindus, better educated, and more sophisticated in Western ways took advantage of the numerical majority and regained control under the British. With Independence, Islamic nationalists insisted upon partition of the country creating a Muslim country, Pakistan. Millions of Indians were murdered in internecine attacks during the partition. Subsequently, Muslim historians have written one version of the history of India, while Hindu historians have written another. They appear to come from different planets or parallel universes. British historians have a third universe.