In a word, no forcible conversions, no massacres, no destruction of temples. ... Muslim historians of those times are in raptures at the heap of Kafirs [sic] who have been dispatched to hell. Muslim historians are forever lavishing praise on the ruler for the temples he has destroyed, ... Law books like The Hedaya prescribe exactly the options to which these little textbooks alluded. All whitewashed away. Objective whitewash for objective history. And today if anyone seeks to restore truth to these textbooks, the shout, 'Communal rewriting of history.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Historical religious violence is downplayed in contemporary education.
- In plain terms
- Textbooks hide the truth about temple destruction to avoid controversy.
- What can you take from it?
- History is often sanitized to avoid communal conflict.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who controls history narratives?
- What truths are left out of schools?
Another view
Historical texts vary widely and generalizations are often inaccurate.
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