Mubarak
Ali (Urdu: مبارک علی) is a Pakistani historian, activist
and scholar. His main theme, in most of his books, has been that some
history books written in Pakistan had been 'dictated' by the ruling class (the
so-called 'Establishmint in Pakistan') and, in his view, those history books
represent 'perversion of facts'.
Ali was born
in Tonk, Rajasthan, British India in April 21, 1941. Ali
received a M.A. degree in history from Sindh University,
Jamshoro in 1963. In 1972, he went to London, then Germany to pursue higher
studies and in 1976, he attained a PhD degree (on the Mughal Period of India)
at Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany. He later became head of the
History Department at the University of Sindh. He was the Director of
the Goethe Institute in Lahore until 1996. In 2005, he
is the editor of the quarterly journal Taarikh ("History")
and has been widely interviewed by electronic and print media
in India, Pakistan and the Middle East.
In 1999,
while speaking at a seminar in Mumbai organised by the NGO Khoj, Ali
referred to fundamentalism's effects on historical scholarship in his country.
He described how after the 1965 war with India, ancient history was
de-emphasized in Pakistan by some historians. The official government rule
stated that anything outside of the syllabus "is not part of our
history". He further stated that the official historiography in Pakistan
is committed to the two-nation theory in the Indian subcontinent. In
other words, Hindus and Muslims in pre-1947 era British
India essentially were 2 different and distinct nations and, therefore,
the British needed to divide old India into 2 different countries, based on
this fact, before they ended their colonial rule in British India. This was
called the Pakistan Movement and it succeeded in its effort with the
support of the majority of the Indian Muslims under the leadership
of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and an independent Pakistan was created in
1947. Although later, after independence of Pakistan in 1947, many history book
writers ignored the Pakistan public's need for the truth and keeping a balanced
view of history when writing their history books. Instead, some historians went
to the other extreme and started to confuse the Pakistani public about whether
Pakistan's known history begins from the 5000 years old Indus Valley
Civilization or from the Arab Muslims Muhammad bin Qasim (31 Dec
695-18 July 715) and his attack on Sindh in 712 A.D. or from
the Independence of Pakistan in 1947.
Books:
- Taareekh ki
Daryafat, Dost Publications-wordmate, Islamabad, 2009
- Qadeem
Hindustan (Ancient India), 2007
- Ahd-i-Wusta
ka Hindustan (India of the Middle Ages), 2007
- Bartanvi
Hindustan (British India), 2007
- Mulhid Ka
Overcoat, Fiction House, Lahore, 3rd Ed. 2013
- In the
Shadow of History, Nigarshat, Lahore
- History on
Trial, Fiction House, Lahore, 1999
- Tareekh Aur
Nisabi Kutub, Fiction House, Lahore, 2013
- Shaahi
Mahal (Royal Palace), Fiction House, Lahore, 1992
- Taarikh kee
Roshnee (Light of History), Fiction House, Lahore, 4th Edition 2012
- Aakhri Ehad
Mugliah kaa Hindostaan (India in Last Mughal Rule), Fiction House, Lahore,
7th Edition 2012
- Gumshudah
Taareekh (Lost History) Fiction House, Lahore, 2012
- Taareekh aur
Daanishver (History and Intlectual), Fiction House, Lahore, 2012
- Taareekh aur
Sisaayset (History and Politics), Fiction House, Lahore, 5th Edition 2012
- Taareekh aur
Aaj Kee Duniyaa (History and Today's world, Fiction House, Lahore, 2012
- Dar Dar
Thokar Khaaey, Autobiography, Fiction House, 18-Muzang, Lahore, 6th Edition
2012
- Taareekh,
Thug aur Daacu (History, Thug and Bandit), Fiction House, Lahore, 2013
- Bartaanvi
Raaj (British Era), Fiction House, Lahore, 3rd Edition 2012
- Gulaami aur
Nasel Parasti (Slavery and Racism), Fiction House, Lahore, 2013
- Taarikh aur
Falsfa-e-Taarikh (History and Philosophy of History, Fiction House,
Lahore, 4th Edition 2005
- Mughal
Darbaaar (Mughal Court), Fiction House, Lahore, 2012
- Achoot
Logoun Kaa Adab (Literature of Untouchables) Co-written by Razi Abdi,
Fiction House, Lahore, 1994
- Bar-e
Sagheer Mein Mulsmaan Muashrey kaa Almeya, Fiction House, Lahore, 7th Edition
2012
- Niji Zindgi
Ki Tarrekh (History of Private Life), Fiction House, Lahore 2012
- Traikh
Shinaasi, Fiction House, Lahore 2012
- Tarikh Kay
Badaltey Nazriaat, Fiction House, Lahore 2012
- Tarikh aur
Mazhabi Tehreekein, Fiction House, Lahore 2013
- Akbar kaa
Hindostan, translated by Dr. Mubarak Ali 2012
- Europe kaa
Arooj (Rise of Europe), Fiction House, Lahore 2012
- Jadeed
Taarikh (Modern History), Fiction House, Lahore
- Taarikh aur
Tehqeeq (History and Research), Fiction House, Lahore
- Pather kaa
Zamaanah (Stone Age), Fiction House, Lahore
- Kaansi Kaa
Zammanah (Bronze Age), Fiction House, Lahore
- Lohey Kaa
Zamanah (Iron Age), Fiction House, Lahore
- Tarikh or
Aurat, Fiction House
- Pakistani
Moashra, Fiction House
- Badalti Hui
Tarikh, Fiction House
- Tarikh or
Tehqeeq, Fiction House
- Sindh ki
Tarikh Kia Hey, Fiction House
- Tarikh
Shanasi, Fiction House
- Ulma or
Siasat, Fiction House
- Quaid e Azam
Kia Thay Kia Nahi Thay, Fiction house
- Sindh Ki
Awaz, Fiction House
- Sindh
Khamoshi Ki Awaz, Fiction house
- Sindh ki
Samaji or Saqafti Tareekh, Fiction house
- Interviews
or Tasuraat, Fiction House
- Lutfullah ki
aab-biti, Fiction House
- Tarikh—
'Khana or Khaney Key Aadaab' , Fiction House
- Pakistan
mein Marshal Law Ki Tareekh, Fiction House Ed.2014
- Tahzeeb ki
Kahani, Fiction House
- Hindustaan
ki Tareekh, Fiction House
- Tareekh Ki
Wapsi, Fiction House Ed.2014
- Nationalism
kya Hey??, Fiction House Ed.2014
- Tareekh or
Awam, Fiction House Ed.2014
- Tareekh ki
gawahi Edition 2015
- Tareekh
Fehmi, Edition 2015
