History must guide nations not divide them

Source: The post History must guide nations not divide them has been created, based on the article “History as battlefield — the perils of reversing the past” published in “The Hindu” on 15 April 2025. History must guide nations not divide them.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper1- Society-Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

Context; In March 2025, textbook revisions that praised certain native rulers and vilified Mughal figures like Babur and Aurangzeb sparked public anger. These changes triggered campaigns against Mughal monuments, with calls for renaming or even destruction. The article highlights the risks of turning history into a political weapon, and contrasts academic reinterpretation with ideological revisionism.

Weaponising History for Ideological Ends

History should be studied with attention to causes, consequences, and context. When used for ideological agendas, it becomes a source of division. Recent textbook changes and efforts to erase Mughal legacies show attempts to reshape the past for political goals. Such efforts create polarisation instead of understanding.

Difference Between Reinterpretation and Revisionism

1. Reinterpretation is a legitimate academic process that uses new evidence to reshape historical understanding.

2. In contrast, revisionist history, especially with political intent, selects facts to justify current agendas related to nationalism, identity, or territory. It often deepens conflict instead of promoting clarity.

Global Lessons from History

1. The Crusades: The First Crusade (1096–1099) was launched to reclaim Jerusalem, ignoring its diverse religious heritage. It sparked centuries of warfare, worsening religious divides without achieving lasting peace.
2. European Wars of Religion: In the 16th–17th centuries, religious wars like the Thirty Years’ War were driven by efforts to restore religious dominance. The result was massive destruction, as old grievances turned into violent movements.
3. Nazi Germany: Hitler’s drive to reverse the Treaty of Versailles and reclaim German glory led to World War II and the Holocaust. His ideology was built on distorted history, racial myths, and revenge.
4. Partition of India (1947): Competing historical narratives between Hindus and Muslims led to one of the deadliest communal conflicts, killing over a million and displacing more than 10 million. The violence was rooted in selective memories, not shared futures.
5. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Both communities claim the land based on conflicting histories. Attempts to reverse past outcomes through settlements and denial of rights have prolonged the conflict.
6. Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (2022): Russia justified the invasion by citing historical unity with Ukraine and rejected post-Soviet borders. This revisionist move caused widespread suffering and destabilised the region.

Learning from History, Not Repeating It

1. History must be a guide, not a template for revenge. Remembering past wrongs is important, but trying to reverse them leads to new conflicts.
2. Nations should reject the urge to restore a glorious past and instead focus on reconciliation and building the future.
3. As philosopher George Santayana warned, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Equally dangerous are those who remember the past only to relive it.
4. The best way to honour history is to learn from it with humility, not manipulate it with pride.

Question for practice:

Examine how the misuse of history for ideological purposes can lead to societal division and conflict, with examples from both India and the world.