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THE TRUE PERSPECTIVE OF
HISTORY Mankind at times despairs whether the
lessons of the past have any relevance to the
present or guide our future
course of action at all. This is because there would appear to be total
disregard of the valuable lessons of the
past. If we look at what goes on at Iraq
or Afghanistan right now and
how sovereignties of some nations are not given the due weight, we understand
how Germany
under Hitler got away with its adventurist activities for a few years. We are
also
surprised that the United Nations Organization still functions at all,
though not with the authority of a controlling power.
I have always admired the
definition given by E.H. Carr on History: “History is an unending dialogues between the
present and the past, a continuous process of interaction between the historian
and his facts.” This definition is free from any preconceived notions about the
lessons or the role of history. Man’s prehistory is merged in the pageant of
animal world and the present history threatens to slip into brutal suppression
of a large segment by a financial oligarchy.
When one thinks of mighty empires of
the past one is surprised that the world had not yet learnt that physical force
alone cannot for ever
dominate others. Yet in one form or the other this
feverish desire to dominate others grips some people or the other. Meaningless
and mindless deaths consequent upon wars not only destroy peace and
tranquillity but ruin thousands of families in the affected place. Yet we hear
pious talk of democracy, ethics, welfare, humanism, etc. amid destruction of life and culture. It is true
that there have been law givers and benefactors of mankind but equally there
have been exhibitions of savagery even from the so-called advanced people
towards less fortunate sections of humanity.
We shall, by and by, explore some facets of history with a view to
understand some forces and elevate ourselves.
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