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
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