I believe that history is never one-dimensional, static, or subject to a singular interpretation. No presentation of history can be entirely neutral. This is because whilst historical events occur as a specific reality, how we view, interpret, and write about those events depends entirely on the author’s perspective.
This perspective is shaped by an individual’s education, family and social environment, political awareness, reading experiences, and intellectual maturity. No matter how rational, judicious, or objective a writer strives to be, a subtle influence of personal values, experiences, and psychological inclinations always remains within their cognitive framework. Consequently, presenting history in a completely “unbiased” manner is practically impossible.
For this reason, I believe history is not merely a collection of data; it is an analytical, interpretive, and evolving discipline. The same event can be interpreted differently by different historians, and those interpretations may either converge or clash. Therefore, when studying history, relying on a single source or narrative is insufficient; rather, it is essential to analyse multiple documents, diverse authorial perspectives, and relevant evidence collectively.
I further believe that history is never something to be merely memorised, nor is it a matter of simply “teaching and absorbing.” History is a cognitive process wherein the reader must develop a personal understanding through independent enquiry, comparative analysis, and reason-based evaluation. The deeper and more analytical a person’s historical consciousness is, the more balanced and rational their decision-making capacity becomes. Thus, the quality of understanding history depends not just on the volume of information, but on the capacity to analyse that information and on intellectual honesty.
In this context, I do not entirely agree with the notion that “we were never taught history” or that “history was hidden from us.” In my view, such assertions are often merely a tendency to justify a lack of diligence and enquiry. The opportunity to know history is always present, but it must be earned through perseverance, studying diverse sources, and critical thinking. For those who are genuinely interested in knowing history, it does not remain hidden.
Politics is built upon the foundations of history, and politics, in turn, creates history. The two are inextricably linked. Therefore, whilst a separate series could be dedicated to culture, it is impossible to separate the series on history from that on politics.
Driven by this conviction, I am launching my “History & Politics Series”. In this series, I shall endeavour to present the birth of Bangladesh, its political evolution, social transformations, and crucial historical events based on various documents, documentary sources, and personal analysis. Emphasis will be placed on both facts and interpretations so that the reader may gain a comparative and analytical perspective.
However, I would also like to state clearly that my perspective is neither a final nor an unalterable truth. With the emergence of new information, deeper research, and personal intellectual growth, some of my interpretations may change, be revised, or refine. I consider such evolution to be natural and acceptable, because knowledge is never static—it is a continuous process.
The articles will be uploaded under the “History & Politics Series” category and tag on this site.