Us’ and ‘Them’: Analysis of History Textbooks Studied in Pakistani Schools

Abstract

Textbooks are the only source to communicate information considered true, of unquestionable accuracy and whose authenticity could not questioned by anyone. The states, in collaboration with the textbook regimes employed textbooks to impart a certain notion of identity, of ‘us’ and ‘them’ through constructing and presenting a state narrative to pupils. The suitable study method for this study was qualitative content analysis and 9 history textbooks were analyzed in this study. The books were selected for their being published by the state textbook authorities. The analysis of textbooks revealed that textbooks writers used representation (positive and negative), unification, avoidance, and trivialization strategies to create the images of ‘us’ and ‘them’ through the images of invaders and conquerors and the social, cultural, political, economic, and religious influences and impact on Indian subcontinent and its people. This study recommends that the history textbooks designing exercise should be approached as a discipline covering all historical information about people, culture, lands and achievements.