If you could erase one event from history, what would it be?

Let us discuss the significance of history as an account of past events that is crucial for understanding humanity’s evolution and existence. The highlight is the subjective nature of people’s feelings toward history, emphasising its value in building knowledge, genealogy, and perspective on present issues. The discussion reflects on the importance of acknowledging historical atrocities like the Holocaust and the partition of India and Pakistan. The assertion is that the past is unchangeable. Eyes must be on accurate historical representation through well-researched accounts, emphasising the role of technology in education. It also illustrates how understanding history is essential for self-awareness and societal growth.

the past account

History is an account of past events which may be about anything. Ask a primary student about it; they may show their aversion to the subject by making faces. It is a bone-dry subject and collection of dates and events having no meaning and utility in daily life. Why the hell should one remember the date of accession of Akbar, or does it make sense to remember who defeated Humayun in the Battle of Chausa? They often ask. Children cram dates and events to score marks in the examinations. This is how children used to study for a long time.

Understanding history: Different aspects

Liking or disliking a subject is subjective. Some like a topic because of their personal liking, but for some it doesn’t add value. Nonetheless, it is important to know the past, the story about how the Earth came into existence, how and when first life appeared on the planet and how humans appeared. Did our ancestors look like modern humans, or were they different? The questions about our present existence are still breathing in the backyard of the past. Thus, to quench the thirst of curiosity, deciphering the hidden facts about the past is necessary. It gives insight into a thing or incident and helps build a perspective. The more one knows, the more clear vision one has. Thus, it has several aspects.

Genealogy

Knowing about oneself is Genealogy. It is an aspect of history which tells about family lines. Tracing the family lines and building a family tree helps in knowing about one’s own roots and characteristics. Not only this, it helps identify genetic diseases incurable in the past but is curable in present by minor genetic surgery.

Classification for understanding history

In common life, history tells a lot about various things. It leads to the classification of history in various branches like Natural History, history of Horology, Evolutionary history of the Earth and history of thoughts and philosophy et cetera. Tracing the past is an exercise that helps in understanding the intricacies of happenings, which in turn gives a lead to identify the crux of a problem. The past may appear dead, but its organic nature remains alive forever, influencing the present and even the future. Learning from the past can improve and evolve an individual. This is the law of Nature. It shows how an individual observed and experimented on in the past to evolve into a new and different organism, well adapted to the changed environment. The genotypic change brought phenotypic changes, and thus the wheel of evolution continued.

Past is irremovable

The past is a reality that can’t alter or erased. It is an account of happenings that occurred during the past. The vagaries of time may cover the happenings, making evidences obscured, but they exist and reveal themselves to an inquisitive eye. Only those who have interest and vision can see them, record them, join the pieces and place them in order. It weaves an authentic story, based on facts and findings. This is the beauty of history.

Scientists, archaeologists, paleontologists, numismatists, linguist and many researchers join their heads to solve the mystery of the past. They carefully dig the site and minutely observe every bit of excavated things buried deep. With time they became petrified evidence. The valuable records sufficiently tell about the condition of the Earth, types of vegetation, their structure and the types of animals present at that point in time. It apparently has no value, but its subtle passive contribution is invaluable in understanding the human past and their evolution. It is an ongoing process which keeps changing ad nauseam. (Psychology Today)

Futile idea of erasing the past account

It is, thus, futile to think of erasing any part of it or ignoring it. Can the horrific holocaust be erased or its occurrence be hidden? Despite their best efforts, Nazi could not check the fallout of their crime against humanity that followed Hitler’s suicide and their fall. The culprits brought to book and faced the music in the same tune. It became possible because their heinous deeds couldn’t completely destroy. The survivors and the remains of the crematorium screamed about the horrific history. It was the darkest period of history when humanity crushed under the heavy boots of bigoted mentality.

Similarly, it’s difficult to erase the horrific memories of the biggest exodus. Following the vivisection and emergence of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, in 1947, people faced the world’s worst conflagration and exodus. It will remain forever in the minds of people. The historical horrors gradually fade, the memories diluted with time and the passing of those who survived the atrocious exodus or holocaust, but the scars remain. People also try not to forget because of the lesson the incidents taught. It acts as a beacon to those who are descendants of survivors and teaches them the lesson of how their progenitors suffered and fought for the betterment of their children. It is a historical fact that the fight for truth and righteousness is age-old, and it continues to this day.

Human race

Starting from the early humans who were not the same as we are in the present. We now know it through the study of the distant past. Passing the litmus test of survival of the fittest, the human race excelled in every field and showed its acumen. Human history is the sum of struggles, learning, improving and implementing them in their life using brain power.

Humans evolved

The human race evolved from Primates, a group of animals that are close to humans in appearance, behaviour and application of mind. In the evolutionary journey, a branch separated and developed fast. Their brain became very powerful, capable of thinking. With highly developed vocal cords and a complex brain, they could articulate their voice in speech with distinctive meaning. They evolved language, script, mode of writing, making their writing a permanent record. Nature preserved these as evidence, and modern humans used them to understand and trace history.

History sheet

Keeping a historical account of past actions helps follow the behaviour of a person. It is seen in a history sheet of a person having a criminal background. Law-enforcing agencies keep history sheet of a criminal. Studying the pattern in the history sheet of a criminal helps ascertain the nature and intensity of a crime and also helps in controlling them before they occur.

Distorted facts

Despite irrefutable facts and evidence, historical accounts are not unanimous on certain points, and different historians describe any incident, mixing their own perspective. The lopsided account is a distortion of facts. It is seen when they lean on the work of court poets who used to write exaggerated accounts of the velour and courage of their emperors. The understanding of history is mainly dependent on pure facts. Cross-checking facts from other sources, including the autobiographical account of the emperor, king or the character is essential.

Fact-based account

An old, historical account must be fact-based, well researched and supported by solid evidence. The archaeological excavations, their period and circumstances must be carefully documented and recorded in modern times when computers are frequently and effectively used. It considerably reduces the chances of distortion and vitiation. An honest account of history without an iota of pollution should be taught to children using modern technology in an interesting way. For this, the teacher must also be well-versed and, using modern technology they interestingly present the facts. History is not only a topic about the past but also a portal for a better present and brighter future. It is the way of self-identification. Knowing about history is the key to remaining self-aware and grounded, which bring closer to ourselves.

Medical history

On the same token, keeping track of medical history helps a great deal in ascertaining a disease. Linking an individual’s medical history with their family history helps trace the origin and type of disease. Today doctors use it to find out the cause and nature of a disease or complication. History, nonetheless, is not limited to this. The historical account of an incident is important in assessing the magnitude in a given circumstance.

Epic work

A historian takes help from various evidence, collected by the experts of respective fields; some of them have been spelt above. Additionally, epic literary works supplement it. The imagination of epic creators helps in visualising the overall scenario of the time.

Epics and travellers diaries

Sometimes epics and their characters become larger than life. In such cases, the historical facts are overshadowed, and fiction takes the central place, insinuating reality. Art and literature bridge the gap where evidence is insufficient or inadequate. The travel diaries of foreign tourists like Fa-Hien (Fa Xian), Hiuen Tsang, and Megasthenese also contribute a lot to talking about India as seen by them as a second or third pair of eyes.

Some other interesting reads:

• Understanding Indian History: Bias and Truth
• The Journey from Illness to Strong Immunity
• The Importance of Accurate Historical Representation
• Budgeting Basics: Manage Income and Expenditure
• Why You Can’t Relive Life’s Moments

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