@Master Chief @peagle how did you guys gain such extensive knowledge of the ancient subcontinent ? Is it some books you read ?
I read a biography of Alexander by Philip Freeman which included his campaigns in present day Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, so I recognize some of the terms you used but don't know this stuff in depth.
Can I just start by saying, thank you.
I appreciate the comment. But Master sahib is far more knowledgeable then me, it's without a doubt. I just appear knowledgeable lol, it's a trick.
I can teach you but i'll have to charge
From my end, it really is about the approach rather then raw knowledge. In my view facts are dime a dozen. Everyone has facts, time, effort and research keeps changing facts. Then which facts do you follow or believe in? Dealing with facts is like mud wrestling.
I establish the principle of any topic, what does the logic say, and is the reasonable argument. Is that argument applied fairly across the world or is Pakistan being singled out (on any topic but since Pakistan is at discussion here).
You establish your entire statement and argument based on that framework, paradoxically facts are secondary to the argument on any given topic.
Logic and reason isn't dictated by an author, most, i would say over 90% of people get into quotation wrestling, mention authors and books and articles. In my view it means for not much. It's the argument, the fairness of the principle involved is the single most primary factor on any given topic.
Facts, books, authors, quotations, come far down the list. It goes against the natural inclination, but in fact, it's factually true.
If those things were so important then why dish out tens of thousand of PhDs on every topic. They all look at the same topic with broadly the same set of facts but arrive at wildly different conclusions.
Why? Because it's the argument which matters, it's the principle which matters. Not facts, they merely exist to support the argument but are not central to the argument. The argument itself is the core.
You can complete 100 PhDs in different fields of mathematics, create new fields of your own. But you still have to justify why 2+2=5, if that is your claim. Unless it's a technical subject, everything is easily understood by anyone and the core principles of any given topic can be questioned even by a child.
I'll stop here, i tried to condense my approach, otherwise it would have become too long, i hope my explanation came across with some clarity.
I'll add one more thing, read things in a eclectic manner, books, articles, anything. I used to read books by chapters, borrow or buy a book, just for a single chapter.
I have read many books purely by index lol, if i get hold of a autobiography of Kessinger, which i have, why do i care how he became a professor and how he was appointed to government? Someone might, i don't. I want to know what he reveals about what matters to me. Go to the index, find the topic and read purely on that and continue reading till the context and nuance associated with that mention has dissipated. It's through that book i learnt an Indian prime minister in the 70s i think, was on CIA payroll.
I'll give you another example of self exploration. Once you adopt an approach as i have described above, the issues in your question become second habit.
All my life i heard about the so-called genocide in East Pakistan. I know my nation, there is no way in hell would my people "willfully" kill other people, it's not in our blood.
Learn to recognise the words.
So few years ago, i looked at the census data of both East Pakistan and West Pakistan, including Bangladesh after their independence. I tracked the decadal growth from 1951 to 1991. If 3 million people had been killed, there should be a strong blimp in the census results of 1961 to the 1974 census in Bangladesh.
During that period 1 million people had died in a 1970 cyclone and another 1 Million plus in a famine few years after their independence due to mismanagement, but before the census. Plus Mujib's dictatorial rule had resulted in deaths of tens of thousands, there are various figures. Furthermore, the alleged 10 million refugees. Then you also have the West Pakistanis who left.
There is nothing, no blip, no noticeable difference in the census figures. None.
Where are the missing people? They still exist according to the census figures.
Census counts everyone and only those inside the country.
I had read various articles and some books, but they all operate on the lines of claims, allegations and interviews. I have never come across any research which looks at the census data. You'd think that should be obvious. it's all about the approach.
Regarding the ten million refugees.
These are the facts. The United Nations reported figures were all indian figures accepted by the United Nations in blind faith. India conducted organised press tours, so any reporting was highly organised and artificial in nature behind the scene.
The UNHCR wasn't given free access to any of the refugee camps, no monitoring mechanism was allowed to be set up. The head of the UNHCR at the time was the Agha Khan He wanted to visit various refugees camps and he was refused permission, except for highly organised tours by India.
The war ended in mid December, power transfer to a Bangladeshi leadership did not take place till early January, if i remember correctly. So there was no government in those few weeks after the war needed.
The UNHCR wrote a letter to India end of January or early February regarding the organised return of those so-called 10 million refugees. India wrote back, they have all returned lol
If you believe 10 million refugees can return within a month, then yes there were ten million refugees.
So don't go by facts, learn to fine tune your arguments.
It was incumbent on our lot to conduct proper research, but our experts are stupid beyond belief. I honestly cannot name a single person i respect.
Sorry it ended up being far longer then i planned, and still I've not said what i truly wanted.
I appreciate your generosity.
