Mangaluru, (The Hindu): Asking people to have a critical view of historical and contemporary events, critic and writer Rahamat Tarikere said it was important not be carried away either by the positive or negative narration of events.

Speaking at a programme on ‘Souhardategaagi Sahapayana-Deesha Vibhajaneya Kathegala Oodu-Samvaada’ here on Saturday, Mr. Tarikere said people were being fed stereotypes of historical events.

Muslims have been projected as aggressors, while Hindus are shown as believers of caste system. The Sikhs are shown as duffers and Africans are shown as uncivilised people, he said.

Mr. Tarikere said much has been said about atrocities committed by Tipu Sultan which was based on the account by a colonel of the British Army that fought against the emperor. “You cannot expect an enemy to say good about the king they fought,” he said.

Mr. Tarikere said it was important to build history from people’s perspectives.

Referring to books by S.L. Byrappa “Aavarana” and “Gruhabhanga”, Mr. Tarikere said it was important for communities to self-introspect their practices by discarding the superiority complex. Journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu said youths of today are being fed thoughts that lead them towards extremist and communal organisations.

While it was difficult to ingrain secular ideals, it was easy for organisations to instil communal feelings.

Democratic Youth Federation of India’s State President Muneer Katipalla also spoke.