A reason for treason

History is often written under the influence of nationalism. It is replete with tales of heroes and villains, because in order to achieve their goals nationalist movements need role models for their younger generations to look up to.

Those individuals who betray national cause are dubbed ‘traitors’ and are condemned as enemies of the nation. We find the same theme in nationalist history writings of Sindh where the role of Raja Dahar is glorified as the defender of his country and nation while Mohammad bin Qasim is portrayed as an aggressor and invader.

We also find Husho Shidi (renamed Hosh Mohammad Shaeed) as a hero who fought bravely against the British in the battle of Dabba, and Seth Noamal as a villain who collaborated with the British to conquer Sindh. Actually this version of history reflects the present political situation where Sindhi nationalists oppose the domination of the central government and condemn all those politicians as villains who support the Centre’s policies.

Communalism is the theoretical framework which constructs history in terms of heroes and villains to redefine the communal identity. In the 1920s, when communalism emerged in India, Muslim and Hindu communities brought forth their heroes and villains from the pages of history. For Muslims, Mohammad bin Qasim, Mahmud of Ghazna and Mohammad Ghori were those heroes who defeated Hindus and established Muslim rule in India. They were eulogised as generals and conquerors whose military achievements filled Indian Muslims with pride. The Hindu community, in order to counter Muslim heroes, projected as valiant men Rana Paratap and Shewaji who resisted against Muslim rule and restored the lost Hindu pride.

Then in colonial historical writings we find British conquerors and builders of the empire such as Robert Clive, Warren Hastings and Cornwallis elevated to the level of heroes, while Sirajuddola, Tipu Sultan, Wajid Ali Shah and Bahadur Shah are depicted as debauched, prejudiced and incapable rulers who deserved to be eliminated. It implies that to overthrow their rule and establish British authority was a logical thing to happen.

After 1857, when the history of the Rebellion was written, the British created their heroes who fought against the rebels and defeated them. Nicholson, Henry Lawrence and Hudson were heroes and saviours of the colonial government, while all those who fought against their rule were condemned as traitors and criminals. The Rani of Jhansi, Begam Hazrat Mahal, Nana Sahib, Tantia Tope, Mangal Pandey and Azimullah were villains in the eyes of the colonial government. However, the table was turned on them during the nationalist struggle and after independence of the Indian subcontinent.

In the new history writings, rebels and mutineers became heroes, and colonial rulers turned into villains who brutally crushed the war of Indian independence. Historian Salim Qureshi has published those letters which were written during the siege of Delhi by Indian spies to British officers informing them about the weaknesses of the rebels which ultimately resulted in British victory. Those who betrayed the cause of the rebels were Hakim Ahsanullah Khan, Illahi Baksh, Jewan Lal and a host of other spies who regularly provided information to the British to get their favour. Even Zeenat Mahal is accused of helping the British in order to make her son king.

This raises an important question: why do people betray their country or nation?

One of the reasons is: greed… to earn more wealth and spend the rest of their lives in comfort and luxury. However, there have been cases where wealthy and resourceful persons betrayed their country or rulers. Take the example of Mir Jafar who conspired against Sirajuddola and supported the East India Company. As a reward, he became the Nawab of Bengal.

It shows that his betrayal was for getting political power and authority. But soon he became disappointed because the company violated his authority, and after finding him useless replaced him with another candidate, Mir Qasim.

Tipu Sultan was betrayed by Mir Sadiq who hoped to get a handsome reward from the invaders. Besides Mir Sadiq there other upper caste Muslim families who looked down upon Tipu and his dynasty and helped his enemies to overthrow his regime.

People also betray others to take revenge. One example is of Seth Naomal whose father was imprisoned, forcefully converted and circumcised during the Talpur rule of Sindh. Naomal did not forget the humiliation and when he got the opportunity he cooperated with the British to conquer Sindh.

In modern times we find other reasons. Betrayal takes place especially in those countries where there is dictatorship and people are suppressed. To escape from such a situation, some individuals prefer to betray their country and earn money to spend the rest of their lives on foreign soil peacefully. There is an example of an Iraqi pilot who flew a Mig plane before the 1967 war to Israel and provided all technical information about the Russian made aircraft which helped the Jewish state to use it during the war. The pilot got one million dollars for it.

A reason for treason

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