NEW DELHI :

Syed Sadatullah Husaini, a prominent Islamic Scholar, speaks at an event organised by the Indian History Forum at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi on April 11, 2026.

The Indian History Forum hosted a two-day event in Delhi on April 11 and 12, highlighting the contributions of Muslims to Indian history. Several scholars, intellectuals, academicians and Parliamentarians took part and delivered insightful speeches at the event. For the benefit of its readers, India Tomorrow has serialised the full texts of selected speeches by some of the event’s most prominent speakers.

Here is the full text of the speech delivered by Syed Sadatullah Husaini, a prominent Islamic scholar, who happens to be the patron of the Indian History Forum.

“The real purpose of the conference is to understand the history of India from the right perspective. History is very important for any nation. It is said that every nation lives twice, once in reality and once in memory. Reality follows memory. Today’s reality will be shaped by our memories.

Every nation is defined not only by its achievements but also by its memory, what it chooses to remember and what it tends to forget. Therefore, it is important that we remember correctly. Our memory should be accurate. History is not merely nostalgia; it is not just information. It is a source of guidance. It is a source of civilisational wisdom in the light of which we embark on our journey today.

So, ladies and gentlemen, this conference is not just an event. In fact, there is a greater purpose behind it. Our country, India, should not forget an important part of its history. Collective amnesia should not make us victims of collective oblivion. The disease of oblivion is harmful to an individual, and similarly, it is harmful to nations.

The benefits of history and memory are conditional, and I am very happy that today’s learned speakers have shed light on these conditions, what constitutes the right history and what kind of research is needed to benefit from history. It is important that history is read and understood with neutrality.

History should be viewed with realism. It should not be interpreted based on personal likes and dislikes. It should not be reduced to dividing characters into binaries of hero and villain. All these approaches harm our collective memory. Therefore, history should be written and understood with seriousness so that it becomes a true source of guidance.

Why is there a need to look at history in this way? Our speakers have shed light on this from different perspectives. Some challenges are global in nature, while others are rooted in our country’s specific political context.

As far as the global situation is concerned, we are living in a time when the difference between truth and falsehood has become minimal, a post-truth condition. Some have rightly observed that history is no longer being written; it is being curated, amplified, and weaponised.

History is curated, amplified, and weaponised. It is distributed on a large scale through algorithms and filtered through the lenses of likes and dislikes. Such history does not enlighten; rather, it misguides the nation. It does not contribute to nation-building but instead leads to polarisation and division, ultimately weakening the nation. This is precisely what we are witnessing in our country today.

If history is reduced to propaganda, society is deprived of its memory and its ability to think critically. Therefore, we believe that a serious and sincere study of history, a genuine search for truth and factual accuracy, is the responsibility of every citizen. It is their duty. Supporting this responsibility is the real purpose of this conference and this movement.

The central theme of this conference, as you all know, is the contribution of Muslims in Indian history. We believe that this issue has become one of the most problematic areas due to distortion. History is not only distorted by what is written but also by what is omitted.

There are three ways to distort reality: deletion, distortion, and generalisation. Deleting facts and erasing them from memory is one method. Distorting facts is another. And generalising, turning specific instances into stereotypes, is the third way of destroying truth.

Today, history is being subjected to all three forms of distortion. A large part of Muslim history is being deleted, from textbooks, discussions, debates, and the collective memory of the country. Another large part is being distorted and presented inaccurately, often through powerful mediums like films. Meanwhile, the media frequently engages in generalisation.

For instance, if there is an incident involving an attack on a temple, it is generalised into the claim that Muslims destroyed temples everywhere and built mosques over them. Such narratives distort reality. We want to revisit history, not to glorify any community, but to restore truth and present historical facts accurately. This is the real objective of this conference.

It has been rightly mentioned that the history of Muslims in India is not a marginal story. Rather, it has played a central role in the making of this country. Muslims are not appendices to Indian history; they are co-authors of its civilisational journey.

They did not come as invaders like later colonial powers such as the British. Rather, they came as contributors and builders. They did not plunder the country or transfer its wealth elsewhere. Instead, they contributed to its growth and progress.

The discussions and exhibitions in this conference will demonstrate that the story of Muslims in India is a story of connections, economic, cultural, and intellectual. They connected India with the wider world and facilitated interaction among different communities within the country. This exchange enriched Indian civilisation and elevated it to new heights.

The theme of Oceanic Islam highlights how the Indian Ocean became not just a body of water but a highway of ideas, ethics, and coexistence through Muslim networks.

When we talk about history, we often focus on rulers, the chronology of battles, dynasties, and empires. However, real history is the history of society, the life of the common people. This social history is rich and meaningful.

Through this conference, you will learn how Muslims built institutions, advanced knowledge and sciences, developed arts and skills, and contributed to languages and literature. You will see how markets, ethics, traditions, and everyday life were shaped, and how these contributions made the country prosperous and culturally vibrant.

As highlighted earlier, Muslims connected India to a global knowledge network. While India had ancient traditions of philosophy and learning, these were once confined within the region. Through translation movements, intellectual exchanges, and synthesis of traditions during periods like the Abbasid era, Indian knowledge became global.

In the domain of economy and trade, India once (during Mughal period) contributed nearly 30% to global GDP, with a significant share in world industrial production. We will explore how such achievements were made possible.

Muslims also established inclusive markets where people of all castes and communities could participate equally. The emergence of languages like Urdu, through the fusion of Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian, symbolised cultural synthesis and intellectual exchange.

In governance and institutions, contributions included revenue systems, urban development, and infrastructure. Special sessions will also highlight women’s contributions and their empowerment within the framework of Islamic teachings.

While all these contributions are important, I believe the most significant contribution of Muslims to this country lies in the principles of Islam, especially the message of Tauheed, the belief in One God, which also brought the message of the unity of humanity.

This principle created a deep bond among people. Allama Iqbal described it beautifully as Wahdat Khaiz Quwwat, the unifying force of Islam. In a land of diverse cultures, customs, and communities, this principle fostered unity and a sense of shared identity.

This unity was not merely political but social and civilisational, bringing together different peoples into a cohesive whole. It played a vital role in shaping the historical unity of the Indian subcontinent.

In this context, I would like to recall the words of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from his historic address:

“We brought our treasure with us. This land was also full of treasures. We shared what we had, and it opened its treasures to us. We gave it the most precious gift it needed, the message of democracy and human equality.”

Respected elders and friends, this conference is not merely an academic exercise or a presentation of papers. It is the beginning of a movement, a movement to bring truth back into public discourse.

The truth must reach every heart. The veil of falsehood that has covered it must be lifted. Only then can we protect the unity, culture, and history of our country.

I call upon all of you, especially the students, to take up this responsibility, to carry this message of truth to every corner of the country.

This is the purpose of this conference, and I hope it marks the beginning of an important movement.

Thank you very much.”

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by India Tomorrow / April 12th, 2026