The Erasure of History and the Path to Institutional Redemption

In the theatre of authoritarian politics, history is often treated not as an immutable record of the past, but as a malleable instrument of the present. For decades, a defining characteristic of dictatorial regimes—most visibly exemplified in Myanmar’s turbulent political trajectory—has been the systematic attempt to rewrite, re-control, and reshape historical narratives. The objective is always the same: to legitimise and consolidate contemporary holds on power.

Yet, as recent political discourse highlights, true history possesses a stubborn resilience. It cannot be dismantled like an old administrative building, pulled down like a bronze statue, or replaced like an outdated signboard. History lives dynamically within the populace; it is the sum of a society’s collective memory, its shared political scars, and the lived experiences quietly passed down from one generation to the next.

For an institution seeking redemption and the restoration of public trust, acknowledging this reality is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is the foundational step toward national reconciliation.

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