Family of the Heart Seminar - September 10, 2004
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REVIEW ON DR. SALAM'S “Ideals And Realities” |
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By Subuhi Ansari, Hamilton, ON.
When I was asked to review “Ideals And Realities”, I was quite reluctant. I hesitated because I knew next to nothing
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| Subuhi Ansari | |
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about Abdus Salam and also because I have no background
in his area of expertise which is physics. In retrospect, I am glad that I
accepted the proposal to review his book. As I started reading “Ideals And
Realities”, I realized what a unique, extraordinary and valuable person Dr.
Abdus Salam was.
He
enriched not only the field of science but also the world in general. As befits
his name, he was a man of peace. His diagnosis and analysis regarding the ills
of this world, and his proposed solutions to remedy the poverty, backwardness,
and illiteracy were incisive and insightful. The world needs a man like him and
needs to listen to a man like him. It is humanity’s loss that his words are
not heeded.
Abdus
Salam was a man of integrity, peace, and as a devout Muslim understood the
meaning of “tawheed”. He believed in unity and oneness. He believed that
different aspects and disciplines of life were interconnected.
He
did not see any conflict or disparity between religious and scientific beliefs.
He actually regarded a scientist a mystic, as someone in awe of the mysteries of
Nature who aspired to understand and unlock those mysteries.
His
contribution to the world of science was immense as is borne by the fact that he
became a Nobel laureate. As he continued his work in physics, he did not ignore
the wider world of common people. He felt equal passion for science and the
plight of common citizen. He devoted equal energy to finding solutions to
problems in areas of science and the general world.
In
his book “Ideals And Realities”, he considered science important not only as
an intellectual pursuit to understand the mysteries of universe, but also as an
important instrument towards general progress. He bemoaned the fact that its
advancement was ignored in the developing countries. He held both the developing
nations and the developed nations responsible for this neglect. Science is the
parent of technology. Without strong scientific base, technological advance is
not possible. Under the colonial system, education in Liberal Arts was promoted
at the expense of education in Natural Sciences. Therefore, post- colonial
societies were forced to import technology from their former colonizers for
their manufacturing industry. When the manufactured goods were exported there
were always stiff tariff barriers. Because of these economic policies, the
backwardness and poverty were perpetuated in the developing nations. Using the
example of Pakistan, Abdus Salam points out that the “political tutelage was
interchanged for an economic tutelage.” To redress this, Abdus Salam suggests
investment in education in general and scientific education in particular. Only
through the advancement of scientific knowledge, the developing nations can hope
to become self-reliant. He also emphasizes the value of science towards building
national character because science engenders the qualities of “ thoroughness,
patience…above all, tolerance and respect for opinions other than one’s
own.”(p.226)
He
believes that the industrialized nations cannot continue to be unconcerned about
the developing nations. Bilateral and international cooperation are necessary in
the building up of literacy, infrastructure for science teaching as well as
research, building up of libraries, laboratories and indigenous scientific
communities. Only through such co-operation, does he believe that the “great
divide” between the rich and the poor nations can be closed.
Abdus
Salam began one of his essays, by quoting George Orwell:
“
…….whichever power controls equatorial Africa, or the Middle East or
Southern India or the Indonesian Archipelago disposes also of the bodies of
hundreds of millions of ill-paid and hardworking coolies, expended by their
conquerors like so much coal or oil in the race to turn out more armaments, to
capture more territory, to control more labor…”
Abdus
Salam wished that he could disagree with Orwell and I wish we could disagree too
but the same scenario continues in a slightly different but more deadly form.
He also regretted that the poverty and hunger would continue Despite the
fact that the world had enough resources to eliminate it for the whole human
race. He believed that the elimination of hunger and poverty is “… a moral
problem, and a collective world responsibility.”
According
to Prof. Jaswon, Abdus Salam was a man of three worlds “ the world of
theoretical physics, the world of international cooperation, and the world of
Islam”. As a Muslim, he followed the teachings of Islam and believed in the
principle of unity_______ “ the unity of Nature and the unity of Mankind”
(p.349) He was a realist and acknowledged the injustices and imbalances of this
world but as a moral and social leader, he believed in peace through justice.
Abdus
Salam was a firm believer in “man’s
moral state” and often quoted John Donne:
“
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a
part of the main;
…………………….Any
man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore
never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee”.
I
sincerely hope that a day will come when his words will be heeded and we will
see a better world:
A
world of unity and peace.
Subuhi
Ansari
September
10th 2004.
Having read some, and heard so much about Abdul Salam I feel one should
refrain
from giving him the title of Doctor or Professor, because certain personalities
like Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, Asad Ullah Khan Ghalib and the like
are so firmly entrenched in the annals of human achievement
that they have out grown the need for titles or pseudonyms. They have
also surpassed the man-made boundaries and confines of countries and
nationalities. They are now a treasure and an asset for all of humanity.
If
Pakistan shunned and ignored Abdul Salam it should be of no consequence, because
the loss is not Salam’s. It is an evidence of the myopia of the country
and its people in failing to benefit from the wisdom and knowledge of his
work. Their neglect could not hinder in making
Abdul Salam an International
citizen -- surely above the boundaries and restraints of a single Nation.
In
the introduction of
Dr. Parvez Hoodbhoy’s book—Islam and Science-- Abdul
Salam himself set the standards of judgement of any creative work.
For Hoodybhoy says of Salam that “
In his essay he made it perfectly explicit that the validity of a scientific
truth can be adjudicated only according to criteria internal to science and not
by appeal to religious, metaphysical or aesthetic considerations.” On
International standards his work speaks for itself, and in scientific circles it
is one of its milestones.
The
greatness of a person is not limited to the laurels he receives in the resounding of
applause and the noise of jubilation, but in
the impression he leaves on the minds and the intellect of fellow humans. This,
comes unaccompanied, and is unprompted by an outside source,
for its worth is felt by the sheer strength and weight of the idea
itself. The greatness of a man is also gauged by the effort he puts into
uncovering and then sharing the light of his inner self with society at large.
It is perhaps endowed in the very grain
and nature of his being. That this is the way of all great people is clearly
seen through the pages of history. Why do humans toil and labour to bring forth
their hidden talent and then
struggle to get it across to others? This perhaps, is question for the
philosophers. It is only pertinent
here to say that humanity is, from time to time, injected and infused to
continue to struggle and advance, through the example of people like Abdul Salam.
I
should not continue to take the time or the theme of the imminent speakers who
will certainly highlight the life and work of the great individual.
It
is felt that to get your participation and keep your interest alive we should
invite a few questions after each speaker has presented his paper. So please bear with patience during the narration and be
ready to probe after it.
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