There was a man who was born in a middle class family. He rose to excellence and became world famous. Human race owes him much due to his contributions. One of the brilliant minds of twentieth century, he brought to us not only national prides and honors but also made possible for thousands of other Pakistanis to earn respects and titles. 100s of people from Pakistan get their PhDs every year due to the efforts he made for them when he was alive. I am talking about Dr. Abdus Salam. Dr. Abdus Salam is the first and only Pakistani who is a Nobel laureate. He is also one of the founders of PAEC and contributed a lot in nuclear program of Pakistan. He also established many other programs, which have made possible for Pakistan earn many endeavors that could never be achieved otherwise. Abdus Salam International Centre forTheoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy, founded by Dr. Abdus Salam provides scholarships to hundreds of students from third world countries for their PhDs, every year. His most significant contribution is the Salam-Weinberg theory of weak forces that now made possible the discovery of Higgs Boson: the last missing link of theory of universe.
There is another man who rises from a similar background but without any significant contribution in any scientific field, happening to be a diploma holder and claims to invent a technology that can replace conventional fuels in vehicles. He is going to run them with water. Yes, the person is no other than “Engineer” Agha Waqar. He makes jokes on basic laws of Physics and Chemistry on a national TV and insults renowned Scientists when they call his claims false. He asks Dr. Attaur Rehman (Former Chairman HEC with 400+ scientific publications) that about his contributions? He tells Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy (An MIT Doctorate) that he does not know anything. He has no idea of what voltage is, what perpetual machines are, what is a Carnot cycle? Without of an iota of realization he blows away the laws of thermodynamics and electricity on a national TV.
Yet, Mr. Agha Waqar is a hero. He is a national pride and people vehemently defend him in preference to eminent scientists. Many popular scientists, bureaucrats and politicians endorse his invention. Prime Minister sends his representative to the man and he is told to be provided with funds (our taxes) to be wasted on his fraud. On national level, he is celebrated as a hero and every effort to expose his fraud is termed as a conspiracy theory.
On the other hand, the Nobel Laureate Dr. Abdus Salam is known to few people. Those who know him do not endorse his contributions because he belonged to a controversial minority sect. He was not provided with the funds to open a Physics Center in Pakistan because of political reasons. His tombstone is dishonored on a decision by a local judge. Those who call him hero are considered as agents of enemies with hidden agendas. No one celebrates his birthday or mourns on his anniversary. His community is being persecuted in the hands of fanatics and is bashed by his junior colleagues on TV channels and illiterate TV hosts.
The saddest part is that both of these people are from Pakistan but the behavior of our society towards both of them shows the paranoia this society has fallen in. If that would be continued, that day is not far when no more Abdus Salams would be produced. Already in the direction of stone age, no effort will be fruitful unless rationality prevails in this society and spade be called a spade. The insanity, denial and the dance of smiling big egos is at peak under the light of a red moon - a true lunacy.
1 comment:
Well written article.
Post a Comment