| SCIENCE, BEAUTY
AND DISARMAMENT Address of the Chief Guest, Prof. Dr.
Ashraf Iqbal
The President of the Khwarzimic Science Society, respected members,
scientists and engineers, my students of 96 Electrical, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my
pleasure to be here as Chief Guest. I am extremely thankful to the Khwarzimic Science
Society for providing me the opportunity to address this selected gathering of scientists,
engineers and above all my favourite students.
Yes, I shall be expressing my candid views about our conflicts, not
only the Indo-Pakistan conflict but other conflicts also, and the issue of disarmament,
not only nuclear disarmament, but disarmament in general. Last but not the least, I would
like to remind you about the dreams and the philosophy on the basis of which this country
was created.
The study of science and the underlying wonder and mystery –
which is always the driving force for scientific inquiry – always forced me to look
at the blue sky, the colourful clouds, the bold and the beautiful waves of the ocean. It
is just like the same as if I am in the 3rd grade in the old Muslim High
School, Multan erciting the following lines:
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
How I wonder what you are!
The study and appreciation of the heavenly bodies gives me the
feeling of how minute, lonely and helpless, I am in this vast universe; yet at the same
time I feel so important and unique as the probability of intelligent life on a remote
planet encircling a remote star, is so remote. I feel overwhelmed by the mysteries
of the universe and the huge forces of nature which are maintaining a delicate balance.
The study of science and the appreciation of beauty makes
me a tolerant person. This study and appreciation disarms me from hatred, from
jealousy and other animal instincts. Any person or Society working for the cause of
science will logically move towards disarmament, hence you see the Khwarzimic Science
Society and the need for disarmament.
A few words about the Indo-Pakistan conflict:
You see, I am not an expert on this subject but I am convinced that
the people of India and Pakistan have to go along way in order to overcome the historical
hatred and animosity that has existed between the countries for about 50 years. No third
party would have the time or the energy to come forward and create a miracle by solving
the issue of Kashmir which is the root cause of tension between the two countries.
I still remember an interesting incident (the year was most probably
1948) when the famous philosopher Bertrand Russel stopped at Karachi while going to New
Delhi. The political atmosphere of the two countries was highly charged because of the
continuing hostilities between the two countries and the flash point was Kashmir. The
issue had been recently raised at the UN and the press correspondents, both from India and
Pakistan, were eager to hear the views of one of the most distinguished philosophers who
lived at that time. Everyone was looking forward to an exciting sessions of questions and
answers during the press conference. Interestingly, the session ended within only a few
minutes and a single question was asked. The question was, "What do you think
about Kashmir?" The answer was equally abrupt and spontaneous, "I do
not think about Kashmir."
Let me also say something about the philosophy behind this country,
its culture, heritage, the dreams and aspirations of its forefathers and the perpetual
conflict taking place at the ideological level, the so-called battle of ideas.
This battle of ideas started in the minds of Mirza Ghalib,
Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan, Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam and recently Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Our ancestors
have realized it very early that if we want to progress then it is a must that instead in
living of the past and crying for the lost glory (like Naseem Hijazi), we should come
forward and move forward. I would not say much in this regard as most of you already know
of the progressive ideas of Dr. Allamma Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam who aspired for a
scientifically advanced nation, a tolerant and democratic society and above all a social
welfare system.
I just want to quote an interesting episode which happened more than
a hundred and fifty years ago and which shaped the philosophy and the future history of
this country.
Mirza Ghalib visited Calcutta in order to plead the case for the
restoration of his landed property before the East India Company in 1827. Calcutta in
those days was the biggest center of British controlled commerce and industry. Ghalib was
in poor financial shape yet he was an acute observer and was highly impressed by the new scientific
order. Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan at that time was still living in the past. He had just
finished editing the Ain-e-Akbari of Abul-Fazl. Sir sayyed Ahmad Khan sent a copy
of that book, a book on the past glory and requested Ghalib to write a foreword to it. In
response to that, Ghalib sent him a long poem I n which he expressed his dismay that a
wise man as Sayyed hsd wasted his time something that was obsolete. What actually
impressed Ghalib was the scientifically advanced culture of the west, the steam engine,
the wireless telegraphy, the huge sea liners, the development of various skills and above
all the democratic and constitutional system of the Government.
Ghalib advised Sir Sayyed:
Worship of the past is not a useful pastime.
It is perhaps because of this advice that we are here, that we have
the Khwarzimic Science Society. Unfortunately the battle of ideas still
continues in our minds as well as in our mindless assemblies.
October 10. 1998 |