Let us start this piece with a history lesson:
Dr Abdus Salam was a Pakistani theoretical physicist. He was born on January 29, 1926 and he passed away on November 21, 1996. In 1979, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on the electroweak unification theory. This made him one of the most important physicists of the 21st century.
He was the first Pakistani, and the second from a Muslim country to win a Nobel Prize.
“I was born in the country town of Jhang, then part of British India, now Pakistan, in 1926. My father was a teacher and educational official in the Department of Education and my mother was a housewife. I had 6 brothers and 1 sister. My family was by no means rich.”
– Excerpt from Abdus Salam’s essay, ‘Science and Scientists in Developing Countries’
However, in 1953 anti-Ahmaddiya riots started in Pakistan. In several parts of Punjab, hundreds of Ahmadis were feared to be executed.
Dr. Abdus Salam also belonged to the same belief, and Pakistanis were ready (still are) to overlook everything else for that. He left the country in 1974 in protest over the enactment of a constitutional amendment that declared Ahmadis as non-Muslims, but in doing so did not sever links with the scientific community in Pakistan.
In 1980, soon after he had won his Nobel Prize, he was invited to Quaid-i-Azam University for a ceremony. But the programme had to be called off because the students affiliated to Jamaat-e-Islami called for agitation.
“The ceremony was organised to honour Dr Salam, and was to be held at QAU’s Department of Physics, which was founded by one of his former students, Dr Riazuddin. The situation grew extremely tense; I clearly remember, they were threatening that they would break Dr Salam’s legs if he dared enter the university campus; we had to call off the programme.”
– Pervez Hoodbhoy
The country as a collective refuses to acknowledge the genius – Dr Abdus Salam – for his work and for his contributions for Pakistan, purely because of his faith.
On November 21, it was Dr Abdus Salam’s 21st death anniversary and these Pakistanis commemorated him on Twitter
1. Ayesha pointed out how we have disowned him
Today marks the 21st death anniversary of a hero, disowned by his own homeland.The first Nobel prize winner of Pakistan. #AbdusSalam #SalamTujheSalam pic.twitter.com/ruzDqXl0tb
— Ayesha (@Ayeshaspeaksnow) November 21, 2017
2. Adil Najam shared his own column about Pakistan’s finest son
#AbdusSalam died 21 years ago today. A proud Pakistani. Pakistan’s finest son. Here is what I wrote on the Salam we never knew. (Do you know the story about his #pagri at the #Nobel ceremony?):https://t.co/HgALNXoNIN pic.twitter.com/yq3KMIPSwT
— Adil Najam عادل نجم (@AdilNajam) November 21, 2017
3. Mian Rashid pointed out how proud he is of Dr. Salam.
I'm proud of you Dr. #AbdusSalam .Everyone salute you. https://t.co/qZoYDogxGC
— Mian Rashid (@justpeace4peace) November 22, 2017
Today as we remember the Noble Laureate on his 21st death anniversary, the need of the hour is to realize that nations' advancement and progress are built upon the principles that are apolitical and areligious.#AbdusSalam #CriterionQuarterly #CQ pic.twitter.com/P7QbgB057N
— Criterion Quarterly (@CriterionQ) November 21, 2017
4. J.J pointed out how the whole world recognises him.
Today marks the 21st death anniversary of respectable Dr. Abdus Salam. Pakistan’s first Nobel Prize winner. His contributions in field of science being recognised by the whole world #PrideOfNation #AbdusSalam ?? pic.twitter.com/6HlhHbZ5mn
— J.J (@JazminJaed) November 21, 2017
5. Shoaib Bajwa shared a beautiful quote by him.
"Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity" – Abdus Salam #AbdusSalam
— Shoaib K Bajwa (@ShoaibKBajwa) November 21, 2017
6. Ahmed we agree with you, #SalamtujheSalam
I'm afraid there's a big confusion in the world between nuclear power and nuclear arms.#AbdusSalam #SalamTjheSalam
— Ahmad (@Dr_Ehmad) November 21, 2017
7. Aon Hussain pointed out how another anniversary is passing by without us paying a tribute to him
Once again the death anniversary of our national hero Dr. #AbdusSalam is passing by without any tribute, mention & appreciation from any politician, news channel & intellectuals. Doob maro sab ke sab!!
— Aon Hussain (@aonhussain) November 21, 2017
8. Faisal Yaqoon shared a rare video of Dr Saab with PTV
https://t.co/XVcnuMefBN
A rare interview of Dr. Abdus Salam on #PTV. #AbdusSalam #Pakistan— Faisal Yaqoob (@Faisal_Yaqoob_) November 20, 2017
9. Ahmed Siddiqui pointed out how we lost a gem.
Sorry #AbdusSalam that you were born in Pakistan and we disowned you. Gem which was lost.
— Ahmed Siddiqui (@ahmadtajwer) November 21, 2017
10. Mian Rashid had a message for him and he said that we all remember his hard work for Pakistan.
Dr. #AbdusSalam are the real hero of Pakistan.we remember you&your hard work for Pakistan.Every #pakistani salute you.
— Mian Rashid (@justpeace4peace) November 22, 2017
11. GCU remembered its alumnus on his death anniversary.
GCU remembers its alumnus Dr #AbdusSalam on his 21st death #Anniversaryhttps://t.co/oZMt7VFIGh
— Daily Times (@dailytimespak) November 22, 2017
12. Natasha pointed out how we need books and movies and shows to cover him.
#Hero #AbdusSalam we need books, movies, shows made on his life. So little is known and almost no resources available on his legacy. https://t.co/sL1jT46WjQ
— Natasha Javed (@natashajaved1) November 21, 2017
13. The Wire Urdu shared a picture of his birth place
Yes, they’re technically not Pakistani but since they remembered our hero, we think of them as an honorary Pakistani platform.
#PhotoFeature : The #Jhang of #AbdusSalam#NobelPrize #NobelLaureates #deathAnniversary #Pakistan
cc @svaradarajan @TheWireScience @OmairTAhmad @mazdaki @DanHusain @Razarumi https://t.co/tf6nQkXV65 pic.twitter.com/UpOmnW8PJU
— دی وائر اردو (@TheWireUrdu) November 21, 2017
Cover image via: dawn.com