LUMS: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) is proud to announce its campaign to create an Abdus Salam Chair at LUMS and encourages all to contribute to it generously to honour one of Pakistan’s greatest researchers and academics (you can donate here). Once funded, the Abdus Salam Chair will be a University-wide honour to be held by a Professor of international repute and distinction in any academic discipline who has already made major international contributions to his or her field of study.
The public launch of the fundraising campaign for the Abdus Salam Chair was announced by LUMS Vice Chancellor, Dr. Adil Najam, at the Annual Alumni and Donor Dinner 2012. In introducing the campaign the Vice Chancellor hoped that holding this Chair would be seen as a major achievement and distinction not only at LUMS but in Pakistan and internationally. In doing so, the University seeks to pay lasting tribute to Dr. Abdus Salam, an outstanding scientist and a great scholar who always believed in excellence.
LUMS is amongst the leading universities in South Asia, providing world-class educational opportunities to the talented students of Pakistan, in an environment of academic excellence, tolerance, research, diversity and freedom of thought. Currently, the Univeristy has more than 175 faculty spread in three Schools: the Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), the School of Humanities, Social Science and Law (SHSSL), and the School of Science and Engineering (SSE).
Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing campaign.
A previous article reported about the Abdus Salam Chair at LUMS:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012319story_19-3-2012_pg3_6
Ahmadis beware! This is a trap! What is the Guarantee that LUMS Administration will not bow down before the Anti Ahmadiyya Forces, when they come to know about this chair. In 1980 Dr Abdus Salam visited Pakistan and president of Pakistan honoured him with the Nishani Imtiaz/Pakistan. At that occasion the reaction of Anti Ahmadiyya Mullhas was worh seeing. The words of Maulana Zia ul Qasmi of Faisalabad in his Khuta Juma are still ringing in my ears. He shouted“ Hamm nay iss (Zia) say Islam Manga tha. Iss nay Hamain Abdus Salam Qadiayni day dia.“ Just imagen if Zia aur Musharaf jay say general Maulvion kay aagay Ghutnay Take dain tu yeh LUMS walay kia cheas hain.
It reminds me also of the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences at Govt. College University, Lahore. I have known about the school for some time. They have been functioning and producing good research and researchers for some years. About a year ago I read an article about ASSMS in a publication of the American Mathematical Society. The author, who had visited ASSMS, indicated that the school was experiencing some financial problems. So, I suggest that would be donors to the LUMS should keep ASSMS in mind as well.
The article I referred to above can be found at: http://www.ams.org/notices/201107/rtx110700938p.pdf
To learn more about the ASSMS, and/or to donate visit: http://www.sms.edu.pk.
With reference to Abdul Waheed Rana’s comment, yes given that: “Once funded, the Abdus Salam Chair will be a University-wide honour to be held by a Professor of international repute and distinction in any academic discipline who has already made major international contributions to his or her field of study.” they can give the chair to a very prejudiced mullah, because religion comes under “any academic discipline”. And, albeit with some arm twisting, Aamir Liaqat could fit the bill! But then why did we pour all the support for the creation of Pakistan, knowing that the Mullah was not going to change any time soon?
I would rather be positive and hope for the best. I believe Pakistan needs help a whole lot of it, in the field of education and if we can help we must. Professor Abdus Salam Marhoum knew the Pakistani mentality, right from the beginning, but did this knowledge stop him from helping out?