(I)
Dr Abdus Salam (1926-1996) was the first and so far only Pakistani to receive a Nobel Prize in 1979. That he was an Ahmadi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the beards guarding the ever-expanding 'ideological frontiers' gave Dr Salam a treatment an Ahmedi rightfully deserves, Noble prizes notwithstanding.
'All Things Pakistan', a liberal site dedicated to 'Pakistan, Pakistani, Pakistaniat', narrates: "When Dr Salam died in 1996 he had to be buried in Pakistan because he refused to give up his Pakistani nationality and acquire another that respected him more. But the Pakistani state was afraid of touching his dead body. He was therefore buried in Rabwa, the home town of his Ahmedi community whose name is also unacceptable to us and has been changed to Chenab Nagar by a state proclamation. But that was not the end of the story. After he was buried, the pious, law-abiding and constitution-loving people of Jhang, which is nearby, went over to Chenab Nagar to see if all had been done according to the constitutional provisions regarding the Ahmedi community to which he belonged. And what did the constitution say? It said that the Ahmedis are not Muslims, that they may not call themselves Muslims, nor say the kalima or use any of the symbols of Islam. The original amendments to the constitution were passed by Z A Bhutto, a 'liberal socialist-democrat', and subsequent tightening of the law was done by the great patriot General Zia-ul Haq. Thus both the civilians and the khakis had connived in the great betrayal of Dr Salam.After the great scientist was buried in Chenab Nagar, his tombstone said "Abdus Salam the First Muslim Nobel Laureate". Needless to say, the police arrived with a magistrate and rubbed off the Muslim part of the katba . Now the tombstone says: Abdus Salam the First Nobel Laureate. The magistrate remained unfazed by what he had done but Dr Salam's grave is actually the tombstone of a Muslim culture..........
(II)
A translation often takes the sting out of original text. For Viewpoint's bilingual readers , second part of the tale (a news story ran by a mainstream vernacular) is narrated here in Urdu and translated into English for readers unable to read Urdu. Here goes the story:
Here is the translation:
Rawind (online): Ashraf Bhullar, belonging to the village "Taro Gul" died in the attack on Model Town's Ahmadiyya Place of Worship. The ullema advised hundreds of those who attended his funeral to become Muslims once again and renew their marriage contracts. After this advice all of them recited the Kalima (there is no God but Allah and Mohamad is His prophet) and thus kept on becoming Muslims and, after having invalidating their marriage contracts (because they had attended Bhullar's funeral), validated their marriage contracts.
On the great demand of the people, the Khateeb of the mosque Maulvi Nayyamat, offered the funeral prayers of Ashraf Bhullar. Whereas, later the Qadiyyani Maulvi offered the funeral prayers, for the second time later.There were many elderly men who got their marriage contract revalidated.
Moral Lesson: None (we do not draw any lessons, moral or otherwise, as we have all encompassing 'received wisdom').
A tale of (only) two absurdities
Source: Viewpoint
