KARACHI: This is with reference to Ejaz Haider’s article “The Pervez Hoodbhoy-Lums dispute” (October 31). I believe Mr Haider’s article is quite a balanced one. The real issue, which he did not take up right in the beginning of his article, for reasons of courtesy of course, but which he mentioned in the last paragraph of his article, appears to be behind the ‘flare-up’.
Having no personal knowledge of Professor Hoodbhoy’s capabilities, I would accept what is generally stated about him: that he is an accomplished professional in his field but apparently even this high rating does not satisfy him because he holds himself in a much higher regard, way above what others, taking a realistic view of things, would allow for him.
I once saw Professor Hoodbhoy on television, fighting as an equal with the person who came up with the idea of a water-run car. Professor Hoodbhoy was furious and was calling him names, asking for him to be sent to prison. I would think that a really capable, knowledgeable and confident professional would just have laughed it off instead of participating in such a programme, fuming and raising his own blood pressure over an issue, which he had solid reasons to believe was nothing but a farce.
Professor Hoodbhoy’s decision to fight out the decision taken by Lums in public brings his conduct into question and is nowhere near that expected from academics and intellectuals.
SRH Hashmi
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2012.
