Tribute to a ‘living legend’

‘A tribute to Ahmed Salim: celebration of fifty years of writing’ launched.

Progressive nations and societies respect and celebrate their heroes when they are alive and Ahmad Salim is one such name which deserves this adulation.

This was said by Dr Abid Suleri during a talk and book exhibition titled “A tribute to Ahmad Salim: celebration of fifty years of writing” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Thursday.

Dr Suleri said SDPI is known because of Ahmad Salim and he has been admirer of him since long as a reader of his books as well as a colleague at SDPI. Salim is also a recipient of Presidential Pride of Performance Award by Government of Pakistan and Bangladesh’s highest civil award, Bangladesh Freedom Award.

Shafqat Kakakhel, former ambassador and advisor at SDPI, recalled his school days that he spent with Salim in Peshawar. Giving a detailed account, he said he was witness to Salim’s evolution of thought and intellectual process as even during school days he used to write in numerous literary magazines and newspapers such as Anjam and Bang-e-Haram.

“Salim has a masterly command over intellectual, economic, social, political, historical and literary subjects.” He added that Salim is a rebellion who has paid price for his rebellious intellectual work in the form of imprisonment, lashing, scarifies, and hardships but he has led a life full of courage and dignity.

Talking of archival contributions of the famous writer, Dr Tariq Rahman of Quaid-i-Azam University, described Salim as a person with complete dedication to research and publications. “He has worked not only with passion and dedication but with physical and moral courage, who stood against oppression and opposed military operations in East Pakistan and Balochistan,” he said.

He felicitated him for his extensive archives in Pakistan, build over a period of 50 years with collection of rare books from all around the world. “Building and maintaining an archive is a very difficult task that requires skills, time, resources, and passion for books. This was all done by him single-handedly,” he added.

Zafrullah Khan of Centre for Civic Education said Salim’s most important contribution is his work, especially for those deemed an intellectual minority.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2011.