GCU seminar pays rich tributes to Dr Abdus Salam

LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) Tuesday organised a seminar to pay glowing tributes to Dr Abdus Salam, Nobel laureate and Old Ravian, for his contributions in the fields of Mathematics and Physics, and the role, he played, for development of science in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah proudly shared that GCU housed the original Noble Prize Certificate of Dr Abdus Salam, saying: “It was our most cherished possession to-date.”

He said it was remarkable how the Italian had owned Prof Salam and honoured him. International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Italy had preserved all his documents, awards, shields, souvenirs and his personal collection of books including his Hukka, etc. in a separate room called Salam Room in the library of the centre.

Talking about his love for Pakistan, the VC said that Prof Salam never accepted any other nationality despite offers. The VC also talked about his personal interactions with Salam, saying he was a very hardworking throughout his life.

Punjab University former vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran shed light on the academic achievements of Prof Salam and his interest in literature.

Dr Ghulam Murtaza, Professor Salam Chair, GCU, said the story of Prof Salam, a village boy from Jhang, inspired all the young people with the idea that wherever they might come from in the world, they too could make careers in science or indeed in any other profession at present dominated by the rich countries. He said Prof Salam’s achievements were not confined to the Nobel Prize and added Salam became a fellow of more than 30 academies/societies of the world and was awarded honorary doctorate by more than 40 universities across the globe.

He died on November 21, 1996 at the age of 70 in Oxford, England. His body was brought to Pakistan and is buried in Chenab Nagar where his parents and wife lay to rest. Dr Ghulam Murtaza, who was also taught by Dr Salam himself at the Imperial College London, also touched the humble upbringing, strong character and virtues of the great scientist.

Prof Amer Iqbal from Abdus Salam School paid tributes to Prof Salam by telling the participants about his electro-weak theory and its modern implications. He said scientific work of Salam was one of the great achievements of the 20th century and was regarded an important step towards ultimate unity of all forces in nature. Prof Dr Asghar Qadir spoke about Prof Salam’s work and significance of his work for contemporary physics.