Our National heroes

Every nation cherishes; the outstanding efforts of its ‘national heroes’ those who lay down their lives for the noble cause of catering their country in some way or the other.

The history of Pakistan speaks volumes of its national heroes. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan is thought to be one of those Muslim leaders who took pains to get Muslims their due share in every sphere of life. With courage and vigilance, he succeeded in his mission of bringing Muslims, some Muslim scholars greatly criticized him due to his sympathies with the Englishmen; he rejected their criticism and continued working on his formula of improving the tarnished image of the Muslims. For this purpose, he stressed upon the importance of education and its positive effects in the foreseeable future. He urged Muslims to participate in educational activities rather than politics. He wrote several Urdu journals, books and magazines about the prevailing conditions of India and its implications on the Muslims. His ‘Two Nation Theory’ got popularity among Muslims of the subcontinent. Afterwards it became the basis of ‘Pakistan Movement’.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal is known as The Painter of Pakistan. He was a philosopher and poet. Through his poetry, he motivated the Muslims to fight for their right. He greatly loved Pakistani youth who took active part in the Pakistan Movement. He had the instinct of impressing others with his logical arguments. He supported Muslims rights to demand separate electorate. Basically, he had the legacy of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan – the Two Nation Theory. His views reflected the ideology of Pakistan although he wished to see Pakistan as an independent state. His dream could not be fulfilled, and he died before the establishment of Pakistan.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam is another prominent figure of Pakistan. He was noble prize winner of 1979 in ‘Theoretical Physics’. He held key posts in Pakistan during his life. He saw a member of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, a member of Scientific Commission of Pakistan and was Chief Scientific Adviser to the President from 1961 to 1974. He played a key role in the development of Pakistan’s Nuclear Program. He also established a society- ICTP- in Trieste where young physicists could spend their vacations doing research with their fellow peers and returning back home for the remaining academic year refreshed.