Religion

Pendrench

(1,358 posts) Sat Oct 19, 2019, 11:45 AM Oct 2019

Abdus Salam Documentary (Netflix)

For those who have Netflix, you may enjoy this documentary:

Salam - The First ****** Nobel Laureate

"A member of the Ahmadiyya sub-sect of Islam, Salam was forbidden from identifying as a Muslim and eventually rejected by his State, but not his people."

Seems like a fascinating man. More information about Prof. Salam can be found here:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20191014-abdus-salam-the-muslim-science-genius-forgotten-by-history

Wishing all well and peace

Tim

4 replies

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Abdus Salam Documentary (Netflix) (Original Post) Pendrench Oct 2019 OP

I am curious as to how he arrived at his position against nuclear weapons. Jim__ Oct 2019 #1

In 1953 there were two Pakistans, West (now known as Pakistan) and East (now known as abqtommy Oct 2019 #2

Hi Jim___ thank you for your comment. Pendrench Oct 2019 #3

Reconciling faith and science. guillaumeb Oct 2019 #4

Jim__

(14,077 posts)

1. I am curious as to how he arrived at his position against nuclear weapons.

Reply to Pendrench (Original post)

Sat Oct 19, 2019, 03:28 PM

Oct 2019

The article is not clear on this:

After the riots in 1953, Salam decided to leave Pakistan. He returned to Cambridge for a few years, before moving to Imperial College, London, where he helped set up the theoretical physics department. Despite the rejection from his home country he had suffered, he did not let Pakistan go, continuing to be involved in the country’s most prominent scientific projects. In 1961 he established Pakistan’s space programme while during the early 1970s, Salam was, controversially, involved in Pakistan’s efforts to build a nuclear weapon. But after the Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto passed the law against the Ahmadiyya Muslims in 1974, Salam’s involvement with the country’s administration finally diminished. He went on to be outspoken against nuclear weapons.

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)

2. In 1953 there were two Pakistans, West (now known as Pakistan) and East (now known as

Reply to Jim__ (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 19, 2019, 04:54 PM

Oct 2019

Bangladesh. The reorganization was achieved in 1971 after a war involving India and the two Pakistans. The substance of the op indicates that we're dealing with Pakistan here so I would agree that clarity would be a good thing.

Pendrench

(1,358 posts)

3. Hi Jim___ thank you for your comment.

Reply to Jim__ (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 19, 2019, 10:21 PM

Oct 2019

I don't know if this will answer your question, but I found the following information here:

https://physicsworld.com/a/abdus-salam-back-in-the-spotlight/

From this article:

Still keen to give back to his country, however, Salam accepted a post as presidential science adviser in Pakistan. He also helped the country to develop a nuclear-weapon programme. Or did he? The film at this point turns murky, trapped in the politics of 1970s Pakistan. The government, it seems, wanted Salam for his scientific talents but didn’t want to admit it was relying on someone who was an Ahmadi. Later we see President Zia honouring Salam, yet we also hear Salam announcing we should get rid of nuclear weapons altogether. It’s a confusing picture that reminds me of Werner Heisenberg’s equally ambiguous involvement in Germany’s nuclear programme during the Second World War.

If I find more information, I will share it as well.

Thank you again!

Wishing you well and peace:

Tim

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

4. Reconciling faith and science.

Reply to Pendrench (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2019, 07:42 PM

Oct 2019

Easy to do if one recognizes the role of each.

Thank you for this information Tim.

Guill

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