A New Documentary on Professor Abdus Salam
By Qaisar Abbas
A new documentary just released on Netflix “Salam: The Nobel Laureate” narrates the fascinating story of Dr Abdus Salam’s life and his many accomplishments. Meticulously juxtaposing Dr Salam’s experiences with political developments in Pakistan, the documentary offers a candid look at the personal and professional journey of this extraordinary person.
Directed and edited by Anand Kamalakar, the feature-length documentary opens with the Nobel award ceremony in Stockholm, where Salam receives his award in a traditional attire representing his culture. Then the documentary unfolds his life-long journey with the archived film footage and recent interviews of his co-workers, friends, family members, and prominent scientists. We see his wives, sons, known writer Tariq Ali and physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy, among others, commenting on his personal and professional growth.
The documentary also reveals the dissonance between his love for his homeland and his vigor for scientific inquiry. It might have been heartbreaking for a person to leave his country who once said, “I was born as Pakistani and will die as Pakistani.” Even though he settled down in England, he continued to assist budding scientists in Pakistan with scholarships and educational opportunities.
Another paradox, however, not explored in the documentary was his efforts to develop nuclear weapons and his commitment to peace. During his career in Pakistan, he did work for General Ayub Khan and Z. A. Bhutto to build a foundational nuclear infrastructure. As a Member of the Atomic Energy Commission, he helped in establishing this primary institution for nuclear research.
When Bhutto formed a group of scientists in 1972, Salam was actively involved in developing nuclear facilities. He even hired one of his bright students, Riazudin, to provide a scientific base for developing the atomic bomb.
As evident from his interviews and writings, he vehemently opposed using nuclear technology for war after he left Pakistan. We can say he was in favor of nuclear armaments in the early stages of his career, but he was mature enough to oppose their use for military purposes in the later phase of his life.
It was his dream to establish a world-class research center in Pakistan to train young scientists from developing countries, but somehow, he was not successful. He founded the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy in 1964, which became the Abdus Salam Center after he passed away. This institution provides training and research to hundreds of aspiring scientists from developing countries.
In the last phase of his life, he also tried to become Director General of UNESCO, but the Pakistan government opposed it. Probably because of these setbacks, his health deteriorated fast. After suffering from a rare disease, he passed away in 1996.
Produced by Umar Vandal and Zakir Thaver under the banner of Kailoola Production, this documentary has won several international awards, including the 1918 Best Documentary Festival Award in Montreal and other prestigious honors.
Apart from exploring different phases of his life, from a humble start in Jhang to the Cambridge University in London, the documentary does not shy away from discussing controversial issues related to his personal life, beliefs, and work.
(Dr Qaisar Abbas has worked for American universities as professor, assistant dean and director. Currently, he is a consultant on media strategies and South Asian affairs in Washington, DC. He has also worked for PTV as News Producer in Pakistan)
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