Remembering Prof. Salam
By Prof. Munawar Shamim Khalid
National College
Jhang , Pakistan
On Nov. 21, thirteen years ago, Nobel Laureate Dr. Abdus Salam left this mundane world for the eternal hereafter. When he was alive someone asked Dr. Salam as to what appeared to him as the best work or monumental achievement of his life. He replied that he feels happy and most satisfied at the successful working of his brain-child, the institution he founded in 1964 at Trieste in Italy that earned fame, admirably served its purpose, and came to be known as the International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP).
One may recall the occasion of Dr. Salam's first death anniversary at the ICTP: a three-day memorial meeting/convention/seminar was held from Nov.21 to 23, 1997, at the conclusion of which a very moving and emotional resolution was passed with the approval of UN/UNESCO, Italian Government, and worldwide academies and science agencies. The resolution read:
"Let us celebrate the accomplishment of this extraordinary man and let us honor his memory by renaming the institution to which he devoted so much of his intelligence and energy as The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics. It is the right thing to do for both the man and the institution."
This research institution of excellence at Trieste is successfully performing its basic functions of promoting science and technology in the Third World countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. May God bless the departed soul. Ameen.
