by iFaqeer
Charaagh Hasan Hasrat once said:
allah allah fusooN naghma-e-ishq
saara aalam hai gosh bar aawaz
The news going around in Pakistani circles is the fact that one of our own is the one of the Convening Lead Authors for the IPCC team that shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. And of course, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change) team is chaired by another South Asian; Rajendra Pachauri.
Pakistani scientist in Nobel team -DAWN – National; October 14, 2007: WASHINGTON, Oct 13: Pakistani professor Adil Najam, now teaching at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, US, is amongst the team of scientists and experts in the Intergovernmental …
Over the years, I have come to know Dr. Najam rather well, and have learned from and been inspired by him. I’ve written about him quite a few times at my blog. For Example: here and especially here.
From a comment Dr. Najam posted on Pakistaniat.com:
Thank you to all for their kind wishes and congrats. I should add, however, that the Nobel was awarded to the work of the IPCC (a panel of eminent global climate change experts), so I am just one of the many experts on that Panel. I have served on the IPCC for some 8 years, the last many as a Convening Lead Author. So, yes, it does feel terrific to have one’s work and research celebrated by the Nobel Committee, but it really is an honor shared by many (including by Dr. Tariq Banuri who played a leading role in the IPCC’s evolution in the past).
Some links: Dawn, Boston Globe, Encyclopedia of the Earth, The Fletcher School.
In the idiom of South Asian sport, I want to say:
“Well played, Adil bhai; buhat aala, Adil bhai!”
Note: This post is a tribute from iFaqeer, Owais Mughal and many other friends. It is being produced here inspite of Adil’s objection. We would’ve kept quiet but our situation is now what Dagh Dehlvi had once said:
Dagh ki shaamat jo aai iztaraab-e-shauq meiN
hal-e-dil kam-bakht ne sab un ke muNh par rakh dia
So while we’ve taken this action of writing our ‘haal-e-dil’, we hope our readers will give Adil due credit for his research work in their comments below.
Very happy! It is that rare feel good moment on a Monday morning. A cliched statement that good things happen to good people but in the true philosophical sense I have “known” him through this blog to be a good person. Now I will walk to a nearby coffee chain and buy myself a cup of latte to celebrate.
Again, congratulations!
I want to point out that it’s a bit of a shame that very few Pakistanis seem to be aware of this news. I appreciate the quiet dignity with which Adil is receiving the honour, but it bothers me that newspapers, esp Pakistani ones, haven’t created much hullabaloo (have they?). I think at times like these, such news can go a long way in lifting our spirits as a people.
A very proud moment for Pakistan and a very proud moment for all us. Thank you Adil for bringing Pakistan in the news for a right a reason!
Congrats to Adil and his IPCC Team!!
Its great for Adil and great for Pakistan. Congratulations, and may there be many more Nobels for Pakistanis in the future.