Darwaish
Legendary archeologist, historian and linguist, Dr. Ahmad Hasan Dani has passed away in Islamabad today at age 89; born on June 20, 1920.
Among Pakistan’s most noted authority on South Asian History and Archeology, Dr. Dani was author of several books and received national and international recognition for his remarkable work. He was under treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad where he died today.Dani has left behind his wife, three sons Dr Anis Ahmad Dani (World Bank), Navaid Ahmad Dani (PTV), Junaid Ahmad Dani (Action Aid), daughter Fauzia Iqbal Butt, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
An erudite writer of history and an evergreen tree of knowledge, Dr Ahmad Hasan Dani spent his entire life to establish a better world by providing his study of history, an attribute which made him an extraordinary scholar, at home and abroad.
Ahmad Hasan Dani was a key figure in setting up of several museums in Pakistan and his vast publications have set the pace for future course of action in this vital field in the country. Late Dr. Dani had been extensively engaged in excavation works on the pre-Indus Civilization site of Rehman Dheri. He also made a number of discoveries of Gandhara sites in Peshawar and Swat Valleys, and worked on Indo-Greek sites in Dir.
From 1985, he was involved in research focusing on the documentation of the rock carvings and inscriptions on ancient remains from the Neolithic age in the high mountain region of Northern Pakistan along with Harald Hauptmann of Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, University of Heidelberg. In 1990–91, he led the UNESCO international scientific teams for the Desert Route Expedition of the Silk Road in China and the Steppe Route Expedition of the Silk Road in the Soviet Union.
He was Emeritus Professor at the Quaid-e-Azam University and the director of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations. Throughout his career, Dani held various academic positions and international fellowships, apart from conducting archaeological excavations and research. As a prolific linguist, he spoke more than 14 local and international languages and dialects (French, Turkish, Persian, Bangla, Pushto, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Tamil, Punjabi, Sindhi, Seraiki, Broshiski and Karoshti – apart from English and Urdu).
He was also the recipient of various civil awards in Pakistan and abroad, some of which are:
Professor Dr. Ahmad Hasan Dani’s national and international Awards:
- 2000 Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Government of Pakistan
- 1998 Légion d’honneur, President of the French Republic
- 1997 Aristotle Silver Medal, UNESCO
- 1996 Order of the Merit, Government of Germany
- 1994 Knight Commander, Government of Italy
- 1992 Aizaz-e-Kamal, Government of Pakistan
- 1990 Palmes Academiques, Government of France
- 1986 Gold Medal, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
- 1969 Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Government of Pakistan
- 1944 Gold Medal, Banaras Hindu University (the first ever Muslim student there. He broke the 25-year-old record of achieving the highest mark in MA, becoming the first Muslim gold medalist in the University’s history)
i don’t know why but i see some resemblance in Gul Jee and Dani Sb. We have lost the both.
Both were extraordinary in their fields.
On loss of Dani sb why did Gul Jee came to my mind at once, i can’t explain but it is the fact.
If some one else feels some resamblance the please do let me know.
“My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives,” President Obama told Al Arabiya, an Arabic-language news channel based out of Dubai. (This interview was on the same day Mr. Dani passed away.
We need to have good role models for Pakistani youth, honor our heros and show the world that Pakistanis have and will continue to offer greater service to humanity.
~~1944 Gold Medal, Banaras Hindu University (the first ever Muslim student there. He broke the 25-year-old record of achieving the highest mark in MA, becoming the first Muslim gold medalist in the University
much to say about Dr. Dani “the encyclopedia of
This is indeed a great loss. He was an intellectual heavyweight but more than just being a major scholar he was a great communicator of his subject and listening to him talk even about archeaology would make you want to read up and study that subject more.
We actually have a number of scholars and intellectuals from Pakistan who have made great contributions: Abdus Salam, Saleemuzzaman Siddiqui, Raziuddin Siddiqi, Eqbal Ahmed, and many others. These should be the role models for young Pakistanis.
Ahmad Hasan Dani Sahab was one of a kind. Over the life I had read many of his books, articles and lectures. He was an authority on Pakistan history. In my humble attempts to write about Pakistan here at ATP I had often consulted his work. Surly many of us are indebted to this great scholar of Pakistan. May God bless his soul and give us wisdom to honour him in his death as well. I suggest to Adil & Owais to invite many wonderful contributors of ATP to write a series of articles on this great scholars. In his death we must celebrate his life.