Qadian to pay tributes to Pak Nobel laureate

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 21

Ahmadiyya Muslims have welcomed Pakistan’s decision to acknowledge the contribution of their brethren, Prof Abdus Salam, who was awarded Nobel Prize in physics in 1979.

A three-day Jalsa Salana of the community starting from December 26 in Gurdaspur’s Qadian town will highlight Salam’s contribution so that youth of the community could take inspiration. Ahmadiyya Muslims from more than 50 countries are expected to participate.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had decided to rename the National Centre for Physics at Islamabad’s Quaid-e-Azam University to Professor Abdus Salam Centre for Physics.

Salam was the first Muslim to receive a Nobel Prize and Pakistan’s first Nobel Laureate. “Though it came late, it is a moment of pride for us. We hope they have learnt from their mistakes,” said Tariq Ahmad K, a spokesperson for Ahmadiyya Muslim Ja’amat India.

In 1891, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah by the command of God, started this spiritual event to promote inter-religious peace and harmony. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Jalsa.

“The objective of this 122nd Jalsa is to present pure, pristine and peaceful teachings of Islam. The objective is to develop love, affection and compassion among the creations of God, and promote brotherhood,” Tariq Ahmad K said.

At the three-day gathering, a special “World Religions Session” is conducted. Leaders and scholars of several religions present the beauty of their religions and express solution to world problems in the light of their religious teachings to promote peace and harmony in today’s turbulent times.