Remembering Ahmad Saleem…Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri
Ahmad Saleem, a luminary in the realm of Urdu and Punjabi literature and poetry, left an indelible mark on Pakistans social and political landscape. He was a mentor to many of us.
I have not read all of his 175-plus publications, but whatever I could read is worth many degrees. His extensive body of work reflects great depth of insight that transcends mere academic pursuits. His influence extends across diverse facets of South Asias history, politics, and culture, making his contributions invaluable.
This image released on December 11, 2023, shows a luminary in the realm of Urdu and Punjabi literature and poetry Ahmad Saleem. LinkedIn/Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri
This image released on December 11, 2023, shows a luminary in the realm of Urdu and Punjabi literature and poetry Ahmad Saleem. LinkedIn/Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri
Those interested in learning about the evolution of Pakistans political culture cannot overlook Saleems seminal four-volume series, Pakistan ki Siasi Tareekh (Pakistans Political History). For a nuanced exploration of the factors leading to the tragic separation of East Pakistan, his work Land of Two Partitions serves as a poignant resource.
His book Rewriting History vividly narrates stories of friendship and how Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs risked their lives to save each others during Punjabs communal riots in 1947, offering a compelling alternative perspective on a critical juncture in the Subcontinents past. To understand the role of religious minorities in Pakistans trajectory, his work Pakistan and Religious Minorities is an illuminating read.
Saleems approach to biographies featuring personalities such as Iskandar Mirza, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Jam Saqi, Saif Khalid, Amrita Pritam, Masood Khadarpoosh, Habib Jalib, Karl Marx and others stands out for its unbiased portrayal. Rather than succumbing to binary perspectives, Saleem skilfully introduces shades of grey, providing a balanced and nuanced understanding of these figures.
The post-Zia era witnessed the ebb of leftist movements in Pakistan. Young Saleem, as a member of the Communist Party of Pakistans student wing, had first-hand experience of the evolution of leftist movements in Pakistan. He also had the insight into the fall of left politics in Pakistan.
Saleems publications including Roshan Khiali (Enlightenment), Jis Dhaj Se Koi Maqtal Ko Gaya (The Honour with which One Went to the Gallows), Tareekh Ka Aik Gumshuda Warq (The Lost Page of History) and others are essential to comprehend the rise and fall of left-wing politics in the country.
His political ideas were influenced by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He always took pride in being a disciple of Faiz and how he narrated his memories with him in a way that takes his readers to Faizs company. Beyond politics, Saleems exploration of Pakistans culture and arts, documenting the evolution of PTV, radio, and cinema, showcases his commitment to capturing the nations multifaceted identity.
Born in Gujrats village Miana Gondal in 1945, he grew up in Peshawar and started his professional life in Karachi. That multicultural exposure in his formative years embodied the spirit of a true Pakistani in him. That helped him break the taboos and stigmas attached to challenging the policies and practices that bred marginalization and exclusion in smaller provinces.
For doing this, he had to go to jail several times as a prisoner of conscience. However, his commitment to human rights and an inclusive society remained intact.
Noteworthy are the compilations of Saleems letters to and from luminaries like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Amrita Pritam, Rajinder Singh Bedi and others. These volumes serve as a window to the burning issues of their time, contrasting sharply with the impersonal nature of contemporary communication mediums such as WhatsApp and emails.
As a poet, Saleems verses resonate as the voice of the people. His courage is evident in addressing sensitive topics such as the forced conversions of girls and women who were kidnapped or separated from their families on both sides of the border after the communal riots of 1947.
Through his poems, he also showed solidarity with marginalized groups and advocated for labourers and farmers rights. His poetry reflects a commitment to social justice and a keen awareness of the challenges faced by various segments of society.
My first interaction with Ahmad Saleem was in 2001. At that time, he was the editor of Urdu and vernacular language publications at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). His unwavering belief in translating policy research into local languages underscored his commitment to making information accessible to a broader audience.
When I compile a list of my lifetime accomplishments, one of the most significant will be retaining him at the SDPI for almost two decades. He remained associated with the SDPI until he breathed his last. He started working at a very young age and stayed at the SDPI longer than any other organization in his career – spanning over six decades.
While at the SDPI, one of his initiatives was to recognize the lifetime achievements of writers and poets through the SDPIs lifetime achievement awards.
Saleems legacy extends beyond his literary contributions. At the SDPI, he was drawing a decent salary, and he used to spend all of it on buying second-hand and new books and magazines. At times, after purchasing books, he was left with no money to meet his daily needs.
Noting this, we started paying his salary in weekly instalments, but this did not make much difference as he started buying books on deferred payments, paying the seller as soon as he had any money in his pocket. He believed in disseminating knowledge and established a resource centre (comprising more than 30,000 books) that became a global hub for researchers studying South Asia.
I remember my first visit to his house in Islamabad. He was unwell, and I went to enquire about his health. It seemed I had entered a book warehouse in Urdu Bazar, Lahore. Everywhere, from floor to roof and on and around his bed, were piles of books and newspapers. He was lying in bed in the middle of those piles with his signature smile.
The washroom door was slightly open, and guess what? There were books piled up in his washroom, too. Out of curiosity, I intentionally went there, and it was the first and last time I saw the combination of a study room and a washroom. Only Ahmad Saleem could do it.
We used to believe that his books were his only love, but he proved us wrong. During the SDPIs financial crisis in 2008, he surrendered his gratuity and provident funds to help pay off the organizations liabilities. He also decided to work for the SDPI without salary and continued working under this arrangement for almost a year until the organizations financial situation improved. This demonstrated his strong commitment to the SDPIs mission.
His resilience against health challenges, including a liver transplant in 2013 and a battle with Parkinsons disease during the last two years, symbolizes the courage and fortitude that defined his life. Neither cancer nor Parkinsons disease could stop him from reading and writing. It was with Parkinsons that he compiled his memoir Meri Dharti Meray Log (My Land, My People) last year.
Ahmad Saleems passing on International Human Rights Day, (December 10 2023) marks the end of an era. While he may no longer be with us, his legacy will continue through his writings, his resource centre, and the countless lives he touched with his intellectual contributions. May his soul rest in peace.
Courtesy The News