Outside Pakistan, the ‘real Left’ knows Eqbal Ahmad as one of the best political writers and intellectuals to come out of South Asia. He has been praised by the most prominent thinkers of the world like Edward Said, Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn. In Pakistan, he has largely been ignored, because his writings made both the ‘Desi Left’ and the ‘Right’ very uncomfortable.
“[Eqbal Ahmad] was a shining example of what a true internationalist should be…. Eqbal was at home in the history of all the world’s great civilizations. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of states past and present, and he knew that states had a rightful role to play. But he also knew that states existed to serve people-not the other way around-and he had little to do with governments, except as a thorn in their side. To friends, colleagues, and students, however, he gave unstintingly of himself and his time…. His example and his memory will inspire many to carry on his work.”
-Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
In Pakistan we have a disturbing tradition of distorting history to fit our specific worldview, biases, or for our vested interests. But we distort history at our own peril. Our innocent, simple people have been brainwashed into thinking that the slaveowners were saints. I cannot add, and should not add any more words of my own- here is Eqbal Ahmad in all his glory, speaking the truth like he always did.
