ABOUT THE TALK
The Two Nation Theory gave birth to Pakistan in 1947. Its authors were both Muslim and Hindu, each asserting that just one group of inhabitants is the rightful possessor of certain territories. Dr Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy will trace the theory’s pre-British origins, how colonialism consciously and unconsciously exacerbated divisions, Muslim and Hindu attempts for greater inclusivity, and the continuing attempts post 1971 by Pakistan to find its raison d’etre.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy, an awardee of UNESCO’s Kalinga Prize for the popularisation of science (2003), graduated from MIT with a PhD degree in nuclear physics (1978). Since 1988 he has headed Mashal Books in Lahore and leads a major translation effort to produce books in Urdu that promote modern thought, human rights, and emancipation of women. He is also the founder-director of the Eqbal Ahmad Centre for Public Education. In 2010 Dr Hoodbhoy received the Joseph A. Burton Award from the American Physical Society and the Jean Meyer Award from Tufts University. In 2011, he was included in the list of 100 most influential global thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine. During 2013-2017 he was a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Affairs. In 2019 he received the honorary doctor of law degree from the University of British Columbia. Dr Hoodbhoy’s best known book (1990) is titled Islam and Science – Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality, translated into 8 languages. His current book, Pakistan: Origins, Identity & Future (Routledge, 2023) has been widely reviewed. He is also a well-known commentator on Pakistani TV channels on political and social issues. As an activist against nuclear weapons in South Asia, he has written and spoken extensively for their abolition. His documentary films include, “Pakistan and India under the Nuclear Shadow” and “Crossing the Lines – Kashmir, Pakistan, India”.

ABOUT THE SERIES
This lecture series at Krea University, proposed by Professor Nirmala Rao, Vice Chancellor, Krea University, addresses current issues in world politics to promote local, national, and global engagement among the student body. Upcoming lecture themes include international humanitarian law, water and environmental security, challenges of climate change, war and forced migration, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), global governance and political thought. The lectures will be delivered by a diverse range of academics and practitioners, offering Krea students an invaluable opportunity to connect their academic studies to real-world issues and engage with leading experts. The series will be convened by Sherman Teichman, Emeritus Founding Director of The Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University (1984-2016).

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