Excellence Breeds Excellence

At the beginning of the year, Professor Haroon Ahmed, Professor Emeritus of Microelectronics at Cambridge University and Master of the Corpus Christi College, UK, examined the factors that led to the ascent of Cambridge to be a great university in his discourse titled ‘Newton to DNA -800 years of a great university: Are there lessons for today's universities?’ The eminent speaker stated that a university cannot be impervious to changes in the social and economic conditions of its constituency. He illustrated with examples how the stimulus from a benefactor can enable a centre of learning to contribute to national and global development.

He emphasised the importance of an environment of inspiration and said that a great university is great because of its alumni. "Excellence breeds excellence and once one has a core of achievement in a university, the rest will follow, provided an environment is maintained that is conducive to scholarship and learning."

Read more on Prof Haroon Ahmed’s lecture

Under One Umbrella – The Commonwealth Perspective

In February, His Excellency Right Honourable Donald C. McKinnon, the Secretary-General of the Common wealth addressed the audience. He explored how the Commonwealth, a global organization of 53 member states, straddling every continent, religion, ethnic group and level of economic development, helps to shape the agenda of the international community. He said that alienation, marginalisation and exclusion were phenomena that had many roots including religion, language and culture. But, he added, so were poverty, illiteracy, environmental degradation and perceived political injustice.

"So we all have to work harder to ensure that people in any society, wherever they live, are not made to feel that they are outsiders, that they are marginalised, that they don't have equality of opportunity, that they must simply give up in despair on their children's future."

Read more on His Excellency Right Honourable Donald C. McKinnon’s speech

Beyond the Veil

In March, eminent art educator, Salima Hashmi captivated audiences with her discourse on the contribution of women in contemporary art. Salima presented a social study regarding women's place in modern history and its reflection in the works of art created by women. Her discussion of the changes in the art vocabulary of women highlighted the relation between the stimuli provided by the socio political environment of the 80's and the way women artistes chose to react. She elaborated upon how the imposition of the chaadar or the veil altered the course of expression for many women artistes in different genres. "Responding to the flaunting of this official symbol of 'protection', women artists, poets and writers focused instead on this piece of fabric as a symbol of their disenfranchisement. The chaadar's physical, religious, spiritual and mythical aspects stimulated a range of visual and literary responses." Past speakers at the Special Lecture Series have included H.R.H. Prince Hasan of Jordan; Professor Stanley Wolpert, author of 'Jinnah of Pakistan', Ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Sahabzada Yaqub Khan and acclaimed artist Gulgee.

Read more on Salima Hashmi’s lecture