ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: Islamabad Cultural Forum’s invitations to hold a discussion on renowned international scholar Edward Said and senior Pakistani journalist H.K. Burki seemed to have evoked questions about the commonality between the two.

The obvious connection was that both died in the last fortnight. The organizers, Dr Ishfaq Saleem Mirza and Prof Khawaja Masud, wanted to pay them a joint homage at the premises of Trust for Volunteers Organization on Friday. Said and Burki were ‘grandees’ in their own right, in their own area and in their own ways. And yet there was this latent query as to what bound them together.

Edward Said was an international celebrity in the line of distinguished scholars like Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn and the late Dr Eqbal Ahmad. He had authored, besides thousands of articles, at least 12 books, the most important being Orientalism. In comparison, Hamidullah Khan Burki, popularly known as H.K. Burki, definitely had a smaller canvass. But he was a heavy weight among his own class of journalists within Pakistan. But the truth was not in the comparison but in the tenacity with which both pursued their respective causes. Both were like separate instruments of a larger orchestra that created music on their respective scales. Their admirers, including Dr Inayatullah, Saeeda Hafeez, Ahmad Hassan Alvi, Afzal Khan, Mufti Jamiluddin Ahmed, Dr Abdul Hayee, Rauf Klasra and B.A. Malik, shed light on the relentless effort that the two made in their respective spheres, one internationally, the other locally.

Palestinian Consular (political) and deputy chief mission Adnan Kassim El-Kol also spoke on the occasion and paid homage to Edward Said for his services to the cause of Palestine.

It was not the usual eulogizing seminar where the departed ones are seen only in positive light. It had academic touch where the analysis seemed wholesome, an appropriate way to remember those who hated sycophancy all their lives.

Dr Inayatullah believed that there was this tendency to create myths about great men that sometimes led to distortions. Though many squirmed on their seats, he pointed out that Edward Said might have focussed too much on Palestine while ignoring equally bigger causes in other areas. He also questioned his objectivity and raised questions whether he was an original thinker. He went to the extent of accusing him of creating hatred among some groups, Israelis for instance. The analysis could have sparked off a roaring debate but Prof Mirza was quick to disallow questions.

While there was a general admiration for H.K. Burki, the context of his fondness for Gen Musharraf, which he expressed in his two articles, was discussed. As Afzal Khan and Ahmad Hassan Alvi pointed out there was no doubt in anybody’s mind that he actually believed that. Burki, disclosed Mr Khan, had actually refused an invitation from the General extended after the articles. His contention was that it was written in the spirit of intellectual honesty and not sycophancy.

Prof Khawaja Masud, known for his unstoppable articulation, confessed that he too remained in awe of Mr Burki. “There were just two people in my life before whom I never spoke a word — Faiz and Burki.”

Ahmad Hassan Alvi explained the affectionate personality of Burki beneath the thick veneer of strong headedness that he liked to exude so often. Ashraf Hashmi, who also had life long relations with Burki, endorsed Mr Alvi’s views about the charms of H.K.Burki.

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza started off with an introduction of Edward Said, who, in his words, remained consistent in his struggle despite Leukemia. “I am just a bit tired because of the Leukemia treatment, I keep on going. I shall not stop”, he was quoted as saying to journalist Robert Fisk.

Mirza pointed out that people generally ignored the fact that he was born in a Christian family. But he rose to become the champion of the cause of the Muslims, Islam and the Arabs “just because he thought it was just.” Even his detractors like Yasir Arafat were forced to acknowledge his greatness over his death.