Contributed by Dr. M. Usman Butt
The Eqbal Ahmad Centre for Public Education (EACPE) seeks to foster the use of science and reason to understand nature and society and so better enable all citizens of Pakistan to participate fully in the political, social, economic, and cultural life of their society; to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities; to value human rights, democracy and the rule of law; to promote cultural and religious diversity; to raise awareness of global issues and the natural environment; and to advance the goals of international peace and justice.
EACPE is named to honour the life and work of distinguished Pakistani academic, activist, and public intellectual, Dr. Eqbal Ahmad.
“The EACPE record is very impressive, and hopeful — a rarity these days. About the webpage (design), I don’t have anything useful to say. Have little experience that’s relevant. To me personally, the range and choice of topics is appealing and impressive. I can’t think of any useful way to improve it.”
— Noam
(Received on 5th May, 2017. As a member of the EACPE board, Professor Noam Chomsky was asked to suggest how to improve our main page)
I stumbled on EACPE just by coincidence. I am overjoyed to find there are people not giving up on imparting with the power of logic rationality and reasoning contrasting with religious dogmas that I have struggled for decades with disappointments and making enemies with friends and family members. I am 82 years old, tired of bigotry of the so-called religious scholars, allamas and mullahs etc inflicting venomous attacks on people who differ with their preachings. I almost gave up on my struggles until I saw the light that I am not alone in this struggle. Education of the masses is what is needed in Pakistan to sway people away from the ignorance embroiled with religious fervour over-shadowing the real world of science of Medicine, Engineering and Astronomy. I feel alive again.
We also need to educate people about the nexsus of army and mullahs for their vested interests.Though it would take light years to do so.