Latest news with #SumeraNaqvi
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'The Future of Civilisation' launched at ACP
Intellectuals, writers, and admirers gathered at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Sunday to celebrate the launch of "The Future of Civilisation: Exploring the Profound Impact of the Role of Sacrifice in Building a Noble and Humanitarian Society," the English translation of Syed Muhammad Taqi's seminal 1980 Urdu work "Karbala: Tehzeeb Ka Mustaqbil." The event brought together a panel of academics and thinkers to reflect on the book's philosophical themes - moral collapse, the crisis of modernity, and the civilisational power of sacrifice. Translated by journalist and writer Sumera Naqvi, Taqi's granddaughter, the book reintroduces to a global readership the late scholar's exploration of how modern civilisation's moral drift can be confronted through an ethical re-engagement with historical legacies — especially the enduring symbolism of Karbala. "The modern age is faced with a serious societal crisis and conflicting intellectual approaches," Taqi writes. "Thinkers seeking solutions will encounter great challenges The key to solving this problem can be found in humanity's vast cultural heritage." Held at Auditorium 2 of the ACP, the evening featured prominent voices from diverse fields. Dr Azra Raza, acclaimed oncologist and literary scholar at Columbia University, appeared via video link, describing the book as "philosophically rich and beautifully written." She praised Naqvi's translation as a rare literary achievement, stating, "Translation is a mysterious act Sumera Naqvi has remained faithful to tone and intention." Wasif Rizvi, president of Habib University, offered a trenchant critique of modern epistemology. "Epistemic hegemony, rooted in logical positivism, has created binaries in us," he said. "This may be the most non-philosophical age in human history." Dr Nomanul Haq, a literary historian and editor at Oxford University Press, lauded Naqvi's ability to convey her grandfather's complex prose into accessible English. He endorsed Taqi's central argument, stressing the urgency of universalising the moral weight of Karbala beyond sectarian confines. Veteran educationist Abbas Husain, reflecting on his personal encounters with Taqi, recalled, "His Urdu vocabulary could be overwhelming, but his philosophical insight was unparalleled. He set a standard for intellectual discourse." Renowned poet and scholar Iftikhar Arif delivered a particularly memorable address. He noted the precision and fidelity with which the translation had captured Taqi's intellectual rigor. "The language and diction in his discourse, public or private, were consistently elevated," he said. "Sumera Naqvi must be congratulated for masterfully translating a demanding text." The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Sumera Naqvi, who stressed the book's relevance in a world increasingly detached from humanitarian values. The Future of Civilisation is now available in bookstores and online, offering readers a timely meditation on the intersection of sacrifice, ethics, and the civilisational crisis of our age.
Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Science
- Business Recorder
BOOK REVIEW: Breathing new life into Taqi's seminal work
The English translation of The Future of Civilization, originally penned in 1980 by distinguished scholar Syed Mohammad Taqi, is a remarkable literary achievement— masterfully rendered by his granddaughter, Sumera Naqvi. Over the course of three dedicated years, Sumera Naqvi has breathed new life into this profound work, making it accessible to a global audience while preserving the original script's intellectual rigor and poetic depth. Syed Mohammad Taqi himself was a prolific translator, having brought numerous seminal works of philosophy, economics, and science into Urdu. In addition to Das Kapital by Karl Marx, John Dewey's Democracy and Education, Alfred North Whitehead's The Aims of Education, and Sir James Jeans' The Mysterious Universe, he translated several other important works to enrich Urdu literature and academic discourse. His commitment to bridging cultural and linguistic divides is now beautifully reciprocated through Sumera Naqvi's meticulous translation of his own magnum opus. What sets this translation apart is its seamless flow and natural cadence—so much so that readers unfamiliar with the book's history would scarcely realize it is a translation. Sumera Naqvi's command over English, combined with her deep understanding of her grandfather's vision and philosophy, ensures that the text resonates as though originally composed in English. The clarity of expression, the elegance of prose, and the faithful conveyance of complex ideas all testify to her exceptional skill. I am sure that cultural differences played a significant role in shaping the translation process for Sumera Naqvi, presenting both challenges and opportunities as she worked to translate The Future of Civilization from Urdu into English. The original text is deeply embedded in South Asian cultural, religious, and historical contexts, which may be unfamiliar to many English-speaking readers. Sumera Naqvi had to carefully interpret and convey these references in a way that preserved their meaning without alienating readers unfamiliar with the cultural background. This often required adding subtle explanations or choosing equivalent concepts that resonate across cultures. Urdu, with its rich poetic tradition, contains idioms, metaphors, and expressions that do not have direct equivalents in English. She needed to find creative ways to translate these phrases so that the emotional and aesthetic impact remained intact, while ensuring clarity and natural flow in English. The book discusses Islamic civilization, philosophy, and religious symbolism extensively. Translating these ideas demanded sensitivity to avoid misinterpretation or oversimplification, especially since certain concepts carry layered meanings within the original cultural and religious framework. She had to balance fidelity to the source with accessibility for a diverse, potentially secular readership. The tone and rhetorical style of Urdu academic and philosophical writing can differ significantly from English conventions. Sumera Naqvi had to adapt the prose to meet the expectations of English-speaking readers while retaining the author's authoritative and reflective voice, ensuring the text felt both authentic and approachable. One of the key themes of the book is the universality of civilizational dialogue and shared human values. Her translation had to maintain the cultural specificity of the original work while highlighting its universal messages—striking a delicate balance between honouring the unique cultural identity of the source and making the ideas globally relevant. The translation not only preserves the intellectual essence of the original but also captures its emotional and cultural nuances. This delicate balance allows readers to fully engage with Syed Mohammad Taqi's timeless reflections on civilization, culture, and dialogue without the barriers often posed by translated texts. This translation is a testament to both the enduring relevance of Syed Mohammad Taqi's work and the remarkable talent of Sumera Naqvi as a translator. It stands as a bridge between generations, languages, and cultures—inviting a wider audience to partake in a vital conversation about the future of humanity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
