Taj Haider

Taj Haider, SI (Urdu: تاج حيدر; born 8 March 1942) is a notable left-wing politician, nationalist,[1] playwright, mathematician, versatile scholar, and Marxist intellectual. He is one of the founding members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and has been the general-secretary of the PPP since 2010.

Taj Haider
Pakistan Senator from Sindh
In office
5 July 1995 – 8 August 2000
Preceded byKamaluddin Azfar
Succeeded byFarhatullah Babar
Personal details
Born
Taj Haider

(1942-03-08) 8 March 1942
Kotah, Rajasthan, British Indian Empire
(Present-day India.)
CitizenshipPakistan
NationalityPakistan
Political partyPakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
(1967–present)
Alma materKarachi University
OccupationPolitician, writer, playwright, mathematician
ProfessionProfessor of mathematics
CommitteesMember of Senate standing committee on Industries, Production, Energy, Education, Scientific and Technological Research
FieldsMathematics
InstitutionsUniversity of Karachi
DJ Science College
Pakistan Academy of Letters
Pakistan Mathematical Society
Pakistan Television (PTV)
Known forWork in political literature, mathematics, and atomic bomb program
Notable awardsPTV Awards (2006)
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (2012)

A mathematician and scientist by profession, Haider provided a vital leadership in the formative years of clandestine atomic bomb projects in the 1970s. He is also noted for his writing of political plays for the Pakistan Television (PTV) from 1979 to 1985.

Biography

Education

Taj Haider was born on 8 March 1942 in Kota, Rajasthan, British Indian Empire, to an educated and enlightened family; his family briefly migrated to Pakistan following the partition of India in 1947.[2] After graduating from a local high school, Haider ultimately enrolled in Karachi University in 1959.[3] He studied Mathematics at the Karachi University and graduated with a BSc (hons) in Mathematics in 1962.[2]

In 1965, he earned his MSc in mathematics from the same institution and opted for teaching mathematics at the local college, later moving to Karachi University.[4] During his career at the Karachi University, Haider's primary taught and focused on the ordinary differential equations and topics in multivariable calculus.[3]

PPP and political activism

During the attendance of 1967 socialist convention, Haider was one of the founding members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and committed himself as a vehement support of change left-oriented philosophy of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.[4] In the 1970s, he played a vital role in formulating the public policy concerning the atomic bomb projects.[5] On multiple occasions, he provided his expertise on taking moral stance on nuclear weapons initiatives at the diplomatic conventions.[6] On nuclear weapons development, Haider stated that "there was a need to aggressively project the peaceful intent of Pakistan's atomic bomb program."[7]

Haider disassociated himself with the politics but remain member of Pakistan Mathematical Society and shifted towards writing political dramas at the Pakistan Television (PTV) in 1979.[2] The PTV on-aired various political dramas written by Haider until 1985 when he renewed his association with PPP.[2] In 1990–2000, he contributed in PPP-initiated industrial projects such as the establishment of Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC), Hub Dam and various other social programmes.[5] In 2001, Haider returned to his literary activities after rejoining the PTV, and penned two political drama serials for the PTV which went aired-on in 2003.[8] In 2004, he returned to politics in opposition to President Pervez Musharraf over the issue of nuclear proliferation. He bitterly criticised the United States over the sanctions of KRL and one of the noted politician expressing the discontent against the US, along with Raza Rabbani in 2004.[9] About the nuclear proliferation case, Haider defended the case of Abdul Qadeer Khan in the public and condemned the Information minister, Rashid Ahmad's statement of acquitting former Prime minister Benazir Bhutto in the nuclear proliferation case.[9]

Ultimately, he called for a parliamentary inquiry over on that issues, and questioned about the involvement of President General Pervez Musharraf in the proliferation case.[9] In 2006, Haider was awarded PTV Awards for Best Playwright Serial award, which he received in a televised ceremony.[10][11]

In 2012, Haider was awarded with Sitara-e-Imtiaz for his services to nation's atomic bomb projects and his public policy efforts, which was conferred to him by the President Asif Zardari.[12] In 2013, he was appointed as the "media coordinator" for the provincial government of Sindh.[4] Pakistan Peoples Party leader and provincial secretary-general Taj Haider is likely to be elected unopposed to the Senate on the seat vacated by Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. The Senate election is scheduled for 5 June and the last date to submit nominations is 22 May, According to provincial election commissioner, if no other candidate submits nomination forms then Taj Haider will be elected unopposed.

Writing and philosophy

Haider extensively writes on nuclear policy issues, left-wing ideas, literary and political philosophy. His recent writings have included the support of social democracy in the country and power of balance in each state institutions.[13] On literary and political circles, he has written critic articles against the military dictatorship, specifically policies enforced by the conservative President General Zia-ul-Haq throughout the 1980s.[14]

Honors and awards
Selected articles
  • Haider, Taj. "CTBT Security Perspectives" Dawn Newspapers, 27 March 2000.
  • Haider, Taj. "Setting the PPP record straight", Express Tribune 2013.
  • Haider, Taj. "Why the PPP is boycotting the presidential election", 16 July 2013
Television plays

See also

References
  1. Saff (4 October 2013). "Taj Haider cautions Altaf over use of term 'Mohajir'". Pakistan Observer. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. Staff (1999). "Senator Taj Haider". Pakistan Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  3. Daily Pakistan. "Taj Haider". Daily Pakistan. Daily Pakistan. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  4. our correspondent (3 February 2011). "Taj Haider appointed Sindh govt's media coordinator". The News Internationale. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. Khan, Feroz Hassan (2012). "§15:The Dawn of a Nuclear Power". Eating Grass : The Making of the Pakistan Atom Bomb. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804776011.
  6. Khan, Feroz Hassan (2012). "§4:Never Again". Eating Grass : The Making of the Pakistan Atom Bomb. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804776011.
  7. "KARACHI: Leaders condemn US sanctions on Kahuta". Dawn news archives. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  8. PTV listings. "Pakistan Dramas written by Haider". PTV listings. PTV listings. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  9. Staff reporter (25 February 2004). "PPP blasts minister's statement". Dawn 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  10. Staff (17 July 2006). "Lifetime achievement award for Mehdi Hasan". Dawn, 17 July 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  11. Alavi, Omair (23 July 2006). "The 13th PTV Awards: A time to introspect". Dawn news, entertainment. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  12. From the Newspapers (14 August 2012). "Abida Parveen, Aleem Dar among winners Posthumous awards for Manto, Mehdi Hassan". Dawn news, From the Newspapers. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  13. Haider, Taj (19 January 2013). "Setting the PPP record straight". The Express Tribune, 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  14. Haider, Taj (26 August 2012). "Black out revisited". Express Tribune, 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  15. News Front Desk (15 August 2012). "Independence Day: President announces 192 civilian awards". Awaz Television. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  16. Erum Alee. "Step by step". November 23, 2003. Dawn news area studies. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
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