‘Nuclear capability a symbol of pride for the Pakistani nation’
PAKISTANIS around the globe proudly celebrate the Youm-e-Takbeer (The Day of Greatness) on May 28 to commemorate the day when their country became a member of global nuclear club in 1998.
It may come as a surprise to many Pakistanis living in Qatar that the name Youme-Takbeer was coined by their compatriot, M Sajid Mansoor, who is currently serving as Principal of Bright Future International School (BFIS). He received the award from the then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif.
Asked how he coined the name Youm-e-Takbeer, Mansoor said, “After the successful nuclear tests in 1998, the Pakistani government decided to commemorate May 28 every year. A country-wide campaign was launched through the electronic and print media to give the most appropriate name to this day. The government received thousands of different names sent by a large number of Pakistanis. A highlevel committee comprising eminent intellectuals shortlisted five names, out of which the then prime minister of Pakistan finally selected one, the ‘Youm-e-Takbeer’. The same name was suggested by more than one individuals. I am one of those lucky ones. I received an award from the then prime minister of Pakistan.”
Mansoor, who joined the BFIS as its principal in April 2019, says that attaining nuclear capability is a symbol of pride for the Pakistani nation and the government took a wise decision to go nuclear. The historic decision made Pakistan the seventh declared nuclear power in the world and the first nuclear power of the Islamic world.
“Practical global politics in the contemporary era is actually the realpolitik,” he said, adding: “Unfortunately, the most hated maxim ‘might is right’ is the order of the day. Survival of the fittest is the bitter reality, which all countries understand well. Military might in the form of nuclear capability and vibrant economics are the leading tools in the ongoing power politics scenario.”
Mansoor, who is a research scholar and possesses rich teaching and administrative experience, is from Faisalabad, the third largest city in Pakistan. After receiving an M.Phil degree from Islamabad, he got his professional qualifications from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and British Council.
He played a long innings -- spanning over a decade -as the principal of Pakistan Army’s top colleges including Army Public College at Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and Army Public College at Murree. He also worked as a master trainer at Army Public Schools and Colleges System (APSACS) Secretariat. He served as the Network Head (Deputy Director) in the City School Network, Pakistan.