December 14, 2004 edition
From the lines on his face and his long hair, he appears to have been born in the 1940s. Ziauddin Sardar can be considered as a baby boomer, an activist during the 1960s, and a Muslim thinker with particular views. Among his ideals is a model country, which has the elements of the revival of Islam—a country which espouses pluralism, justice, freedom of speech and thoughts. However, in practice, he explored Muslim countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, all of which he describes in his new autobiography, Desperately Seeking Paradise. As we review the book, we compare the travels of this intellectual with those of other literary figures.
From the lines on his face and his long hair, he appears to have been born in the 1940s. Ziauddin Sardar can be considered as a baby boomer, an activist during the 1960s, and a Muslim thinker with particular views. Among his ideals is a model country, which has the elements of the revival of Islam—a country which espouses pluralism, justice, freedom of speech and thoughts. However, in practice, he explored Muslim countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, all of which he describes in his new autobiography, Desperately Seeking Paradise. As we review the book, we compare the travels of this intellectual with those of other literary figures.
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October 19, 2004 edition
THEY worked in silence, jotting down without voice. Behind them, languages were threatened with extinction. Before them, limited capital and slim publication chance could abruptly dampen their enthusiasm. On remote islands, the writers of dictionaries were poking around for words. Tempo records a small part of their heroism. Many things certainly escape notice. But it's an all too important world very rarely visited.
THEY worked in silence, jotting down without voice. Behind them, languages were threatened with extinction. Before them, limited capital and slim publication chance could abruptly dampen their enthusiasm. On remote islands, the writers of dictionaries were poking around for words. Tempo records a small part of their heroism. Many things certainly escape notice. But it's an all too important world very rarely visited.