Novo Theatre should be named after Al-Biruni

No doubt, the newly built "Novo Theatre" is paramount in its architectural design and aesthetic view. I am optimistic it would have all the excellent facilities to be a Modern Astronomical Centre in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, my intention is to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the very name of "Novo Theatre". Here I would like to take the opportunity to put forward a brief extract from the pages of history about Al-Biruni:

He was a versatile scholar and scientist who had equal access in Astronomy, Physics, Metaphysics, Mathematics, Geography and History. Born in the city of Kheva near Ural in 973 A.D., he was a contemporary of the well-known physician Ibn Sina. At an early age, the fame of his scholarship went around and when Sultan Mahmood Ghaznawi conquered his homeland, he took Al-Biruni along with him in his journeys to India several times and thus he had the opportunity to travel all over India during a period of 20 years. He learnt Hindu philosophy, mathematics, geography and religion from the Pundits to whom he taught Greek and Arabic, science and philosophy.

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On his return from India, Al-Biruni wrote his famous book Qanun-i Masoodi which he dedicated to Sultan Masood. The book discusses several theorems of astronomy, trigonometry, solar, lunar, and planetary motions and relative topics. In another well-known book al-Athar al-Baqia, he attempted to connect the ancient history of nations and their related geographical knowledge. In this book, he discussed the rotation of the earth and gave the correct values of latitudes and longitudes of various places. He also made considerable contribution to several aspects of physical and economic geography in this book.

His other scientific contributions include the accurate determination of the densities of 18 different stones. He also wrote the Kitab-al-Saidana, which is an extensive Materia Medica that combines the then prevailing Arabic knowledge on the subject with the Indian medicine. His book the Kitab-al-Jamahir deals with the properties of various precious stones. He gave a clear account of Hindu numerals, elaborating the principle of position.

He developed a method for trisection of angle and other problems which cannot be solved with a ruler and a compass alone. Al-Biruni discussed, centuries before, the question whether the earth rotates around its axis or not. He was the first to undertake experiments related to astronomical phenomena. His scientific methods, taken together with that of other Muslim scientists, such as Ibn al-Haitham, laid down the early foundation of modern science. He ascertained that as compared with the speed of sound the speed of light is immense. He explained the working of natural springs and artesian wells by the hydrostatic principle of communicating vessels. He had also knowledge in botany and observed that flowers have 3,4,5,6 or 18 petals, but never 7 or 9.

He wrote a number of books and treatises. Apart from Kitab-al-Hind (History and Geography of India), al-Qanun al-Masoodi (Astronomy, Trigonometry), al-Athar al-Baqia (Ancient History and Geography), Kitab al-Saidana (Materia Medica) and Kitab al-Jawahir (Precious Stones) as mentioned above, his book al-Tafhim-li-Awail Sina'at al-Tanjim gives a summary of mathematics and astronomy.

Al-Biruni has been considered as one of the greatest scientists of the east of all times. His enthusiasm for knowledge may be judged from his claim that the phrase Allah is Omniscient does not justify ignorance. He died in 1048 A.D. at the age of 75, after having spent 40 years in gathering knowledge and making his own original contributions to it.

Here it is important to note that to pay the utmost tribute to the hall-mark of all scientific creations of Al-Biruni, UNESCO did organise the Third Meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) which was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 29 September to 1 October 1997. This Meeting was preceded by the first Central Asian Regional Consultative Meeting of the "Memory of the World" Programme at which recommendations were agreed on priorities for regional documentary heritage resource development. Following the IAC meeting two treasures of Uzbekistan's documentary heritage, the Holy Koran Mushaf of Othman and the Collection of the Al-Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies, were inscribed on the "Memory of the World" Register.

Evidently all the said pages of history speak of Al-Biruni who made the supreme contributions to take the east to the height of its esteemed glory. Indeed his legacy gives us adequate and appropriate insights into the very task of designating the newly built "Novo Theatre".

To pay homage to the celebrities of our heritage, I would earnestly appeal to the authorities concerned to designate "Novo Theatre" as "Al-Biruni Novo Theatre". The suggestion is based not on religious but secular considerations. Al-Biruni was an astronomer-scientist and not a theologian.

I believe "Al-Biruni Novo Theatre" would be an appropriate name since here lies the absolute relevance of the scientific purpose of "Novo Theatre". Furthermore, it would be a unique paradigm of showing our national respect to a great celebrity of the east.