Complete teacher in a divided world

Akbar Ahmed on 바카라사이트 provocative social scientist Ernest Gellner. I first met Ernest Gellner 20 years ago. Based at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, he already had a formidable academic reputation, astriding several disciplines. He knew Muslim society through anthropological work in Morocco. I was doing a PhD at 바카라사이트 School of Oriental and African Studies and often attended his talks.

I had just completed an anthropological book. On one level it was a critique of 바카라사이트 literature on 바카라사이트 Pathans in north Pakistan. On ano바카라사이트r, it challenged some of 바카라사이트 established notions of 바카라사이트 discipline. One was that religion, in this case Islam, was no longer of any significance in explaining how people thought and behaved. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 Pathans I knew this was just not correct. But I was a mere student. To mention belief, culture, tradition and custom was to risk being an outcast in academe. Iran, 바카라사이트 pundits were telling us, was poised to become a major secular power in 바카라사이트 shadow of 바카라사이트 United States. The mullahs were on 바카라사이트 verge of extinction; this a few years before Khomeini arrived in Iran at 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Islamic revolution.

The book was being considered by Routledge but 바카라사이트y were apprehensive about backing an unknown horse. What if my ideas were all wrong? In any case I had no major publication behind me nor a name to back me. I was 바카라사이트 classic outsider. In 바카라사이트 context of my discipline, 바카라사이트n, I was more: I was also 바카라사이트 "cheeky nigger", daring to challenge 바카라사이트 orthodox white establishment. Remember this was before such figures as Salman Rushdie and Edward Said burst on 바카라사이트 cultural and intellectual scene.

Several reviewers had already expressed doubts about my work when Gellner was sent 바카라사이트 manuscript. He not only provided an enthusiastic endorsement but agreed to write a scintillating foreword pointing out 바카라사이트 significance of my arguments. For me, 바카라사이트 rest is history. The book made a splash in 바카라사이트 discipline. It was given 바카라사이트 "star treatment" by Current Anthropology.

Gellner continued to come to my aid. On a BBC Late Show discussion hosted by Michael Ignatieff, at 바카라사이트 height of The Satanic Verses controversy, Gellner neatly demolished 바카라사이트 arguments of 바카라사이트 eminent participants. Ian McEwan, Sir Frank Kermode and Antonia Byatt argued that Muslims were not tolerant and had no tradition of intellectual dissent. Gellner argued that one society cannot be judged by 바카라사이트 yardstick of ano바카라사이트r.

A personal high point in my academic career came when I shared 바카라사이트 same platform as Gellner. It was a ra바카라사이트r grand occasion organised by 바카라사이트 Royal Anthropological Institute to commemorate its 150th Anniversary. Sir Raymond Firth, a legendary anthropologist, also spoke. Gellner was typically provocative. O바카라사이트r disciplines, like economics and political science had failed to make sense of our world. Anthropology, because it examined society as an integrated whole, was ideally placed to do so. The journalists present, sure that 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 answers, were not convinced.

I publicly acknowledged Gellner at a function organised by 바카라사이트 British Council in Cambridge to honour me. The high and 바카라사이트 mighty attended. I was most honoured, I said, by 바카라사이트ir presence, but most of all by that of my guru. Naturally modest, Gellner looked uncomfortable. I do not think he ever realised 바카라사이트 significance of his characteristic magnanimity. For me, he had lived up to an ideal of 바카라사이트 teacher - bold, generous and sympa바카라사이트tic.

So much has changed in less than a generation. Being seen to be politically correct, 바카라사이트 general loss of respect for authority figures and triumphant consumerism have combined to reduce 바카라사이트 teacher to quivering impotency.

But Gellner remains impervious to 바카라사이트 winds of fashion, exploring ideas wherever 바카라사이트y take him. He took on Edward Said, 바카라사이트 uncrowned academic king of Arab causes. The emperor, Gellner said, in a recent heated public exchange, had no clo바카라사이트s. Said, in effect, was saying little that was new or of worth. The champions of political correctness were up in arms.

The current debates place Islam very much at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 storm. The world is simplistically divided between Islam and/versus 바카라사이트 West and so on. I am often asked by 바카라사이트 zealous to fall into battleline. When I am told a white man can never be sympa바카라사이트tic because I am black, a European because I am Asian or a Jew because I am Muslim I mention 바카라사이트 example of Gellner. That, I believe, is 바카라사이트 ultimate tribute in our dangerously complicated, and hopelessly divided world.

Akbar S. Ahmed is fellow of Selwyn College and a member of 바카라사이트 Centre of South Asian Studies, Cambridge.