ISLAMABAD: The 132nd birth anniversary of poet philosopher Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated on Monday across the country with national zeal, fervor and enthusiasm.
Various Cultural, educational and literary organizations organized different programmes across the country to mark the day in a befitting manner and pay homage to the great poet who envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent. The newspapers published special edition and electronic channels aired special programmes to highlight role and service of Dr Allama Iqbal for Muslims of sub continent and getting separate homeland.
The main event held at Mazar E Iqbal in Lahore where a change of guard ceremony was held in a befitting manner and a smartly turned Pak Navy contingent assumed duties.
Marching to the tunes played by the Pakistan Navy band, the Naval contingent took positions at the four corners of the mazar while simultaneously, Rangers were ceremoniously moved out by their Officer Incharge.
The ceremonial guard mounting followed by floral wreath laying at the mazar of Allama Iqbal by Commodore Syed Hasan Mustafa SI(M), Commander North, on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff, officers and men of the Pakistan Navy .
The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of senior civil officials, school children and general public who thronged the mazar to pay homage to the great philosopher and poet of the east on the eve of his birth anniversary.
Various literary, social and religious organisations also laid floral wreaths at the mazar while Iqbal Day functions were held at a number of places.
Iqbal Academy Pakistan organized Iqbal Day function at Aiwan e Iqbal Complex which was presided over by Dr Javed Iqbal. While Dr Israr Ahmad, Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik, Iftikhar Arif, Zaid Hamid and others addressed on the occasion.
Paying rich tribute to Allama Iqbal, speakers at seminar on ?Iqbal Concept of Welfare State? here said that Dr. Iqbal based his thoughts on the Holy Quran and promoted humanity in his interpretations.
They said he aroused the Muslim from disillusionment and reminded them about their future.
Speaking on the occasion, Kokub Khawja, a senior Lawyer said that the vision of Allama Iqbal and his thoughts were instrumental in awakening the Muslims from deep slumber which was coupled with the sustained efforts of Quaid Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that led to the birth of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
?In fact, Allama Iqbal taught courage to the Muslims of the present era, and called upon the Muslims to pursue the knowledge in accordance with the Islamic culture?, he said.
He termed Allama Iqbal the most versified with philosophical thoughts in Persian language.
Hamayun Iqbal Shami, a bureaucrat and philanthropist said on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the great poet that this is an apt opportunity for the World?s Muslims to realize the poet?s ideals and thoughts which are the glory and grandeur of the Islamic world.
?He neither promoted the Western image of Islam nor was in favour of Talibanization, rather he had painted the real picture of Islam through the concepts taken from the Holy Quran?, he said.
Dr. Sajid Khakwani, the educationist said that our educational system lacks the philosophy of Allama Iqbal regarding promotion of welfare state. ?Sorrowfully, our educational system does not have practical concept of life which is widely seen in the teaching of Allama Iqbal?.
He said that we should reorganize our system, particularly by taking help from Iqbalyat.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Seoul also celebrated birth anniversary of renowned poet, thinker and philosopher, Allama Iqbal.
The event was organized for the first time in South Korea in a befitting manner.
Prominent Korean scholars including Professor Min, Hee Sik of Gandhara Civilization, Professor Sung, Kwon Won of Korea Pakistan Friendship Association, Professor Lee, Seng IK and Professor Changnam Suh delivered the key note on the scholarly vision of literary giant, Allama Iqbal.
Allama Iqbal was born in Sialkot, the eldest of five siblings. Iqbal?s father Shaikh Nur Muhammad was a prosperous tailor, well known for his devotion to Islam, and the family raised their children with deep religious grounding.
Iqbal was educated initially by tutors in languages and writing, history, poetry and religion. His potential as a poet and writer was recognized by one of his tutors, Sayyid Mir Hassan.
He became proficient in several languages and the skill of writing prose and poetry, and graduated in 1892.
Following a custom, at the age of 15 Iqbal?s family arranged for him to be married to Karim Bibi, the daughter of an affluent Gujrati physician.
Iqbal entered the Government College in Lahore where he studied philosophy, English literature and Arabic and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating cum laude. He won a gold medal for topping his examination in philosophy.
While studying for his masters degree, Iqbal came under the wing of Sir Thomas Arnold, a scholar of Islam and modern philosophy at the college.
Arnold exposed the young man to Western culture and ideas, and served as a bridge for Iqbal between the ideas of East and West.
Iqbal was appointed to a readership in Arabic at the Oriental College in Lahore, and he published his first book in Urdu, The Science of Economics in 1903. In 1905 Iqbal published the patriotic song, Tarana e Hind (Song of India).
At Sir Thomas?s encouragement, Iqbal travelled to and spent many years studying in Europe. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College at Cambridge in 1907, while simultaneously studying law at Lincoln?s Inn, from where he qualified as a barrister in 1908.
In Europe, he started writing his poetry in Persian as well. Throughout his life, Iqbal would prefer writing in Persian as he believed it allowed him to fully express philosophical concepts, and it gave him a wider audience. It was while in England that he first participated in politics.
Following the formation of the All India Muslim League in 1906, Iqbal was elected to the executive committee of its British chapter in 1908. Together with two other politicians, Syed Hassan Bilgrami and Syed Ameer Ali, Iqbal sat on the subcommittee which drafted the constitution of the League.
Working under the supervision of Friedrich Hommel, Iqbal published a thesis titled: The Development of Metaphysics in Persia.
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