ISLAMABAD (WNAM REPORT) The Allama Iqbal Council hosted a special event titled “Tribute to Iqbal” to mark birth anniversary of the Poet of the East, Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The event was graced by the Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, as the Chief Guest. Congratulating the Allama Iqbal Council, Minister Iqbal commended Council Chairman Zulfiqar Cheema for organizing a splendid ceremony and praised his efforts to educate the masses, especially the younger generation, about Iqbal’s universal poetry and the Philosophy of Khudi (Selfhood).
Minister Iqbal recalled that upon the special instructions of Quaid-e-Azam, the Iqbal Academy was established in the first budget of Pakistan with a fund of one hundred thousand rupees, despite extremely unfavorable circumstances, to promote Iqbal’s teachings . He assured the audience that the government would take special measures to further activate the Iqbal Academy and highlighted the Government of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to promote Iqbal’s teachings.
Mian Akram Farid, Senior Member of the Allama Iqbal Council and Chairman Central of the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, stated that if Pakistan’s economy is to be rescued from its challenges, “we must turn to Iqbal’s poetry, especially the Philosophy of Khudi.” He emphasized that decades ago, Iqbal had already guided the nation, stating that to achieve an honorable position among the nations of the world, and we must not only develop our economy through self-reliance but also unite with the Islamic world to gain freedom from Western usurious institutions like the World Bank and the IMF.
Dr. Reza Amiri, Ambassador of Iran, noted that Allama Iqbal’s love for Iran is well-known, with nearly one-third of his poetry written in Persian, underscoring the language’s importance and influence on his work. He mentioned Asrar-i-Khudi (The Secrets of the Self) and Ramuz-i-Bekhudi (The Mysteries of Selflessness) as key Persian works.
Dr. Irfan Naziroglu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, conveyed a special message stating that Iqbal’s affection for Türkiye stemmed from his devotion to Maulana Rumi, whom he referred to as Murshid-e-Rumi (The Spiritual Master Rumi). He highlighted that the essence of Rumi’s teachings is woven into Iqbal’s Sufi poetry, and the people of Türkiye still hold deep reverence for Iqbal. He specifically mentioned that Iqbal’s poem, Tulu-e-Islam (The Dawn of Islam), was inspired by the historical struggle of the Turks and their great leader, Mustafa Kemal Pasha.
Iqbal Hossain, Ambassador of Bangladesh, shared that Iqbal’s poetry is still widely read in Bangladesh, and his own parents, out of special reverence for Allama Iqbal, named him Iqbal. He expressed a desire to learn Urdu to better understand the nuances of Iqbal’s poetry.
Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University, and Dr. Humaira Shahbaz, an Iqbal Scholar, shed light on Iqbal’s Philosophy of Khudi and his revolutionary poetry.
Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema, Host of the event and Chairman of the Allama Iqbal Council, highlighted Iqbal’s personality, describing him as a great statesman of the Islamic world who, through his poetry, expressed the lost glory of the Muslim Ummah and deemed the unity of Muslim countries as a guarantee for their bright future. He urged the Federal Government to practically implement the national language in government offices and courts, and to conduct national competitive examinations in Urdu, enabling the majority of the nation’s youth to participate. He concluded by thanking the enthusiastic participants for making the event a success.
The event saw the participation of notable figures, including Zubair Hashmi, former DIG, members of the Allama Iqbal Council, Muhammad Ahmed (Former President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mahmood Ahmed Waraich (Former Vice President, Islamabad Chamber), Zamurd Khan (Patron-in-Chief, Pakistan Sweet Homes), and a large number of students from schools and colleges.
