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Iqbal’s birth anniversary today

Staff Report

LAHORE: Allama Iqbal’s 128th birth anniversary will be commemorated on Wednesday.

Government dignitaries will lay floral wreaths and pray at his mausoleum, and politicians and the public will also visit his grave. Special events will be arranged to highlight the poet’s life and his services to the nation, and the electronic media including Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television will broadcast special programmes.

Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He went to Government College Lahore and later received advanced degrees at Cambridge University, the University of London, and the University of Munich. While in London, he also studied law.

On his return to India he practiced law but was praised nationwide for his poetry. He had become a Muslim activist after his return, as indicated in a speech ‘Islam as a Social and Political Ideal’ at Aligarh in 1910.

He promoted ideals of brotherhood, justice and service among Muslims. ‘The Song of Eternity’ written in 1932 was his masterpiece. He died in Lahore on April 21, 1938.

Iqbal’s thought-provoking poetry has been an inspiration for many and he has been admired throughout the subcontinent. Even musical bands have used his poetry and received acclaim.

Intellectuals say his undying poetry has freshness and hope and a message for all, and his god-gifted ability to transform complex feelings into rhyming words and phrases is beyond that of a usual poet. He is known to be a man of great vision.

Iqbal emphasises the role of youth in Saqi Nama, saying the young are full of passion and new ideas, and outdated rituals should not stop them from exploring new horizons.

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