Dr Rafiq Zikriya is one of the most well known and respected intellectuals, writers and specialists in Iqbaliyat in India. Author of a number of books on fiction, politics, sociology and Islamiyat, he has won the hearts of countless Indian millions, who love to read and enjoy Urdu literature and others who, despite apparent unfounded prejudice against him, are still interested in reading Allama Iqbal's poetry.
In the preface of the book under review, which is a translation of his English book, Iqbal, the Poet and the Politician (rendered into Urdu by Professor Abdus Sattar Dalvi) author Dr. Rafiq Zikriya has given out the reason that motivated him to write this book on Iqbal. He was appalled to witness unfounded prejudice against poet Iqbal, in general, and the Muslims of India, in particular, among the Hindus, especially those who owed allegiance to the political philosophy of Bharitya Janata Party - Hinduvata propounded by L.K. Advani, the President of BJP, which was manifest in his Rath Yatra (to Ayyodia).
Dr. Zikriya was particularly hurt by the speech delivered at the seminar by P.N. Huskar, former Chairman of Indian Planning Commission and former Principal Secretary to the slain Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Hindu speakers at the seminar, with the exception of a handful, pointed their accusing fingers at the respect shown by Indian Muslims to Allama Iqbal, his philosophy and Islamic poetry. Some went to the extent of casting doubts on the loyalties of Indian Muslims to the Indian Republic.
In the estimation of Dr. Zikriya time had come to project Iqbal's personality, philosophy and poetry, and his belief in Pan-Islamism, in their correct perspectives. He believes that Allama Iqbal was unnecessarily maligned for his belief in the two-nation theory, which according to a wrong notion among the Hindus, motivated the great poet to strive for the division of India on the basis of Hindu-Muslim populated areas.
Indian Sikh intellectual Khushwant Singh, who also believes that Iqbal was unjustifiably maligned in India for his political and religious beliefs has written a thought provoking introduction of Dr. Zikriya's book as a return compliment for the introduction Dr. Zikriya had earlier on contributed Khushwant Singh's book - translation into English of Iqbal's poetry.
In his introduction Khushwant Singh has fondly talked late Manzur Qadir, former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court and a former Foreign Minister of Pakistan during Ayub's regime, whose association provided him a motive and opportunity to study Iqbal's poetry and his political philosophy in greater depth. Later, says Khushwant Singh, Dr. Rafiqe Zikriya and his wife Fatima provided him inspiration to learn Urdu language in order to fully comprehend the meaning and import of Iqbal's works.
In an article published in the Hindustan Times, on May 29, 2004, which was a reproduction albeit in shorter and succinct manner of his introduction of Dr. Zikriya's book on Iqbal, Khushwant Singh stated;
He (Iqbal) died on April 21, 1938, more than nine years before Pakistan came into being. But he was the first Muslim of eminence to voice fears for the future of his community in a Hindu-dominated India. A majority of Muslims shared his fears and supported the demand for a State of their own, either within or outside the Indian federation.
"I don't blame them for feeling uncomfortable in the company of Indians striving for freedom from British rule. As things turned out after independence, their fears were justified. I do not care whether or not Iqbal wanted to separate Muslims from India...The debate on whether or not he was for Pakistan is today a futile academic exercise. He was a great poet and to me this is all that matters." "For reasons best known to them", Khushwant Singh went on to explain, "Indian Muslims are forever trying to dip up evidence to prove that Iqbal was opposed to the idea of a separate, sovereign, independent Muslim State......
In the preface to Dr. Zikriya ' book, Khushwant Singh has payed glowing tributes to the creative poetic ingenuity of Iqbal of whose poetry he became a votary with the passage of time and translated into English several poems, including Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa. He has urged Urdu readers in India and Pakistan to study Iqbal diligently and carefully and comprehend and enjoy the real import of his poetry.
Prof. Jagan Nath Azad, the doyen among Indian intellectuals and scholars, and a poet and a writer, has also contributed another introduction to the book under review, which is equally revealing and thought provoking.
Priced moderately and published by Book Home, 46 Mozang Road, Lahore, the book deserves to be added to the libraries of educational institutions, and also all public libraries in the country.
Name of the book: Iqbal, Shayar and Siaysatdan
Translation in Urdu of a book
by Dr. Rafiq Zikriya
Translater: Prof. Abdus Sattar Dalvi
Publisher: Book Home, Book Street, 46 Mozang Road, Lahore
Pages: 240
Price Hardbound: Rs. 220