The nation is celebrating the 132nd birth anniversary of poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal on Monday with a resolve to transform the country in accordance with vision of the poet of the East. The daylong programmes will start with offering of special prayers for the solidarity, unity and prosperity of the country and for the early liberation of occupied Kashmir.
Fateha and Quran Khawani will be held at mosques and at Mazar of Allama Iqbal. People will visit the Mazar-e-Iqbal to pay their homage to the poet of the East. Dignitaries will also place floral wreaths and pray at his mausoleum.
Different social, cultural, educational and literary organisations will hold programmes and activities to mark the day and pay tributes to the man who envisioned a separate homeland for Muslims of India, which led to creation of Pakistan. The government has already declared the day as public holiday and all the government offices and educational institutions will remain closed. National flag will be hoisted atop all important public buildings with mounting of ceremonial guards at Mazar-e-Iqbal followed by laying of floral wreath.
In Sialkot a special function will be held at Iqbal Manzil (the birthplace of Allama Iqbal) to commemorate the occasion. A special ceremony will be held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore where change of guard will take place.
Markazia Majlis-e-Iqbal organised the main Iqbal Day function in Lahore at Aiwan-e-Iqbal. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Javed Iqbal, Orya Maqbool Jan, Arif Nizami, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami and others will address. The speakers will pay homage to the venerated poet of the East by recalling his great thoughts and wisdom.
Allama Iqbal, who originally belonged to the Himalayan State of Jammu and Kashmir, 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 practised law but was praised nation-wide 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.
According to critics, Allama Iqbal 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.
Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that we should resolve on the birth anniversary of the Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal that we will follow his principles and teachings and work with commitment and dedication for the socio-economic and political development of Pakistan as well as transforming it into an Islamic welfare state as was envisioned by the founders of the country.
Paying rich tributes to Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Chief Minister said that Allama Iqbal created awareness in the Muslims of the sub-continent about the achievements of their forefathers and the glorious past of Islam. He said that due to the thinking and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Muslims under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah succeeded in materialising the dream of Allama Iqbal on August 14, 1947. He said that the prevalent situation demands that we should follow the philosophy and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal in letter and in spirit and rise above linguistic, ethnic and sectarian differences and play our role for progress and prosperity of the country and restoration of peace.