Government College University (GCU) Lahore on Wednesday organised a one-day seminar on "Iqbal's Philosophy and Contemporary Pakistan," (Faqr-e-Iqbal and Aaj Ka Pakistan) to enlighten the youth about the visionary thoughts of the great national poet.
GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman chaired the seminar, while PML-N Member National Assembly Ahsan Iqbal was the Chief Guest. Opening the seminar, the members of Nazir Ahmed Music Society presented several poems of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, which were composed by GCU music maestro Tariq Suleman Khan Farani, while the orators from GCU Debating Society presented an oratorical rendition of Iqbal's verses in the tradition of the legendary Zulfiqar Bokhari and Zia Mohyuddin.
Addressing the seminar, Ahsan pointed that Allama Muhammad Iqbal made four invaluable contributions for the Pakistan movement. He emancipated the South Asian Muslims from the slavish mentality and revived their faith in their collective strength. Secondly, he advised them to take up untiring struggle in every walk of life and preserve their self-esteem at all costs.
Thirdly, he asserted that a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia was indispensable. Last but not the least, Allama Iqbal persuaded the Quaid-i-Azam to lead the movement for the independence of South Asian Muslims at a time when the Quaid-i-Azam had settled down in Britain due to disillusionment, Ahsan Iqbal said.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khaleeq-ur-Rahman said that Iqbal's concept of 'Khudi' guides us to regain our lost glory. "His philosophy tells how to set right the affairs of politics, economy and education in line with the injunctions of Islam," he added.
The Vice Chancellor asserted that it was knowledge and creativity rather than wealth and weapons that afforded superiority to any nation in the current age. Therefore, we must strive for academic excellence in the light of Iqbal's vision. Noted critic Professor Dr Saadat Saeed said that the eradication of economic exploitation was the corner stone of Iqbal's political thought.
He had predicted the fall of capitalism and communism since both these regimes are contravenes to the principles of natural justice. Professor Dr Khursheed Rizvi opined that Iqbal was to the Muslims what Sheakhsphere was to the English. "No other thinker or poet in the Muslim tradition has ever come close the pedestal where destiny has placed Iqbal," he added. GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr Shafiq Aajmi also addressed the seminar. Later, the Vice Chancellor gave away shields to the guest speakers.