The 142nd birth anniversary of poet-philosopher Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being observed today all over the country with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He is also recognised as national poet, and known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (thinker of Pakistan), Shair-e-Mashriq (poet of the east) and Hakeemul Ummat (doctor of the Muslim Ummah) and is credited with sparking the pan-Islamic thought among Muslims of the subcontinent.

Allama Iqbal envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent‚ which led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. He is also considered one of the most important figures in literature with literary works in both Urdu and Persian languages. Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i Kalim and Armughan-e-Hijaz were amongst his best works.

Various educational‚ political‚ social and cultural organizations have arranged special programmes to portray Iqbal's philosophy‚ life and his contribution to create awareness among the Muslims of South Asia.

The Punjab CM Sardar Usman in his message said: "Allama Iqbal awakened the Muslims from deep slumber with his poetry and political wisdom. He (Iqbal) was a promoter of Muslim unity and his poetry guides us even today." The CM said, "Allama Iqbal's proposal of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent was a reflective of his farsightedness and political acumen as Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah materialized this dream in a period of 17 years. Pakistan will emerge as a true welfare state by following the principles of Allama Iqbal."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019