LAHORE: Nation celebrates the 142nd birth anniversary of poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal today (Saturday 9th of November, 2019).
A graceful change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal here today. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy took charge of the guard duties.Various literary, educational, political, social and cultural organizations are arranging special programs to pay homage to the national poet and highlight different aspects of his life and teachings.Allama Iqbal, famous for his revolutionary poetry, was born on 9th of November, 1877 in Sialkot, Punjab, in the British India.
Iqbal, a poet, philosopher, and politician, as well as an academic, barrister and scholar in British India, is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement. He is reckoned as the one who visualized (dreamt) of a country for Muslims. He is considered as one of the most important figures in Urdu literature, with literary work in both the Urdu and Persian languages.
Speaking exclusively to NPTV Dr. Seyyedah Fatemeh Zulghadr representative of Tehran in Iran Assembly (who is also member Cultural Commission’s Board of Directors) held: “Iqbal is very famous and Iranians believe that Allama Iqbal is for the Iranians by the heart. Because as you know he was a Persian speaker and poet and he has much influence in the Farsi literature and many of the Iranians love Allama Iqbal”.
Iqbal is admired as a prominent poet by Pakistanis, Iranians, Indians, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans and other international scholars of literature. His first poetry book, Asrar-e-Khudi, appeared in the Persian language in 1915, and other books of poetry include Rumuz-i-Bekhudi, Payam-i-Mashriq and Zabur-i-Ajam. Amongst these, his best known Urdu works are Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i Kalim and a part of Armughan-e-Hijaz.
Iqbal Day is the day referred to pay gratitude to the National poet of Pakistan, best known as Shair-e-Mashriq (Poet of the East), for his poetical contribution, which mainly revolves around concept of Khudi (Self) and also aspired Muslim youth to become Shaheen (Eagle of Iqbal).
Earlier Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardost said that Allama Muhammad Iqbal was the greatest intellectual, reformer, and philosopher who taught Muslim Ummah the importance of unity and self-esteem.