ISLAMABAD: The 146th birth anniversary of Pakistan’s national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being observed today across the country with enthusiasm.
The federal government has declared November 9 as a public holiday, in connection with the occasion.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born on November 9, 1877 in Sialkot. He is also known as national poet, a Muslim thinker and Philosopher, Shair-e-Mashriq (poet of the east) and Hakeemul Ummat (doctor of the Muslim ummah). He was the one who sparked the pan-Islamic thought among Muslims of the subcontinent.
Allama Iqbal proposed the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent‚ which ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
He also took an active part in politics and was elected to the Punjab Legislative Council in 1927 and held a number of positions in the All India Muslim League. He formulated a political framework for Muslims in India during his 1930 address at the League’s annual meeting in Allahabad.
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He is also considered as one of the most important figures in literature with works in both Urdu and Persian languages.
Bang-i-Dara, Zarb-i Kalim, Bal-i-Jibril, Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, and Armughan-e-Hijaz are among his best works.
Pakistani nation is celebrating the day with enthusiasm to pay homage to the great poet philosopher and to highlight his achievements.
Different political‚ social and cultural organizations have arranged special programmes to glorify Iqbal’s philosophy‚ life and his contribution to create awareness among the Muslims of South Asia.
Iqbal was a Sufi poet of the modern era
Iqbal was a Sufi poet of the modern era who stimulated a revolutionary spirit in the nation through his poetic verses. His poetry has been translated in different languages including Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, English and several other languages.
However, he could not see the creation of Pakistan and passed away on April 21, 1938. He was buried in Lahore in front of the Badshahi Mosque.
The events of the day also include change of guards’ ceremony at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore.
