ALLAMA Iqbal and Nawab Mohsinul Mulk were the spirit behind political struggle waged by educated men with intellect and integrity. MAJ ensured establishment of Pakistan, despite all odds. Iqbal was born on 9 November 1877 and died on 21April 1938. However, he had laid the foundations, on which a Muslim majority state could be established. Almost all pioneers of our freedom struggle were educated men, who resisted temptations for allotment of lands, which the Raj offered to natives, willing to collaborate with them. By mid-20s Iqbal had realized that powerful elements within Hindu majority, influenced by Damodar Savarkar’s Hindutva ideology, which he propagated through a pamphlet in 1923, would not allow Muslims to exercise their political rights, nor practice their faith. Iqbal wanted Muslims to acquire education in science, arts and economics. He proceeded to England in 1905 to pursue education at Cambridge and qualified as a Barrister at Lincolns Inn and then went to do PHD in Philosophy from University of Munich. He was an advocate of Pan-Islamism and desired that all Muslims, who believe in finality of Prophet PBUH should unite on one platform.
In 1924 a Hindu nationalist leader from Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai, a disciple of Savarkar, openly advocated that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations. MAJ referred to this letter written by Lala Lajpat to a Bengali Hindu nationalist CR Das in his 22 March 1940 address to AIML session at Lahore. It was in 1923 that Savarkar, while in prison, authored a pamphlet “Essentials of Hindutva” which created the Hindu Supremacist mindset.
Allama Iqbal believed in social justice and equality. He held the view that democracy was closest to Islamic concept of governance, while there was no role for monarchy or dictatorial rule. He actively supported Turkish revolution and people of Palestine and held Iranians in high esteem. Allama Saheb is admired in Turkeyia, Iran, Malaysia, Palestine and many other Muslim countries.
Allama Iqbal was a great admirer of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and saw in him qualities of political leadership and capability to lead the Muslims of subcontinent. In his 1930 presidential address, to 25th session of All India Muslim League at Allahabad, he stated that “Personally I would like to see the Punjab, NW Frontier Province (KP), Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state, – with self-determination within the British Empire or without it”. In his opinion, formation of a consolidated NW Indian Muslim State was “the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of NW India”. This was beginning of Two Nation Theory. The demand for separate nationhood originated from Muslim majority states of Bengal, Sindh and Punjab. In November 1931 Allama Iqbal went to London to attend Second Round Table Conference, where he met Quaid-i-Azam, who had not returned back since September 1930. Allama again visited London in 1932 to attend Third Round Table Conference where he convinced MAJ, who had disassociated from politics, to return back and lead the Muslim League. Jinnah finally returned back in 1934 and came to Lahore.
Iqbal joined the ML in 1906 as a student and played a pivotal role in affairs of Punjab Muslim League. When Masjid Shaheed Ganj was demolished on the night between 4-5 July 1935, by a mob of militant Akali Dal activists, who were part of a coalition government, which included prominent Unionists likes of Feroze Khan Noon and Muzaffar Qazilbash, he stood up and opposed it. This mosque was built during reign of Shah Jahan. There were widespread demonstrations. Allama was elected as President of Punjab ML, with Malik Barkat Ali and Khalifa Shujauudin as Vice Presidents, Ghulam Rasool as Secretary and Ashiq Hussain Batalvi as Joint Secretary. MAJ came to Lahore in 1936 and presided over a special session on League. In 1930 Lahore High Court Bar challenged the British Colonial government’s maneuvers designed to convict Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, denying them of their right to appeal. A resolution was jointly moved by Allama Iqbal, Malik Barkat Ali, Dr Gokal Chand and Lala Nanak condemning the ordinance issued by Viceroy which stripped the accused of their rights.
It is unfortunate, that certain descendants of Unionist Party, who were beneficiaries of British Raj largesse continue to malign both Iqbal and Jinnah Sahiban. They should look at the fate of Muslims living in India, who undergo torment and harassment, while they enjoy liberties here.
