Iqbal’s message of ‘self-respect’ still relevant: Walid Iqbal: Faisal Zahid Malik
says following Iqbal’s ideology more needed today than ever before
At a seminar titled ‘Asr-e-Hazir mai Fikr-e-Iqbal ki Ehmiyyat’ or Significance of Iqbal’s thought in Contemporary Times, speakers, intellectuals & scholars paid rich tribites to the Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) had organized the seminar in connection with the Iqbal Day at the Aiwan-e-Quaid Fatima Jinnah Park. Grandson of Allama Iqbal and Member Senate of Pakistan Senator Walid Iqbal was the keynote speaker on the occasion while NPC Chairman Mian Muhammad Javed presided over the ceremony.
Noted fiction writer Muhammad Hafeez Khan was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Those who participated in the discussion and highlighted various aspects of Iqbal’s philosophy included Chairperson of the NPC’s project Taleem Network Pakistan (TNP) former Senator Razina Alam Khan, Vice Chairman of the NPC and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer Mr Faisal Zahid Malik, poet broadcaster Farkhanda Shamim and writer Dr Tayyiba Siddiqui. NPC Executive Committee’s members Amb Salahuddin Chaudhry, Abdullah Yousaf and Nargis Nasir were also present on the occasion.
In his keynote address, Senator Walid Iqbal appreciated the NPC for organizing debates, conferences and seminars on national issues and for celebrating the days attributed to our national heroes.
Iqbal, said Walid Iqbal, had a foresight and clear roadmap for the Muslims particularly the youth of the subcontinent.
His philosophy of self-respect (khudi) serves as a guiding light for the generations to come. By adhering to the philosophy of Iqbal and his idea of self-respect we can regain our lost glory and status, said Senator Walid. Allama Iqbal’s personality and ideology can be well understood if we focus on his poetry and try to untie the knots in his versus, he said. Iqbal was basically a teacher and teaching was his main source of income. It came in the later stage of his life that he evolved a philosophy for the Muslims of India. Muhammad Hafeez Khan in his presidential address emphasized that comprehension of Iqbal’s philosophy and his ideas could not be possible without reading his ‘Khutbaat’ or Addresses, his son (late) Justice Dr Javed Iqbal’s books ‘Apna Gareeban Chaak’ and ‘Zinda Rood.’
Iqbal, he said waged all his life a war against Mullah and his orthodox ideology but unfortunately the same Mullah and fanatics hijacked Iqbal and falsely claimed that Iqbal belonged to them. Iqbal was not a man of biased or limited ideas but unfortunately those behind preparing our education curriculum have selected such poems of Iqbal that show and prove him as an orthodox and a biased person, said Muhammad Hafeez Khan.
Iqbal was essentially a progressive poet in his ideology, poetry and personality, he concluded by saying.
NPC Chairman Mian Muhammad Javed while paying glowing tributes to Allama Iqbal called him a great benefactor of the Muslims of undivided India.
Iqbal’s poetry contributed to awakening of the Muslims and today we are seeing some results of Iqbal’s thought and philosophy y seeing a large number of Muslims living independent countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh, said Mian Javed. Vice Chairman of NPC, Faisal Zahid Malik said following Iqbal’s ideology in letter & spirit is more needed today than ever before
TNP chairperson Senator Razina Alam Khan called for easy comprehension of Iqbal at school level. Our youth needs to know and inculcate in itself lofty ideas of Iqbal in easy and comprehensive Urdu, she said.
Fiction writer Dr Abdul Wahid Rana said Iqbal was a progressive poet but unfortunately Mullah, Politicians, Peer and trade union leaders hijacked Iqbal making his access to ordinary youth almost impossible.
Dr Sabin Younas was of the view that Iqbal’s poetry helps readers understand Quran and teaching of Islam.
Dr Tayyiba Siddiqui called for moral, spiritual training of children by teaching Poet of East at primary school level.
If the first brick is not rightly cemented its effect will be on the entire building, she said
At the end poet Farkhanda Shamim paid a poetic tribute to Allama Iqbal. Earlier upon arrival Senator Walid Iqbal was received by Mr Faisal Zahid Malik and escorted by Hameed Qaiser and Sultan Hamid Malik to the Iqbal Gallery in the Aiwan-e-Quaid where former Director of the Aiwan-e-Iqbal and renowned calligrapher Aslam Kamal’s (late) works and paintings of Iqbal have been showcased.
At the end Fateha Khawani was held for the departed soul of veteran writer, columnist, intellectual and the PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui who breathed his last on Wednesday.
