ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the nation will celebrate the 146th anniversary of the birth of national poet Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal: To commemorate the day, the government has proclaimed a national public holiday. November 9, 1877, saw the birth of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the philosopher-poet dubbed the Poet of the East, in Sialkot.
With his international poetry and political savvy, he roused the Muslims of the Subcontinent, proposing the notion of Pakistan’s founding in his famous speech at Allahabad in 1930.
With his speech, Allama Iqbal offered Muslims on the Sub-Continent a distinct identity and a clear path to the establishment of Pakistan.
In honour of Allama Iqbal Day, Radio Pakistan and TV stations are airing special shows that showcase the poet and thinker’s works.
Poetry readings, talks, and exhibitions honouring Iqbal, whose writings continue to shape the nation’s sociopolitical philosophy and cultural ethos, will be among the literary and educational activities commemorating the day.
The event this year is especially significant since it commemorates the centenary of Iqbal’s seminal lecture series from 1922–1923, which established the intellectual foundation for the establishment of a distinct homeland for Muslims living on the Indian subcontinent.
On the 146th anniversary of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s birth, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and President Dr. Arif Alvi paid heartfelt respect to the man.
In their respective statements, they claimed that Dr. Allama Iqbal was the Muslim subcontinent’s greatest benefactor, having dreamed of and eventually realised his goal of a distinct homeland for them.
In his speech, President Dr. Arif Alvi stated that Iqbal was a brilliant scholar who, by his writings and poetry, instilled in Muslims a sense of unity.
He asserted that adhering to Allama Iqbal’s teachings on Islam and his “Khudi” philosophy—which upholds the advancement of human dignity and self-respect—is essential to turning Pakistan into a thriving country.
Ceremony for changing the guards
There was an esteemed ceremony at Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s mausoleum to shift the guard.
With traditional fervour and excitement, a well-groomed contingent of Pakistan Navy personnel, dressed in spotless whites, took on ceremonial guard duties.
Additionally, Commodore Sajjad Hussain, the station commander of the Pakistan Navy in Lahore, was the special guest of honour at the event.
Commodore Sajjad Hussain thoroughly inspected the guards, who comprised members of the Pakistan Rangers and Pakistan Navy, during his visit.
However, Station Commander Lahore Commodore Sajjad Hussain honoured the Mausoleum of Iqbal by placing a floral wreath as a sign of respect and honour. This touching act gave the occasion even more meaning.
