Poet of the East: Iqbal remembered on 139th birth anniversary

Change of guard ceremony held at mausoleum

LAHORE: In memory of the great dreamer, poet and a philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal, celebrations were held all over Lahore on the 139th birth anniversary of the national poet on Wednesday.

The day began with special prayers at dawn for peace and prosperity in the country with a change of guard ceremony held later in the day at the mausoleum of the great poet.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Excise and Taxation Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul-Haq and several other notables visited Iqbal’s mausoleum to pay homage to the dreamer of Pakistan. They laid floral wreaths and offered a prayer for the national poet.

“Allama Iqbal was a great intellectual whose teachings and ideas also guide us today,” said Shahbaz on the occasion, adding that the Muslims of the subcontinent through his poetry and ideals, he imbued a new spirit of fervour and enthusiasm among the Muslims.

“It is need of the hour to set up an independent, fair and justified socio-economic system by acting upon the teachings and ideals of Iqbal,” he added. “November 9 is a reminder of the teachings and philosophy of Iqbal which is of great value for the younger generation.

He said there is an imminent need for understanding Iqbal’s idea of Pakistan.

“As a nation, we have to reiterate the determination of making the ideals of Allama Iqbal as a source of guidance and implement the teachings and ideals and promise of full struggle for transforming Pakistan in accordance with the ideals of forefathers of the country.”

Iqbal Day celebrated at PU

The Punjab University observed Iqbal Day with a visit to the Iqbal mausoleum along with organising seminars, speeches and painting competitions in the varsity’s various departments, while a quiz competition will be held on Thursday (today).

A delegation under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran visited the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal and laid a floral wreath and offered a prayer for the departed soul.

In his message, Dr Mujahid Kamran said Iqbal’s poetry had deeply influenced Islamic world adding that an atomic power of the Muslims had emerged because of Allama Iqbal.

Various departments/institutes of Punjab University organised seminars, speeches and painting competitions to pay tribute to Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2016.