Speakers laud Allama Iqbal at GCU seminar

Allama Iqbal made four invaluable contributions to the Pakistan movement, said PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal.

LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) organised a one-day seminar on “Iqbal's Philosophy and Contemporary Pakistan” (Faqr-e-Iqbal and Aaj Ka Pakistan)  on Wednesday, to enlighten the youth about his visionary ideas. 

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman chaired the seminar while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly (MNA) Ahsan Iqbal was the Chief Guest.

Addressing the seminar, Ahsan pointed that Allama Iqbal made four invaluable contributions to the Pakistan movement adding that the latter emancipated South Asian Muslims from their slave mentality and revived their faith in their collective strength.

Secondly, he advised them to strive in every walk of life and preserve their self-esteem at all costs. Thirdly, he asserted that a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia was indispensible. Last but not the least, Iqbal persuaded Mohammed Ali Jinnah to lead the independence movement for Muslims of South Asia at a time when Jinnah had settled down in Britain due to disillusionment, Ahsan Iqbal said.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rahman said that Iqbal's concept of ‘Khudi’ guides us to regain our lost glory.

“His philosophy tells how to set right the affairs of politics, economy and education in line with the injunctions of Islam,” he added.  The Vice Chancellor asserted that it was knowledge and creativity rather than wealth and weapons that helped nations to attain superiority in the current age. Therefore, we must strive for academic excellence in light of Iqbal's vision.

Noted critic Prof Dr Saadat Saeed said that the eradication of economic exploitation was the corner stone of Iqbal's political thought. He had predicted the fall of capitalism and communism since both these regimes contravene the principles of justice.

Prof Dr Khursheed Rizvi, speaking at the event, opined that Iqbal was to Muslims what Shakespeare was to English.

“No other thinker or poet in the Muslim tradition has ever come close the pedestal where destiny has placed Iqbal,” he added.

Members of the Nazir Ahmed Music Society opened the seminar, presenting several of Allama Iqbal’s poems which were composed by GCU’s music maestro Tariq Suleman Khan Farani, while the orators from GCU Debating Society presented an oratorical rendition of Iqbal's verses in the tradition of the legendary Zulfiqar Bokhari and Zia Mohyuddin.

GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr Shafiq Aajmi also addressed the seminar.  The Vice Chancellor gave away shields to the guest speakers.