Both Sir Syed and Allama Iqbal were progressive, Muslim and nationalist.
UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI: I fully endorse the views of Professor Dr Atif Alvi in his letter of February 13 titled “Sir Syed and Allama Iqbal”. I would like to add that Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy’s regret that Sir Syed “has almost disappeared from public view” is also misleading and not factual. In Karachi, there is a Sir Syed Girls College and a Sir Syed University but no “Allama Iqbal University”. The mohalla where I live is flanked on one side by Allama Iqbal Road and on the other by Sir Syed Road. And people in general hold both of them in deep respect. Also, both Sir Syed and Allama Iqbal were progressive, Muslim and nationalist; but their emphasis on different aspects naturally changed with time.
Dr M Jameel
Ex-professor of physics
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.
