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Syed Mussarat Khalil
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Renowned intellectual and ex-diplomat Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi, while expounding that Allama Iqbal’s message is universal, paid rich tribute to the great poet and said that all should benefit from his poetry and philosophy.
He was speaking at the 139th birth day of Pakistan’s thinker, poet and philosopher Dr. Allama Mohammad Iqbal (born on Nov. 9, 1877, in Sialkot), in an event organized by the Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) at the VIP Hall of Mehran restaurant here. Al-Ghamdi was the chief guest.
Other guests included Mohammed Ali Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Irfan Hashmi president of Majlis-e-Iqbal, Azeez Ahmed, Mohammad Khalid Jawed of Pakistan Engineers Society. Mohammad Tayyab Mosani of Pakistan Memon Association, Mohammad Jameel Rathore, Maqbool-ur-Rahman Abbasi and Mohammad Amil Usmani of Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF), Syed Ghazanfar Hassan; Mohammad Moiz uddin, Fazal Ahmed Faizi of Engineers Welfare Forum (EWF), literary and community members Ilyas Maher, Naushad Usman, Najmi Bahjat and others.
Al-Ghamdi said many of his poems were translated in Arabic and sung by Umm Kulthum while many Arabs knew Pakistan through Iqbal. “So I would like to call him as poet of the Muslims (rather than poet of East).”
He read the Arabic version of Iqbal’s popular poem Shikwa and Jawabe Shikwa (Appeal to God and his response). He said that his thought was transformed into reality with the creation of Pakistan by the charismatic leadership of Jinnah. “I wonder how you have forgotten to adhere to his message which should have achieved the objective of Pakistan’s achievement,” Al-Ghamdi added.
He said it is unfortunate that in Iqbal and Jinnah’s Pakistan there are quarter million patriotic Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh, who have not yet being accepted. They left India in 1947 and again sacrificed everything to protect the integrity and solidarity of the country in 1971 war against India. “I am sure if those founders would have lived today, they would not have accepted their plight.”
He said that he was happy that the Pakistan Senate has created a special committee to look into their settlement issue and added, “I hope that it will take urgent measures to end their miserable camp life.”
He also condemned the torture on Muslims of Burma, Kashmir and Palestine and regretted OIC’s weak handling of these critical issues, since the UN has failed to come forward to solve the issues of oppressed Muslims.
Member of Kashmir Committee Choudhry Riaz Ghumman congratulated PRC for organizing the event on Allama Iqbal and thanked Dr. Ghamdi for advocating the case of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis.
He said that Iqbal’s role in creation of Pakistan was pivotal which Jinnah achieved in very short period. “We can solve all issues including Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis if we truly adhere to his message.”
Community leader Mohammad Ashfaque Badayouni said “Allama Iqbal’s message is universal, for all time; age and generation. We sing his few popular poems e.g. Chino Arab Hamara……; lub pey aati hay dua ban ke tammnna mery, other poems for over decades but they still have same attraction. He said that those patriotic Pakistanis in Bangladeshi camps are also an example of loyalty to Pakistan and bearing miserable life in camps for it.
General secretary of Pakistan Journalists Forum Mohammad Jamil Rathore praised PRC for organizing events on national days. He said Iqbal’s message is not limited to Pakistan but for whole Muslim world and this could unite us in today’s world.
He said that on Iqbal day all educational institutions should organize symposiums to highlight his message and thought to Pakistanis, this is better than granting national holiday on this day.
Urdu writer Saeed Ahmed Khan read his take on Iqbal, and said his poetry revived vision of Islam, humanity and selfness (Khudee). He guided Muslims of subcontinent to follow moral principles and act positive.
Leader of Pakistan Peoples Community Shamsuddin Altaf said that Iqbal’s living thought is Pakistan, which give us pride to enjoy freedom. He said that we should commit today to adhere to his teaching to resolve all issues facing the nation. He condemned the cancelation of public holiday on Allama Iqbal day, which he considered an unpatriotic move.
Urdu writer Mohammad Amanatullah also praised Iqbal’s vision and said that if we adhere to his teachings out nation would be able to overcome all the issues. Community members Mohammad Akram Agha, also spoke in tribute to Allama Iqbal.
Syed Mussarat Khalil opened the program and presented his essay on Iqbal. He conducted the event as well.
Syed Ehsanul Haque, convener thanked Dr. Ghamdi, all the speakers, journalist, poets and guests for participating in Allama Iqbal day event. He said, “We failed to adhere to his teaching hence failed to achieve the objective of Iqbal & Quaid’s mission. Today we need to commit that we will adopt their mission to make Pakistan a true Muslim welfare state.”
He said PRC has persistently appealed for creation of a Research University to dedicate intellectuals to learn Iqbal’s message, and this will help clear the misunderstanding about the purpose of creation of Pakistan for which hundreds of thousands of subcontinent’s Muslims sacrificed their lives.
At the end supplication was made for the solidarity, peace and harmony in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, solution of issues of Palestine; Yemen, Kashmir, stranded Pakistanis, Muslims of Burma and Syria.
