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  • 139th birth anniversary of Iqbal today

    Allama Iqbal Allama Iqbal

    November 9, 2016 marks 139th birth anniversary of celebrated poet who is revered by Pakistani nation for having played an indispensable role in getting Muslims a homeland.

    Besides different official ceremonies across the country, a leading commemoration will be witnessed at Iqbal Manzil in Sialkot which is ‘Poet of the East’s’ birth place.

    According to Syed Riaz Hussain Naqvi, caretaker of Iqbal Manzil, key cake-cutting ceremony will be organised there.

    ‘Kalaam-e-Iqbal’ will be recited and debating competitions are to be held at the place as well.

    Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i Kalim and Armughan-e-Hijaz are amongst his much loved work of art.

    Scholars across the board accredit Iqbal as the best Muslim philosopher thinker of modern times there is. He was knighted by King George V in 1922 granting him the title "Sir." He had studied law and philosophy in England before that and during his time there, he joined british chapter of All-India Muslim League.

    Influenced by teachings of Sir Thomas Arnold in Government College Lahore, Iqbal landed a scholarship in Trinity College, University of Cambridge in 1905 and earned Bachelor of Arts.

    Furthering his studies, he moved to Germany and earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) through a research titled The Development of Metaphysics in Persia and the study was published.

    However, historians write that Iqbal had begun to write poems in Persian during his stay in Europe because he felt expression of thoughts was easier in the language.

    Iqbal is the namesake of a number of institutions of national as well as international prominence across Pakistan.

    One of the many institutions is Allama Iqbal Campus Punjab University in Lahore.

    The advocate of Pakistan for Muslims of the subcontinent passed away before 1947 and could not witness the day, August 14 that changed the fate of South Asia.

    He breathed his last on April 21, 1938 and was laid to rest in Lahore.