An evening to remember for a long time Officially, there are 23 thousands Pakistanis who have made Denmark their second home. The figure however could be higher.
Pakistan being a large country and Pakistanis being the 5th largest minority community in the country has a medium size Embassy. Ambassadors are mostly political appointees or from foreign services. They are top professional and do their duty elegantly.
Distance between the communities and their embassies is an issue, which plagues all countries. Pakistan is no exception.
Such distance, however narrowed when a career diplomat, Ambassador Masroor Junejo came to this country. With in a short time, he not only solved many practical problems of the Pakistanis in Denmark but also opened the door of the embassy for public meetings, took part in various public functions, invited community leaders for a private chat and turned a business like atmosphere into a family affair.
It was to enjoy this lovely spirit that I went to the embassy to take part in one of the most delightful functions at the embassy in the living memory.
On 22th May, honourable Ambassador kindly arranged a magnificent evening to celebrate, the unparalleled achievements of Janab Gulam Sabir Sahib, founder chairman of Iqbal Academy Scandinavia and a man who has not only gone deeper in search of Allamh Iqbal’s true message of unity for Muslims but also took this tedious job of spreading this unique light in the world.
For those who are not familiar with Dr. Iqbal, he is the 20th century Poet-Philosopher who gave the idea of Pakistan to down trodden Muslims of India. On a literary scale, Iqbal was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Søren Kierkegaard rolled into one great intellectual of the East.
It is wonderful that together with Pakistani State’s recognition of Janab Gulam Sabir Sahib’s services, Pakistanis were also paying their deepest respect for his untiring work on Iqbaliyat.
The reception of presenting a Gold Medal Award and a Certificate of Merit from the Government of Pakistan was highly appreciated by the participants. That feeling of pride was supplemented by glowing tributes by close family members to Janab Sabir’s wisdom and loving guidance in life. His children, Danish daughter in law, grand children, some of whom came from other countries were visibly touched this recognition of their Grand Dad’s achievements.
Because of the tight schedule, the Pakistan Embassy only asked some selected Pakistanis dignitaries to present their views on Janab Gulam Sabir Sahib’s life long passion for Allama Iqbal. All these speeches were greeted with thunderous applause by a jam-packed embassy hall.
It was a testimony to the closer relations built between the public and the state representatives as well as the high esteem, Janab Gulam Sabir Sahib, is held by the Pak community.
At such joyous occasions, one feels proud to be part of Pakistan, in the middle of the land of Kierkegaard and Hans Christian Andersen that we call our second home.
Bashy Quraishy
Host - “Bashy’s Corner” TV Copenhagen- Denmark
Co-ordinator-ENAR Platform - Denmark
Chief Editor - MediaWatch - Denmark
Council Member - Institute for Human Rights – Denmark
Chairman - Ethnic Debate Forum - Denmark
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