A SURVEY OF THE ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS
OF PAKISTAN DURING 1953
Dr. Nadeem Shafiq Malik

In addition to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) is rightly regarded as the founding father of Pakistan.  Throughout his life span and even after his demise, his indebted community has shown unparalleled respect and admiration for him. The tendency reached its apex after the establishment of Pakistan, when Iqbal Day celebrations used to be observed with great dedication. The English dailies of Pakistan have also contributed a lot in that endeavour.  This is the fourth in the series of surveys that the present author has made.[i] We have made an attempt to trace all such functions as reported in the English newspapers of Pakistan during 1953. It is hoped that this endeavour would reveal, at least to a considerable extent, the perceptions of the great seer and statesman found in the Pakistani journalism and the perspectives that underlie these perceptions.

●The first news regarding Allama Iqbal, which appeared in the year 1953, was about an Iranian diplomat, Friduni’s lecture on Iqbal. The Pakistan Times in its issue of January 20, 1953 informed that M. H. M. Friduni, Cultural Counselor, of Iranian Embassy in Pakistan, would deliver a lecture on ‘Allama Iqbal and Persian language’ on January 21 in the Senate Room of the Punjab University, Lahore.1

●During the month of April, a flood of news items, editorials and articles about Allama Iqbal appeared in the English dailies which are described in the following.

●On April 7, 1953, a news item appeared in The Pakistan Times and The Civil and Military Gazette, Lahore informed that the Salimullah Muslim Hall Union would observe the death anniversary of Allama Iqbal on April 21 by holding an essay competition on the occasion. The subjects for essays were ‘Iqbal as a humanist’ (English) and ‘Iqbal and nationalism’ (Bengali).2 The Pakistan Times in its issue of April 13, 1953 communicated that ‘Iqbal Day’ was being celebrated at Allahabad (Bahawalpur) under the auspices of Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Urdu. The programme would be followed by a ‘mushaira’ in which Mahirul Qadiri, Nazeer Dahqani, Zohra Nigah, Nazar Hyderabadi, Wahida Naseem, Adeeb Sahanranpuri and Ibrahim Jalees were expected to participate.3

●The Civil and Military Gazette, informed on April 15, 1953 that ‘Iqbal Day’ was being observed at Montgomery in a befitting manner on April 19 under the presidentship of Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar.4 The paper in its issue of April 16, 1953 communicated that April 21 would be observed as a closed holiday because of Iqbal Day throughout Azad Kashmir. It was further communicated that arrangements were being made to hold public meetings in all districts of the area under official patronage to commemorate the death of poet-philosopher of the East. The local Bazm-i-Adab was also arranging a function where papers on the life and works of Allama Iqbal were planned to be read.5

●On April 17, 1953, The Pakistan Times informed that Iqbal Day would be observed at Dhaka under the auspices of All Pakistan Youth Movement on April 21. It was further added that a meeting would be held in the local District Board Hall under the chairmanship of I. H. Zubair6 The paper also informed that Abul Kalam Azad would preside over an Iqbal Day mushaira to be held at the Pakistan High Commission at New Delhi on April 21, 1953.7

●In 1953, Iqbal Day was observed in a low profile.  On April 17, 1953 a news appeared in The Pakistan Times which stated that famous publisher John Murray would publish Iqbal’s philosophical poem, ‘The Mysteries of Selflessness’ translated by Arthur Arberry in ‘Wisdoms of the East’ series. Described by the publishers as giving ‘first hand account of Muslim attitude to problems of present day society’, it was hoped that the poem’s publication would be an outstanding event of literary scene.8

●Through their various issues, The Pakistan Times, Dawn and The Civil and Military informed about Iqbal Day celebrations observed through out the country. They reported that at Lahore, the Punjab government officially celebrated the Iqbal Day by organising a select gathering in the Punjab University where papers were read on various aspects of Iqbal’s poetry.

●The Punjab Minister for Agriculture, Sardar Abdul Hamid Khan Dasti, who presided over the meeting, said that by imbibing the right ideals and virtues preached by Iqbal, Muslim society could get rid of the maladies from which it suffered now. Iqbal’s poetry, he said, was an interpretation of the Quran and it infused a new life in the Muslims who felt despondent and hopeless about their future. The best way to pay compliments to the poet, he argued, was to read his poetry and act on it.9          Some other speakers also spoke on the occasion and discussed life and philosophy of Iqbal.

●M. M. Sharif read a paper on ‘Iqbal and Art’ and elucidated, by illustrations from his poetry, Iqbal’s conception of art and its meaning and object.

●The most interesting lecture was that of Khalifa Abdul Hakim who speaking on ‘Iqbal and mulla’ explained the attitude of the poet towards ‘mulla’ as depicted in his poetry. Quoting several verses and references from Iqbal’s poetry, Khalifa said that unlike ‘mulla’, Iqbal believed that ‘Islam is an aspiration and not fulfilment’.

●Salahuddin Ahmed read a paper entitled ‘Iqbal and faqr’ and profusely quoted from Iqbal to elaborate his conception of faqr.10

●Khalifa Shujau-ud-Din (1887-1955)11, the then speaker of the Punjab Assembly also spoke on the occasion.12

●Earlier in the morning, people visited the poet’s tomb and offered fatiha, and placed wreaths. Commander Sector B and representatives of the Lahore APWA branch also placed a wreath on the poet’s grave. The offices of The Pakistan Times, as usual, remained closed because of Iqbal Day.13

●The citizens of Karachi paid their homage to the memory of Allama Iqbal by observing the Iqbal Day with great solemnity. Dawn, The Pakistan Times, The Khyber Mail, The Civil and Military Gazette reported that a number of public meetings were held all over the city and in the educational institutions in memory of Allama Iqbal. A large number of people attended a public meeting, held under the auspices of Majlis-i-Iqbal at Jahangir Park, which was addressed, among others, by Mian Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani (1905-1918)14, ‘Abdul Wahab ‘Azzam, Rashid Turabi (1908-1973)15 and Mumtaz Hasan. The proceedings of the meeting were relayed by Radio Pakistan, Karachi.16

●In his presidential speech, Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani called upon the people of Pakistan to inculcate the virtues of the mard-i-momin of Iqbal if they wanted to raise Pakistan to be pinnacle of glory. He said that it was the clarion call of Iqbal that for the first time reminded the Muslims of their degeneration. He said that when Iqbal embarked on his mission of reuniting the Muslims who were torn by internal dissension and confusion he had an uphill task before him. Nevertheless, his faith in his mission, his passion to serve the cause of Islam and his sincerity of purpose convinced him compatriots of the truth of his message.17

●Speaking on the occasion, ‘Abdul Wahab ‘Azzam said that Iqbal’s message transcended all geographical limits, as his message was universal. His invitation was the invitation of Islam itself and Islam’s invitation is purely a universal one and knows no bounds. He urged that as the message by Iqbal in the present age was the message of Islam, therefore, it was the duty of Muslims to understand the message, translate it into practice, and spread it to every corner of the world.18

●Mumtaz Hasan in a brief speech said that Allama Iqbal gave a true interpretation of Islamic conception of a ‘millat ’ as against the territorial nationalism of the West. He believed in the true relationship of man and visualised humanity as one and not divided according to races, colours, or countries. It was this message that ultimately welded the Muslims of undivided India into one.

●Behzad Lakhnavi (1900-1974)19, Nazar Hyderabadi and Asad Multani recited poems at the meeting.20

●The anniversary of Allama Iqbal’s death was also observed by the United States Information Centre in Karachi. Khalid Ishaq addressed a public gathering on “Unexplored aspects of Iqbal’s thought”.21 Pak Tamaddun Majlis (Karachi Branch) also planned to hold a discussion on Iqbal’s life and work in various languages at Theosophical Hall, Karachi.22 Radio Pakistan, Karachi also announced to broadcast special Iqbal Day programmes which included ‘Rumi-o-Iqbal: Pir-o-Murid’, Iqbal’s poem; ‘Kitab-o-Sha‘ir-o-Siyasat ’, a feature programme on Iqbal’s call for political awakening and national consciousness; ‘Iqbal Aur Kashmir’, a feature programme based on Iqbal’s poems on Kashmir; ‘Iqbal kay Khutoot’ giving extracts from the selected letters of Iqbal; ‘Bia Ba Majlis-i-Iqbal’, a symposium attended by Maulvi Abdul Haq and Mumtaz Hasan; and ‘Iqbal: The poet hero,’ a talk in English by ‘Abdul Wahab ‘Azzam.23 Moreover, the local newspapers also brought out special editions carrying large size photographs of Allama Iqbal and published special articles about his life and works.24

●Like Lahore and Karachi, Iqbal Day was celebrated in rest of the country which was liberally reported by the  English papers. Dawn reported that in Hyderabad Sindh, various Iqbal Day meetings were held where Allama Iqbal’s contribution to Islamic thought and his services for establishment of Pakistan were praised.25 The Civil and Military Gazette communicated that throughout Multan Division, Iqbal Day meetings were held in all important towns at which speakers read papers on the life and works of Allama Iqbal and his inspiring messages to the Muslim nation were recited at those largely attended gatherings. The highlights of the day’s programme were the ‘mushairas’ held in the memory of the great poet in several parts in which prominent poets read out their poems.  In Multan, the United States Information and Education Service relayed a number of records of the poetry of Allama Iqbal, which were listened to by many people in the local exhibition there.26

●The Civil and Military Gazette, also informed that Iqbal Day was observed at the Sultan Cotton Mills, Okara too. G. N. Dalmia, General Manager, while paying a glowing tribute to the poet of the East, said that Iqbal was the lover of Hindu-Muslim unity. He wanted to see India one of foremost countries of the world. He believed in universal unity as according to him, there lay the panacea of all evils. Later a ‘mushaira’ was held which was attended along with others, by Hafeez Jallundhri, Zohra Nigah and Habeeb Jalib (1928-1993)27, besides a considerable number of poets of Okara and Montgomery.28

●The Khyber Mail and The Civil and Military Gazette, revealed that people in towns and villages all over the Bahawalpur State observed Iqbal Day by holding meetings. A big ‘mushaira’ was held at tehsil Allahabad and in the capital. The works and services of Iqbal were eulogised at a big meeting held in Sadiq High School, which was addressed, by prominent educationist and poets besides the State Education Minister, Rao Hafizur Rehman.29

●The Pakistan Times reported that Iqbal Day was observed at Sargodha under the auspices of the Bazm-i-Uruj-i-Adab. A meeting under the presidentship of Khalid Badayuni was held at which Faiz Ludhianvi (1911-1995)30, Ahmed Bakhsh Qureshi, and Arshad Bhatti read papers on the life and works of the celebrated poet. In the evening, a ‘mushaira’ was also held with Faiz Ludhianvi in the chair, which was participated by the local poets.31

●The Pakistan Times and The Khyber Mail informed that the local literary and cultural organisations at Rawalpindi commemorated the 15th death anniversary of the poet Iqbal by holding special functions at a number of places in the city and cantonment areas. The biggest meeting arranged by ‘Iqbal Day Committee’ was held under presidentship of Lt. Gen. S. M. A. Faruqi at the Military Accounts Hall in the cantonment in which papers on the various aspects of the life and works of Allama Iqbal were read.32

●In the evening, another Iqbal Day meeting was held under the auspices of Central Welfare Committee, Military Accounts, Rawalpindi with S. A. Siddiqui, Military Accountant General, in the chair. The programme included reading of papers on various aspects of Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy and recitation of a number of poems, which paid glowing tributes to his genius.33 Another Iqbal Day meeting was held at Faiz-ul-Islam High School, Rawalpindi under the auspices of Idara-i-Funkar. The programme included papers, speeches, and poems on various aspects of the poet’s life and philosophy.34 A ‘mushaira’ under the presidentship of Fazl Ahmed Karim Fazli was also planned at the Military Accounts Hall, Rawalpindi.35

●The Pakistan Times stated that ‘Iqbal Day’ was celebrated at Campbellpur, (now Attock) in the local Government College under the presidentship of S. M. Ilahi, Deputy Commissioner, Campbellpur. The morning session was devoted to speeches and ‘maqalas’ on Iqbal and his poetry in which the principal, staff and students of the college and local talent participated. At night, a successful ‘mushaira’ was held where apart from local poets, lyricists of Rawalpindi also participated.36

●The Civil and Military Gazette and Dawn gave an account of a well-attended public meeting presided over by Brigadier Nausher which was held at Muzaffarbad to observe Iqbal Day. Several Kashmiri poets and authors recited their poems and spoke on the life and works of Allama Iqbal. Those who took part in the literary symposium organised by the Bazm-i-Adab, Muzaffarabad, emphasized the common heritage of Pakistan and Kashmir in a befitting manner.37 Another special function in observance of Iqbal Day was organized at the Lawrence College, Ghora Galli, Murree by the College’s Majlis-i-Adab.39

●The Pakistan Times informed that the various organisations and institutions in Lyallpur District celebrated ‘Iqbal Day’.  Early in the morning a meeting was held at Government College, Lyallpur with Mian Ehsan-ul-Haque (1877-1957)40, retired Session Judge in the chair.  Besides others, Mir Abdul Qaiyum MLA, Taj Muhammad Khayal and M. H. Latif paid glowing tribute to the poet. In the evening a meeting was held at the Coronation Library Hall which was attended by the leading poets and writers of the District. Later in the night, a mushaira was held in the Koh-i-Noor Mills in which a number of poets from various parts of the country attended.41

●The Pakistan Times’ correspondent at Jhelum reported that no commemoration function on the official death anniversary of Allama Iqbal was held on April 21. According to him, previously that occasion had been celebrated officially. However, a local literary body had chalked out a programme to hold a public meeting on April 24 in that connection.42

●The Khyber Mail and The Pakistan Times gave a detailed account of Iqbal Day celebrations in Peshawar started from April 19, on which a meeting was planned to be held under the auspices of Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Urdu at the Edward College under the presidentship of Syed Yahya Shah, Director Public Instructions.43 Another meeting was reported to held at Peshawar by the Frontier Branch of the Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Urdu with Abdul Wadood Qamar in chair. At the gathering, papers and poetry were read on the life and works of Allama Iqbal. Hakim Hasan Abbasi, Zia Jaffari (1905- )44, Farigh Bukhari (1917-1997)45, Raza Hamadani (1910-1994)46, Gul Badshah Gilani, Khatir Ghaznavi, Nazir Mirza Birlas, M. Shafi Sabir, and M. Umar Amir took part in the three hour programme.47

●On April 21, an Iqbal Day meeting was held at Government House with Khawaja Shahabuddin, Governor NWFP in chair where various papers on the life, poetry and philosophy of Allama Iqbal were read.  In his presidential address, Khawaja Shahabuddin said that Allama Iqbal was not disappointed with the future of the Muslim nation and was convinced that they could be brought back to the path of their lost glory and told them so. He emphasized that it was the duty of every Pakistani on this day to rededicate him to the task that Iqbal had assigned to the nation.48

●          According to reports published in Dawn and The Civil and Military Gazette, Iqbal Day was observed throughout Baluchistan and Baluchistan States Union. Meetings were held at several places where the nation was reminded of the message of Allama Iqbal and his contributions to the renaissance of Islam. In Quetta, a meeting of the local College students was held where speeches on the life and works of Iqbal were delivered and a ‘mushaira’ was arranged in the Town Hall.49

●                                                                                                                      Raz, the radio reviewer of The Civil and Military Gazette, while reviewing the Radio broadcasts made on Iqbal Day, observed that they were comparatively below the standard of the previous years. Declaring them ‘a poor show’, he questioned about the use of putting over the same old features again and again and urged that new angles in the poetry of the national bard should be discovered and listeners should be acquainted with some thing deep in Iqbal.5

Tributes from East Pakistan

The Pakistan Times, The Morning News and The Civil and Military Gazette, communicated that at Dhaka, a large number of Iqbal Day meetings were held in different parts in which prominent speakers discussed the life and teachings of the great poet of Islam.

●A meeting under the auspices of the zonal branch of the All Pakistan Youth Movement was held at Dhaka District Board Hall, with Inamullah Khan (1914-1997)51, Secretary General of the World Muslim Conference in the chair.52

●            In his presidential address, Inamullah pointed out that the poet did not stand for the welfare and progress of any limited section of the people but for humanity at large. He appealed to the youth of East Pakistan to prepare themselves for the achievements of an all world Islamic federation.

●Others who spoke at the meeting were M. Shaidullah and Shah Azizur Rehman.

●The Bengali poet Ghulam Mustafa recited a poem which paid tributes to Allama Iqbal.53

●          Rahmatullah High School, Dhaka celebrated the Day with great enthusiasm. At a meeting held in the school a resolution was adopted urging the necessity of setting up an Iqbal Academy.  It was pointed out that the Academy should under take translation of the works of the poet in Bengali language in order to popularise them in this province. The message of Iqbal would in this way be carried to the Bengali speaking population, the resolution concluded.54

●          The A. K. N. Association at Dhaka also observed ‘Iqbal Day’ under the presidentship of Shamsuddin Ahmed, an ex-Minsiter of pre-partition Bengal. A number of prominent radio artists recited poems and ghazals.  The USIS presented a cinema show at the end of the meeting for the entertainment of the guests.55 Other meetings were held in several colleges and schools of the city.

●Salimullah Muslim Hall Union, Nawakhali Association, and East Pakistan Krishak Mazdor League also observed Iqbal Day.56

●Later in the evening, a meeting was held in the medical college where speeches on the life and works of Iqbal were delivered.

●The Morning News reported that Iqbal Day was also observed at Bhairab (Mymensingh) under the auspices of the Cultural Club, Bhairab with Principal Muhammad Idris in chair.  Essays on Iqbal were invited on that occasion and Salimuddin of Comilla District School and Hasna Hona Begum of Dhaka Eden College stood first on the essay, “Iqbal’s boyhood’ and “Iqbal as philosopher” respectively.57

●          The Iqbal Day celebrations held in East Pakistan were comparatively fewer than previous years.  Commenting on it, Ishtiaq Ahmed Shauq wrote a letter to editor, Morning News appeared on April 24, 1953 in which he regretted that this year the death anniversary of Allama Iqbal was not observed in a befitting manner in Dhaka and the day passed away as any other day. The author recalled that the Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Urdu East Pakistan used to celebrate Iqbal Day every year.  However, this year it was not at all in the picture. The author concluded that the Anjuman had miserably failed to do its duty and urged that it was time the Anjuman shook off its lethargy and started doing its work in right earnest.58

The International Scene

            The English newspapers also gave due coverage to Iqbal Day celebrations held outside Pakistan.

●The Morning News reported that at Tehran, an Iqbal Day function was held at the Pakistan Embassy under the presidentship of Aghai Addebus Saltaneh Samili.

●In a message sent on the occasion, Muhammad Mossadeq, Prime Minister of Iran, said that the torch of light lit by Iqbal for the guidance of humanity would shine forever with ever-increasing brilliance. The message further said “Iqbal took pride in associating himself with the Iranian thinkers of Rum and Tabriz. Iran today looks up to him with reverence.59

●Aghai Samili, in his presidential speech said that Iqbal was as much a national poet of Iran as of Pakistan. He said that Iqbal had not only brought Muslim people closed, but had given the right lead to all nations of the world to realise moral obligations of man to man.

●Dr. Khatibi, Professor of Literary Criticism at the Tehran University, and Sadiq Sarmad, a well-known Iranian national poet also spoke on the occasion.

●Aghai Rajai, Director of Administration of the Iranian Ministry of Education, recited qasidas specially composed for the occasion.60

●          The Morning News revealed that Iqbal Day was also celebrated at Pakistan Consulate at Zahidan on April 21. One hundred guests including Farmandar-i-Kul of Baluchistan and Seistan, Brigade Commander, heads of various departments and their assistants and all prominent educationist of Zahidan attended the function. The meeting was inaugurated by a brief commentary by the Mujtahid of Zahidan, Aghai Kafaani. Thereafter, the Vice Consul of Pakistan welcomed the guests and touched briefly the personality of Allama Iqbal and his mission. Aghai Khudai, an educationist and a renowned poet, read out a very fine poetry on ‘Roz-i-Iqbal’ which had repeated cheers from the audience. A local press correspondent, Aghai Refaat delivered a short speech, which gave out a brief life sketch of Allama Iqbal. Aghai Rafi officiating Director of Education in Baluchistan delivered a very eloquent speech on that occasion which depicted his very intimate and clear touch with Iqbal works and his mission of bringing the world’s Muslims together. He said that he was convinced that as Iqbal’s dream about Pakistan came out to be true, his revelation about the unity of the Muslim world should also turn out to be an established fact one day. The meeting was concluded by a speech by the Farmandar-i-Kul Aghai Taimur Moini, who paid warm tributes to Allama Iqbal.61

●          Iqbal Day was observed at Istanbul under the auspices of the Turkey—Pakistan Cultural Association that was reported in The Pakistan Times and The Civil and Military Gazette. The meeting was attended by a distinguished gathering which included ministers of the Turkish government and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan. Abdul Kadir Karahan and Jafar Hassan Aybele delivered speeches on the life and thought of Allama Iqbal.  The Turkish poet, Ali Ganjeli recited pieces from Iqbal’s ‘Piam-i-Mashriq’ and ‘Asrar-i-Khudi’ translated by him into Turkish.62

●          The Pakistan Times, The Khyber Mail, and Dawn reported about Iqbal Day commemoration in India. It was stated that the High Commissioner for Pakistan in India arranged two ‘mushairas’. The afternoon ‘mushaira’ was presided over by Abul Kalam Azad, Indian Minister of Education, while the evening ‘mushaira’ was presided over by Dr. Kailas Nath Katju, Indian Minister of Home Affairs.  Diplomats, high government officials, prominent citizens of Delhi besides well-known poets from Delhi and outside participated.  Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Katju asked Shoaib Qureshi (1891-1962)63, Pakistani Minister for Information and Broadcasting, who was among the audience, to take to Pakistan a message of love and goodwill from all Indians, This message, he said, Iqbal had preached in his poems.  In response, Shoaib Qureshi replied that the salvation of India and Pakistan lay in mutual love and friendship.64

●          ‘Iqbal Day’ was also planned to be observed in Jallundar at the residence of Abdul Rahman Khan, Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan. The programme included reading of papers and a ‘mushaira’ in which local poets and some members of the Pakistan Deputy High Commission were expected to participate.65

●          Dawn reported that Iqbal Day was also observed at Colombo with great enthusiasm. The programme included Quran Khawani in Memon Mosque in the morning and a public meeting organised by Iqbal Society of the premier Muslim institution, Zahira College, in the evening. Radio Ceylon also announced to broadcast one hour special radio programme. One thousand copies of a booklet entitled, ‘Iqbal: The Man and his Poetry’ was also planned to be distributed free on the occasion by the Pakistan High Commission.66

●          Iqbal Day celebrations in Colombo commenced early in the morning with Quran Khawani and offering ‘fatiha’ at Memon Mosque.

● Speaking on the occasion, Haji Abdus Sattar Saith, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Colombo said that teachings of Iqbal had made the Muslims view the interest of the community at large as more important than one’s personal betterment or success.67 Radio Ceylon commenced the day with a fifteen minutes recorded musical recital of poems of Iqbal.

●A talk in English for fifteen minutes by Senator A. M. A. Azeez and a feature programme in Tamil for an hour and a half was relayed in the evening. The celebrations ended with a public meeting at Zahira College hall which was attended by elite of the Muslim community. Speaking on the occasion in Tamil, Moulvi Khalilur Rahman profusely quoted from works of Iqbal and pointed out how like a mujaddid of the century or of age, Allama Iqbal saved the Muslim community from downfall towards which they were leading by blindly and foolishly following the western civilization.68

●          Dawn and The Morning News informed that a group of distinguished Iqbal admires at Washington celebrated Iqbal Day at a function held at the auditorium of the new Washington Islamic Centre attended by a large number of Muslim diplomats and Americans nationals. The crowd heard American and Middle Eastern speakers variously laud Iqbal as a statesman who helped create a great nation; as a philosopher who synthesised the best of eastern and western culture, and as a poet whose brilliance assures him an immortal place.

●Tributes to Iqbal were paid in the Urdu, Persian and English languages by a group of speakers which included Syed Amjad Ali (1908-1997)69, Pakistani Ambassador at large who was then visiting America, Dr. Lotf Ali Suratgar of Iran, visiting professor of Persian language and culture at Columbia University  in New York; and Dr. George J. Candreva, head of the Urdu section of the VOA.

●Other speakers included Hassan Saad, First Secretary of the Lebanese Embassy at Washington and E. H. Enver a staff member of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington.70

●   Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Suratgar said that Iqbal’s greatest and most significant message is that of hope and the call for human effort. In Iqbal’s world, human happiness is only possible through toil and hard work. He calls the Asians to follow the Prophet of Islam’s e command, ‘Nothing avails man, but work’. Dr. Suratag continued that to Iqbal mental and physical happiness is possible only when the human body joins the mind of man in a positive effort to provide life with all the enjoyment that this earth can produce to care the burden of existence. This is indeed a message worthy of a brilliant poet and philosopher and a constructive reformer and architect, he concluded.71

●           Dr. Candreva while emphasising Iqbal’s ‘creative energy and leadership’ observed that Iqbal is among the very few who create anything that arrests that attention of men and compels fresh thought and it is because of this simple reason that he did think creatively and originally, he endures.

●Enver and Saad, who recited verses from Iqbal’s poetry, paid similar tributes.

●Syed Amjad Ali related Iqbal anecdotes, which he recalled from an association that began when he was a child of six and continued unbroken until the poet’s death in 1938.72

●The VOA also planned to broadcast an Urdu feature on ‘The universal element in Iqbal’s poetry’ during its Urdu broadcast for Pakistan.73

●          The Khyber Mail informed that The Institute for the Middle and Far East, Rome also celebrated the Iqbal Day with assistance of Pakistan legation. A musical programme arranged at the occasion was highly appreciated.  The well-known musician Aldo Mantia was deeply impressed by the Italian translation of Iqbal’s Javid Namah that moved him to compose incidental music to some of his poem.74

●The Civil and Military Gazette, Dawn and The Morning News reported that Iqbal Day was celebrated at the Hague at the Oriental Institute organised by the Pakistan charge d affairs, Lal Shah Bokhari (1906-1959)75 in co-operation with the Eastern Society in the Netherlands.

● Speaking on the occasion, Prof. J. J. H. Duyvendak, President of the Oriental Society in the Netherlands, said that Iqbal was a man of peace, ideas and vision. He pointed out the fitness of the commemoration at the Leiden University, age-old centre of Oriental study, which for so many years was the home of that great orientalist and student of Islam.

● Prof. C. Snouck Hurgronje. “It was in fact his pupil and successor, Prof. A. J. Wensinck, for several years honorary Secretary of our Oriental Society, who entered into correspondence with Iqbal and profoundly influenced his ideas on some very important points,” the Professor continued.

● Altaf Hussain, leader of the Pakistani Press delegation then visiting Netherlands, also addressed the meeting. He said that Iqbal sought a solution of the ills of humanity in working out synthesis of Eastern and Western ways of thought and patterns of life. The function was attended by a large gathering including the Egyptian and the Iranian Ministers, Indonesian High Commissioner and a number of Dutch intellectuals.76

●          Iqbal Day was also celebrated at Stockholm at a function held under the auspices of the Swedish-Pakistan Friendship Society.  Among those who attended were members of the diplomatic corps, especially those of the eastern countries, representatives of the various sections of Swedish society and local Pakistanis.77

●           Dr. Nils Gyllenbaga, a well-known Swedish litterateur, explained Iqbal to the gathering in terms of European poetry. “Iqbal,” he said, “was a symbol of the energetic activist strain of thought in undivided India which resulted in the setting up of Pakistan.”  Quoting extensively, he illustrated various aspects of Iqbal’s philosophy and poetry. He particularly referred to Asrar-i-Khudi, which in his opinion is Iqbal’s most important work and whose opening verses, summed up his philosophy, and observed that in its vigour and strength, it belied the average westerner’s conception of eastern poetry. He drew a parallel of this vital kind of poetry, in such Swedish authors as Heidenstam, Thorild and Kallgren from whom he quoted extensively comparing with Iqbal’s verses.

●Towards the end of the function, Ericson (one time Swedish Minister in Pakistan) Prof. Denner of Uppsala, Dr. Munthe Richerd, and Lady Pubn (a well-known author) held a brief discussion on Iqbal.78

●          The Civil and Military Gazette reported that Iqbal Day was observed at London by the Iqbal Society in Britain at the Islamic Cultural Centre with M. A. H. Isfahani (1902-1981)79, Pakistan High Commissioner to Britain in chair.

● Isfahani, in his presidential address said that Allama Iqbal’s outlook on life was based on the intensely humanistic system of thought given to the world by our Holy Prophet e.  He added that Iqbal stressed that Islam was a living faith, which placed the utmost importance on the individual.  As the first man in the East to attempt a reorientation of Muslim thought in the light of modern philosophical concepts, Iqbal’s work marked the renaissance of the Muslims.  The High Commissioner added that in our generation, Iqbal had restored to us pride in our past and inspired us with faith in our future, for it was through his verses that the vision of Pakistan was first glimpsed. His conception of the new state was the establishment of a society deeply interested in the service of humanity and in the promotion of peace and a state providing equal opportunities for all irrespective of colour, caste, or creed, he concluded.80

Even a cursory glance on the above materials would reveal that Allama Iqbal being the originator of the idea of newly established state enjoyed a special status among the Pakistani intelligentsia.  A survey of English dailies of Pakistan which existed during 1953 reveals that he was highly respected for his multi-dimensional services and his views were persistently quoted by renowned personalities of every walk of life, like writers, politicians, intellectuals, civil servants and theologians as guidelines to be pursued in reshaping the proposed structure of the motherland.  His ideas were presented as a panacea for all the ills and rallying point for the development of a sense of unity and oneness. 

Notes and References