Sir Dr. Allama Muhammad IQBAL

IQBAL, Sir Muhammad IQBAL, Sir Muhammad, also spelled MUHAMMAD IQBAL (b. Nov. 9, 1877, Sialkot, Punjab, India [now in Pakistan]--d. April 21, 1938, Lahore, Punjab), Indian poet and philosopher, known for his influential efforts to direct his fellow Muslims toward the establishment of a separate Muslim state, an aspiration that was eventually realized in the country of Pakistan. He was knighted in 1922.

Life and Career Sketch:
IQBAL was born at Sialkot, Pakistan (then India), of a pious family of small merchants and was educated at Murray College Sialkot and later on at Government College, Lahore. In Europe from 1905 to 1908, he earned his degree in philosophy from the University of Cambridge, qualified as a barrister in London, and received a doctorate from the University of Munich. His thesis, The Development of Metaphysics in Persia, revealed some aspects of Islamic mysticism formerly unknown in Europe.

On his return from Europe, he gained his livelihood by the practice of law, but his fame came from his Persian- and Urdu-language poetry, which was written in the classical style for public recitation. Through poetic symposia and in a milieu in which memorizing verse was customary, his poetry became widely known, even among the illiterate. Almost all the cultured Indian and Pakistani Muslims of his and later generations have had the habit of quoting IQBAL.

After a long period of ill health, IQBAL died in April 1938 and was buried in front of the great Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. Two years later, the Muslim League voted for the idea of Pakistan. That the poet had influenced the making of that decision, which became a reality in 1947, is undisputed. He has been acclaimed as the father of Pakistan, and every year IQBAL Day is celebrated by Pakistanis.

SIALKOT, Nov 8: No serious effort has ever been made to preserve the 142-year-old Iqbal Manzil, the birthplace of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

The district government and the local business community have been unable to honour their commitments in arranging the funds required to save this forgotten national heritage which is now in a state of utter disrepair.

Various social organizations and NGOs drew attention of the district government towards this burning issue, but district Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid preferred to spend millions of rupees on beatifying offices of the Zila Nazim and district government. The district government did not bother to allocate even a single penny for the repair of Iqbal Manzil.

About three years ago, the Sialkot business community had promised to bear all expenditures for the repair and reconstruction of Iqbal Manzil, but so far nothing has been done in this respect.
Its creaked doors, rickety walls and cracked roofs speak of the sheer neglect shown by the authorities concerned. This has also resulted in a marked decline of visitors which have now reduced to only two dozen daily. Earlier, some 300 people would pay visit to the place every day.
The government had purchased the building from Allama Iqbal's family and handed it over to the Pakistan Archaeology Department, declaring it as a national heritage.
Some of the portions of the building have been reopened to visitors by the present government, but it's upper storeys are still closed due to their dilapidating condition. Its front elevation is comparatively in better condition as it has been whitewashed while the back portion is entirely ignored.
The Islamabad-based Chinese journalists had visited the Iqbal Manzil on Sept 14 last and expressed their grave concern over the miserable condition of the building. They also urged the Pakistan government to take some effective measures for the upkeep of the building.
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had also visited the birthplace of Allama Iqbal after his death in 1938 and spoke the people from its balcony.
Various presidents and prime ministers had visited Iqbal Manzil and paid only 'homage' to Allama Iqbal, but did nothing for the uplift of the rundown building.
During his recent visits to Sialkot, Governor Khalid Maqbool went every where but he did not visit Iqbal Manzil.
The government has also established a library on Iqbaliyaat at Allama Iqbal's house but one can hardly benefit from the unique books kept there. Rare pictures of Allama Iqbal and his family also require proper care.
The captions of various pictures also need to be rewritten. Iqbal's famous hookah, fireplace and other belongings are also catching rust.