NOWSHERA: Speakers at a special programme arranged here on Wednesday urged the youth to read the poetry of Allama Muhammad Iqbal for understanding the message of the great poet-philosopher.
The programme was hosted at the Government Girls Degree College at Pabbi to mark the 146th birth anniversary of the national poet of the country, who has an international following as well.
The main speakers included Prof Syed Ghayur Hussain, a known Persian language scholar, Dr Faqira Khan Faqri, a former chairman of the Department for Urdu Studies, University of Peshawar, and Professor Dr Shaheen Umar, the principal of the college.
Prof Syed Ghayur Hussain, a literatus from Astarzai area of the Kohat district, who has taught Persian for over 40 years and has authored several books on the language, said the unmatched poetry of Allama Iqbal in Urdu and Persian inspired the Muslims of the subcontinent during the crucial phase of struggle for freedom.He said Allama Iqbal conveyed his thoughts through his philosophical poetry in Persian and Urdu.
“He gave a great message to the Muslims that covered various aspects. His poetry left a great impact on the Muslims of the subcontinent,” said the professor who has designed Persian language courses of study for university students.
Prof Ghayur said that Allama Iqbal had a great love for the Persian and that was reflected in his poetry whose greater part— two-thirds — was in Persian.
Naming the Persian and Urdu poetic collections of the national poet, Prof Syed Ghayur Hussain said that Allama Iqbal composed nearly 15,000 poetic verses - 9000 in Persian and 6000 in Urdu. “All his poetry is full of the message which should be comprehended, especially by the youth,” he stressed.
Prof Dr Faqira Khan Faqri, who is considered an expert on Allama Iqbal works and has remained chairman of the Persian Department of the University of Peshawar in the past, said what Allama Iqbal through his poetry called for Pan-Islamism.
He quoted from the verses from poetic collections such as Javid Nama, Zaboor-e-Ajam, Asrar-e-Khudi, Ramuz-e-Khudi , Payam-e-Mashriq and Armughan-e-Hijaz for elaboration.The speaker said Allama Iqbal’s poetry had crossed the physical borders as he was widely respected not only in the subcontinent but also in Islamic Republic of Iran and in regions where Persian language was spoken and understood.
Prof Dr Shaheen Umar said the poetry of Allama Iqbal had a great appeal not only for the subcontinent but also for all other regions where Muslims were living.She said it was the substance of the message contained in the poetry of Allama Iqbal that attracted the scholars of other languages to translate his works into their languages.
Prof Dr Shaheen Umar advised the students to read and fully grasp the thoughts contained in the poetry of Allama Iqbal as that had a great message for the Muslim youth and motivated them to struggle hard for achieving excellence.The function ended at the distribution of souvenirs and shields.
