Role of Iqbal, Akif lauded for awakening nations

LAHORE:Turkiye's Consul General Durmus Bastug said that Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif played an important role in the history of our nations by giving the lesson of independence and their thoughts will always live in our hearts.

He was addressing an international conference on the great thinkers of Pakistan and Turkiye Allama Iqbal and M Akif Ersoy organised by Punjab University Institute of Urdu Language and Literature at Sheerani Hall here on Wednesday.

On this occasion, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Director Institute of Urdu Language and Literature Prof Dr M Kamran, Home Economics University VC Prof Dr Faleeha Kazmi, Head of Yunus Emre Pakistan Dr Khalil Toqar, Executive Editor of Turkiye Urdu M Hassaan, researchers, faculty members and a large number of students were present.

In his address, Bastug said that Allama Iqbal and M Akif are saviors of their nations and both poets played a role in awakening their nations. He said that Allama Iqbal and Akif also played an active role against the capitalist system. He said that the thoughts of both the poets are just like torch-bearer for the youth even today. He said that both thinkers were concerned about the future of the youth. Iqbal and Akif emphasised the importance of education for the development of the Muslims, he said.

PU VC Dr Khalid Mahmood said that Allama Iqbal and Akif mainly focused on freedom and care for the Muslim Ummah. He said that Iqbal and Akif taught the lesson of greatness of hard work. He said that what is happening in Gaza today shows how free we are. He said that we got freedom from English people but could not get freedom from the English language. He said that those events covering events between Pakistan and other countries and where English is not the official language of the said country, should be conducted in national languages instead of English language.

Dr Faleeha Kazmi said that Allama Iqbal and M Akif changed the thoughts of the nations through their poetry. He said that both are great poets and thinkers of the Islamic world.

Dr Khalil Toqar said that the English language is not preferred in Turkiye. He said that people in Turkiye know Allama Iqbal very well and his poetry has been translated into Turkish. He said that Akif is the author of the national anthem of freedom. He said that Allama Iqbal’s speech is a torch for the Turkish nation as well. Dr Saadat also presented his paper in the conference.