Nation observes 134th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal

KARACHI: The nation observed the 134th birth anniversary of poet and philosopher Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal on Wednesday with traditional zeal and fervour.

The government of Pakistan announced a public holiday on the day to celebrate Allama Iqbal’s birthday.

A change of guard ceremony was held at Iqbal’s tomb in Lahore to mark the beginning of the celebrations.

Programmes will be broadcast on radio and television to pay tribute to the great scholar.

Born on November 9, 1877 in Sialkot, the Allama was a great representative of the subcontinent and an important personality for the Pakistan Movement, which is why he is also called Mufakir-i-Pakistan.

Special tribute is paid every year on this day for Iqbal’s vision of a separate country for Muslims of the sub-continent by infusing a revolutionary spirit in the nation through his poetry. His poetry has been translated in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, English and several other languages.

The day started with a guard changing ceremony at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal in Lahore. People from different walks of life also visit the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal to pay tribute and offer Fateha to the great scholar of the sub-continent.

The national flag was also hoisted on government buildings on the day throughout the country.

Scout rallies and march past of school children were also held to mark the occasion. An exhibition of books and relics of the Allama at the Iqbal Museum, Lahore, National Museum, Karachi and Iqbal Manzil, Sialkot were also planned to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.

Allama Iqbal died on April 21, 1938.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2011