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Allama Iqbal / Quaid-e-Azam / Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Allama Iqbal (Sir Muhammad Iqbal or Dr. Muhammad Iqbal)
The political situation in the 1920s had compelled Allama Iqbal to enter in politics. While contesting for the membership of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Allama Iqbal said,
“I have been aloof from all such activities. But now the miseries of the community are compelling me to broaden my sphere of activity. May be, my humble existence is of some use to this community.”
The poet, philosopher and politician of the East, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal (or popularly known as Allama Iqbal) was born on 9 November 1877. Iqbal is called “Mufakkir-e-Pakistan” (or “The thinker of Pakistan”) as he initiated the idea of separation and inspired the Pakistan Movement. Iqbal is also called “Shair-e-Mashrik” (or “Poet of the East”) having literary work in both the Urdu and Persian languages. Allama Iqbal is the national poet of Pakistan. In Iran and Afghanistan, Iqbal is highly appreciated for his Persian work. In India he is remembered as the author of the enduring patriotic and unofficial national anthem; Tarana-e-Hindi (or Saare Jahaan Se Achcha song).
EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
Allama Iqbal did his matric from Scotch Mission College, Sialkot in 1893, and Intermediate from Murray College, Sialkot in 1895. He completed his B.A in Philosophy with English Literature and Arabic in 1897, and M.A in Philosophy in 1899 form Government College, Lahore where he worked as junior professor of Philosophy.
EDUCATION IN EUROPE
In 1905, Allama Iqbal proceeded to England for higher education. He obtained B.A in Philosophy and Law from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1906, and in the same year he was called to the bar as a barrister from Lincoln’s Inn. In 1907, Allama Iqbal left for Germany and obtained PhD degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich for a doctoral thesis on “The Development of Metaphysics in Persia” in 1908.
He returned to India in 1908 and joined the Government College, Lahore again as a professor of Philosophy and English Literature and started his legal practice. But soon Iqbal quit his law practice and resigned from the college. Iqbal who had attracted the attention of his country-men from the early age, devoted himself in literary works and became an active member of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam (or “Society for the Defence of Islam”.) By the time he was recognized as the most eminent poet of India. In 1919, he became the general secretary of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam. In 1922, he was given the title of “Sir” by King George V.
ALLAMA IQBAL IN POLITICS
Iqbal who had already a member of the London branch of the All India Muslim League when he was studying law and philosophy in England, compelled by the political situation in the 1920s to enter in politics actively. He was elected as member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on 23 November 1926. He strived for the rights of Indian Muslims in a practical way. Allama Iqbal was elected as president of the All India Muslim League in 1930 and in his presidential address in Allahabad on 29 December 1930, Allama Iqbal said,
“I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-government within the British Empire, or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated Northwest Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of Northwest India.”
The poet-politician’s voice was loud, but it was to take his community some more years of hard experience to grasp the practical value of this idea. Allama Iqbal attended the second session of Round Table Conference which began on 7 September 1931 and closed on 1 December 1931. The Congress leaders’ attitude in the conference had convinced Allama Iqbal to consolidate Muslim position.
ALLAMA IQBAL’S LETTERS TO THE QUAID-E-AZAM
Iqbal firmly believed that Quaid-e-Azam was the only leader who could fight for the rights of Indian Muslims. Allama Iqbal improved his thesis in the course of a few years (1932-1937) and wrote to Jinnah,
“I know you are a busy man but I do hope you won’t mind my writing to you often, as you are the only Muslim in India today to whom the community has right to look up for safe guidance through the storm which is coming to North-West India and, perhaps, to the whole of India.”
In another letter to the Quaid-e-Azam, Iqbal wrote,
“After a long and careful study of Islamic Law I have come to the conclusion that if this system of law is properly understood and applied, at least the right to subsistence is secured to everybody. But the enforcement and development of the Shariat of Islam is impossible in this country without a free Muslim state or states.”
He further stated,
“If such a thing is impossible in India the only other alternative is Civil War which, as a matter of fact, has been going on for some time in the shape of Hindu-Muslim riots. I fear that in certain parts of the country, e.g. North-West India, Palestine may be repeated.”
Iqbal reiterated Jinnah his dream of a separate Muslim state in a letter sent on 21 June 1937. Iqbal stated,
“A separate federation of Muslim Provinces, reformed on the lines I have suggested above, is the only course by which we can secure a peaceful India and save Muslims from the domination of Non-Muslims. Why should not the Muslims of North-West India and Bengal be considered as nations entitled to self-determination just as other nations in India and outside India are.”
Finally, in order to understand Iqbal’s thesis, one has to keep in mind the political, economic and social condition of India at that time. Iqbal firmly believed that Muslims of India could fitly be described as a nation in the modern sense of the word. Iqbal strived for the rights of Indian Muslims and was seeking a separate homeland for them, where they formed majority. Unfortunately, Iqbal could not see his dream in the shape of Pakistan and died in Lahore on 21 April 1938.