Urdu Poetry / Shayari

THE Pakistan Urdu Literary Society (Halqa-e-Adab) will celebrate Iqbal Day on Friday, marking the 130th birth anniversary of Pakistan’s national leader and poet Allama Mohammed Iqbal.

The event will be held at the Bahrain Society of Engineers in Juffair at 5.30pm and all Pakistani community members are welcome to attend.

Separate seats for women will be available.

Iqbal is best known for his poetic works, including Asrar-e-Khudi – which brought a knighthood – Rumuz-e-Bekhudi, and the Bang-e-Dara, with its enduring patriotic song Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Humara (India is the best amongst the whole world).

Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation across the world, specifically in India.

One of the most prominent leaders of the All India Muslim League, Iqbal encouraged the creation of a "state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims” in his 1930 presidential address.

Iqbal encouraged and worked closely with Muhammad Ali Jinnah and he is known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (The Thinker of Pakistan), Shair-e-Mashriq (The Poet of the East), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat (The Sage of Ummah).

He is officially recognised as the "national poet” in Pakistan.

Highlights of the programme will be the welcome speech by the society chairman Rizwan Mumtaz.

No nation can afford to allow the memories and achievements of its heroes fade into oblivion, said Mr Mumtaz.

"Iqbal Day has always been a traditional programme at the Pakistan Club, actively participated by the members from all walks of life.”

Local poets Abdulhaq Arif, Mohammed Ashraf Asim, Mohammed Anwar Bhatti, Anwar Bhatti, Iqbal Tariq and Riaz Shahid will join poets from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and recite highlights of Iqbal’s inspirational poetry, followed by a quiz competition.

For more information, contact society vice-chairman Mohammed Shafeeq on 39629048.