LAHORE: Speakers paid glowing tributes to the great poet, philosopher and thinker Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal in a ceremony that was held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Thursday to mark the 140th birth anniversary of one of the widely read poets of the world.
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Syed Mansoor Ali Shah presided over the event that was jointly organized by Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex and Markaziya Majlis-e-Iqbal while a Turkish professor Dr Halil Toker and daughter-in-law of the renowned poet Justice (r) Nasira Javed Iqbal participated as the chief guests.
In his presidential address, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that it is the duty of every single individual to work tirelessly for the improvement of the system and the teachings of Allama Iqbal also urge us to do so.
Justice Shah said that he has been reading Iqbal since his student life but he started comprehending him only after taking the charge as a judge and the poetry of Iqbal also helps him write judgments fearlessly.
CJ read different verses from the poetry of Iqbal throughout his speech and urged the youth and children present in the hall in huge numbers to follow the footprints of the great philosopher. He further added that Iqbal firmly believed in innovation and bringing change in the existing system and therefore he has brought many innovations in the judicial system of the Punjab even though he faced resistance from the people of his own fraternity in doing so.
“Aayen-e-Nau Se Darna, Tarz-e-Kuhan Pe arna….. Manzil Yehi Kathan Hy Qoumon Ki Zindagi Mein, (To be afraid of the new ways, to insist on the old ones……This is the only difficult stage in the life of Nations,” he recited the verse of Iqbal and said that everyone must see the things through new dimensions.
Chairman Aiwan-e-Iqbal and Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami said on the occasion that he also believes in the message of hope given by Iqbal but he does not want to live in the illusion anymore keeping in view the overall current political situation of the country.
“All the state institutions must work while staying within their constitutional limits while our superior judiciary did not show any ‘Judicial Restraint’ in past some time,” he said. He further added that Nawaz Sharif should also read the ‘writing on the wall’ and allow the system to proceed as well. He also lamented that our politicians indulge in personal animosity whenever the time to reap the fruit of democracy approaches.
Turkish professor Dr Halil Toker said in his speech that Allama Iqbal is not an alien to the Turkish people as they regard him in high esteem and think that Iqbal is a Turkish poet. “The teachings of Iqbal are guiding principles for us as the Turkish people have learnt a lot from his poetry and still we are on the path to learning from his philosophy,” he said while adding that the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is himself a diehard follower of Iqbal.
Dr Halil further added that we have built a symbolic grave of Allama Iqbal just outside the shrine of Maulana Rumi to pay rich tribute to the great poet.
It is important to note that the first time Iqbal day was celebrated was in the lifetime of the great poet on January 1938 in Lahore.
Muneeb Iqbal, grandson of Allama Iqbal said in his speech that earlier four judges were included in the Markaziya Majlis-e-Iqbal and he suggested to the CJ that judges should also be included in the Majlis-e-Iqbal again.
He furhter said that it is good to see that hundreds of events are being organized to mark the birth anniversary of Iqbal and he spent three days in Sialkot in the house where Iqbal was born just last week and people were coming in droves to pay homage to the great poet. He also lauded the services of Arif Nizami while saying that he has been diligently organising the events of Iqbal Day for the last two decades in Lahore.
Earlier in the day, columnists Orya Maqbool Jan, Sajjad Mir, Dr Hussain Ahmed Paracha, Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar and Justice retired Nasira Javed Iqbal also addressed the participants.