RAWALPINDI: National Council for Sufism (NCS), in collaboration with Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC), on Friday organised a seminar, titled “Allama Iqbal: Life, Philosophy and Unity of the Muslim Nation”, to mark the 140th birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
Renowned scholar Dr Ghazanfar Mehdi presided over the seminar while Punjab chief minister’s Coordinator on Religious Harmony Khalil Kamran was the chief guest on the occasion.
Speaking at the seminar, Dr Ghazanfar Mehdi said that Iqbal’s poetry had set a milestone for youth to play a positive role in the development of the country. He said that it was important to remember the services of our national heroes in the creation of the country as a way to strengthen its ideology.
He further said that more emphasis should be placed on remembering the services of our national heroes by holding cultural and other relevant activities in educational institutions.
Khalil Kamran said that Iqbal was generally remembered as a philosopher, thinker and poet, but the fact that he was also a lawyer was seldom discussed in lectures and seminars.
Paying homage to the services of Allama Iqbal, National Council for Sufism Chairman Dr Allama Ayaz Zaheer Hashmi said that Iqbal promoted the two-nation theory, convinced Quaid-e- Azam to take command of the Muslim League and urged Muslims to struggle for a separate homeland, all through his poetry.
The seminar was also addressed by other renowned scholars and intellectuals who highlighted different aspects of Iqbal’s life, philosophy and message to the youth.