Remembering Allama Iqbal

Allama Iqbal was the Einstein of Islamofascism........

[Offtopic].

This topic reminds me of a Letter to Editor that I read in The Nation (paki newspaper). One
guy had read how Iqbals` granddad was converted to Islam. The poor chap was so
distraught and said that Indians` were spreading misinformation on the Internet. He also
asked for some ``knowledgable`` muslim to provide the correct account.
Nobody responded.

An excerpt from Autumn Leaves by Ram Nath Kak may be recalled:

“Another interesting case of a different type is that of Mohammad Iqbal, the poet and originator of the idea of Pakistan. His grandfather Sahaj Ram Sapru, a revenue collector, embezzled funds and when discovered, the Afghan governor Azim Khan gave him the choice of death or conversion to Islam. Sahaj Ram Sapru chose life and, assuming new names (Shaikh Rafiq was one), he and his family moved to Sialkot in the (sic) Punjab. Later Iqbal never acknowledged his native Kashmiri and Indian tradition that his grandfather had been so cruelly forced to renounce.”

a sympathetic article on iqbal from kamath

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/vds.htm

Re: # 3

Mishra Sahib, what is grandpas have to do with what Iqbal’s ideology represents? Do you mean to say that if Gandhi’s father was a convicted thief, Indians should reject the Bapu?

His favorite food was Palao and Maash ki Daal (Maash Lentil).

Now 2 shaers for you:

Iqbal baRa updayshak hey, mun batooN maeN monh leta hey
Guftaar ka who Ghazi tu bana, Kirdar ka Ghazi ban na Saka

And

Masjid tu bana di shab bhar maeN, eemaN ki hararat walooN nay
Mun apna purana papee tha, barssoN maeN nimazi ban na Saka

His motivational, inspirational, and philosophical poetry alone is enough of an accomplishment for any human being. He is one of a kind. My only issue with Iqbal is that every thing in Lahore is named after him – from Airport to roads, to restaurants, to Haji da Chabba to PikoRa stand and bicycle repair shop near my house. Let Iqbal rest in peace.

Peace.

i remember the republic day parade with the indian army band playing iqbals song.

This is the major difference between the commentators of India and Pakistan. A Pakistani would dwelve deep into the religious moorings and quote extensively the link between the religion and Pakistan. However, if one wants a scholarly insight into the life of Iqbal, one must read a book by Rajmohan Gandhi on Great Indian Muslims. He chronicled the lives - political lives - of Syed Ahmed Khan, Iqbal, Jinnah, Mohmmed Ali et al.

To say that Iqbal sought the Unity of Ummah, then he should have sought the integration of all muslim countries. He never did it.

As a person of Kashmiri origin (he was the first generation of Hindu-Pandit convert to Islam), he was mild in his approach and mostly scholarly in his outlook. He was heading the All India Muslim League, when Jinnah was too tired of his isolation in Muslim League, not to mention the two factions of the ML going in two different directions in their political journies; Iqbal came in as a perfect foil for gluing the bickering factions of All India Muslim League: too soothing and two mild to be faction leader of the All India body of Muslims. His speeches, true his learning, were too scholarly and tangetial too the issues of Muslim League. On a larger canvass, we can say that he envisaged a unit (not an independent one) within India as a homeland for Muslims in India. At that time Rahmat Ali did not bring out his famous Pakistan pamphlet. Round Table meetings were being held in London. Even on religion he was for interpretation of the precepts than for staraight-jacket application of Quranic prescriptions in our lands. That was something nobody can dare say, leave alone speakout from a podium in our region.

Farzana gets it wrong that India and Pakistan were partitioned. Wrong. It was India that was partitioned into Hindustan and Pakistan. On legalese Hindustan claimed the title of India and Pakistan couldn`t for the obvious political reasons, though Pakistan has the first claim for the title of India as Indus river goes through Pakistan like a spinal chrod through a fish. Dont forget that India was the country of river Indus. Thank god, you didn`t change the name to river Pakistan. For our luck, we claimed the zillion dollar worth brand name, India. In fact Jinnah bickered with Nehru on Hindustan replacing India in International fora. He contested that neither of which (two: Hinduatn and Pakistan) could claim to succeed India in international sphere (Page 480, Transfer of Power Vol XI, the Indian affiars on 17th June 1947).

If a scholar like Mr. Stephen Cohen (author of `Idea of Pakistan`) writes that Pakistanis are Indians, he is not crazy of foolish. One should read and re-read the word partition to know what it connotes. Imagine a big palace. Two brothers fought for the property, say Taj palace. The Guardian of the two gave major portion, say ``A`` to the elder brother and younger brother was given a portion ``B``. The owner of portion ``A`` claimed the title of Taj palace and owner of portion of ``B`` called his portion by some other name. Now Taj palace was partitioned into A and B. Both A and B are parts of Taj palalce. Therefore, dear author, you cant say A and B are partitioned. That`s how the word partition is explained. Pakistan, by all means is part of India (Indian Subcontinent) but not part of Indian Union/ Indian Republic.

As for the religious subject in the Iqbal`s life. it`s all too familiar and we appreciate his knowledge. Dont take his work as a idealogical backgound for creation of Pakistan though this this idea was partly true. His advocay for creation of Ummah is not understandable, though. However idealistic, the idea would remain on paper for all times. Even arabs of Arabian peninsula Yemen, UAE, Oman and KSA can`t unify into one unit, then forget about the unification of all Muslim countries. Same is the case with Hindu kindom of Nepal, Indian Union and Christian countries like USA, Canada and Mexico of North America and all catholic countries of South America and same is the case with Europe.

#7 by VRV

Thank you sir for an excellent post! On this site, we rarely see people with a fresh and humanitarian perspective of the cultural relations between the two countries.
I Agree with most of what you wrote.

Appreciate your candor and insight. Look forward to reading your posts.

#2 by wiseguyin
``[Offtopic]
This topic reminds me of a Letter to Editor that I read in The Nation (paki newspaper). ``

Off topic continued: This is how the hordes of computer operators that we have allowed in this country waste their employer`s time and resources, causing a drain on our overall economy too. Reading ``Letters to Editor`` of ``The Nation``, whoa!! What kind of Pakistan obsessed maniac Hindutva freak will read ``Letters to Editor`` of ``The Nation``?

Re: # 6, jang:

Saare jahaan se achchhaa Hindostaan hamaaraa,
Ham bulbulein hain usskii, wo gulsitaan hamaara.

Mazhab nahiin sikhaataa aapas mein bair rakhna,
Hindi hain ham vatan hai Hindostaan hamaaraa.

Iqbal was and is a great poet but Farzana, the reality is generally the reverse of what you state in:
``...it is one of the ironies of life that turbulent times foster loftiness of character and human endeavor ...``
Greatness generally emerges in the peaceful times; it is true that the turmoil often provides it an opportunity to become known. There is as much chance of degeneration in of quality in turmoil as in enhancement.

In the examples that you quote two out of three degenerated while one transcended to greater height. Let me explain.

Jinnah as well as Iqbal both of whom were persons of great quality during the peaceful times at a great cost to themselves fell from height. I cannot say what led to a volte face in the case of Iqbal but during last five years of life he did not qualify for the lines he once penned. People who are informed about the trials and tribulations that he went through should shed light on the salient features. However, Jinnah just out of the bitternes that Gandhi ji had displaced him as a Congress leader became vindictive, obsessed and did things that would denigrate him in History. He probably joined in the underhanded conspiracy with the British to drag down the resurgent India. This can be known for sure only if the British-Indian Papers in the British Archives become available to the Public.

Gandhi ji, on the other hand, rose to far greater heights. He could have easily(!), easy for me to say, abandoned his considerate approach for Muslims and lower caste Hindus. The power to rule India existed with him forever. Nehru and Patel and every other leader in India would have loved to work under him. But he chose the more difficult path. He upheld the right of the secessionist Muslims for the part of Indian treasury. He even protected them in Noakhali at the moment of glory on August 15, 1947. If only he had just once renounced the support for Indian Muslims it would be impossible for ANY OF THEM to continue to live in India. Every single one of them would have been issued a foreigner`s visa and put on the train to Pakistan.

Returning to Iqbal, he was no doubt a great poet but unfortunately he prostituted himself in the social and people`s service field. Due to this his stature as a human being is, forever, diminished. That does not mean that we can not - should not - enjoy is way with words. As a philosopher he is confined to the small cause he championed.

Re: # 9
Sir jee, I have the right to entertainment. It is fun watching pakis rant and rave about the
most freaking nonissues.
C`mon, dont be so cruel; us lowly coders also have the right to be entertained :p

#5 by Kulharee
``Mishra Sahib, what is grandpas have to do with what Iqbal’s ideology represents? Do you mean to say that if Gandhi’s father was a convicted thief, Indians should reject the Bapu?``

Kul sahib, he doesn`t have a problem with gramps being a thief, pilferage being a time honored banya traditions. Rather we are troubled by his conversion. Grandpa should have, like pkusra`s anscestor, accepted death over conversion and impaled himself on Azim Khan`s sword!

Are you kidding me? Nation has the best columns and letters to editor. My only competing favourite is the columnist in News...Shireen Mazari.

``Reading ``Letters to Editor`` of ``The Nation``, whoa!! What kind of Pakistan obsessed maniac Hindutva freak will read ``Letters to Editor`` of ``The Nation``?
``

The same kind of India obsessed maniac who subscribes to Indian channels and hums the tune of South Indian songs. BWAHAHAHA!!

``Are you kidding me? Nation has the best columns and letters to editor. My only competing favourite is the columnist in News``

Jokers really love comic sites....

Kulharee: Ali is right. There are plenty of thieves, and a thief only disgraces himself. A convert disgraces his religion, heritage and family name.