Remembering Allama Iqbal

Inquirer -

I do not know if you ever watched the documentary by Discovery Times on Pakistan and the Nuclear Jehad. If you didn`t then do care to look into it. In addition to that, there are a few others that will be aired sometime in May. The documentary was excellently done. It was thought provoking, but kind of sad. When you watch the documentary in light of some couplets by Iqbal, there are issues. And the issues are mostly around the interpretation.

The very thought about...

~Millat Kae Saath Rabtae Ustavaa`r Rakh
Pae`vastaa Reh Shajar Sae Umeedae` Bahar Rakh

What if that millat believes in going for a mad Jehad? What if that millat believes in launching taliban style government in NWFP and the rest of the provinces? What if that millat continues to tear down any posters with the pictures of women, music, poetry and prose? What if that millat does not believe in giving women equal rights and roles? These were some of the important issues that were brought up in the documentary led by a female Pakistani journalist/documentary specialist. I have forgotten the woman`s name. Her tour to NWFP and some areas where the guns and other stuff is made and sold to anyone who can pay was an eye opener and of immense concern.

Iqbal died in 1938. Today is his 68th death anniversary. To tell you the truth, I did not even remember that he never got to see the results of his ideologues. I think his focus on millat/ummah was the result of what was happening during the pre-partition days. As a Muslim, he had certain expectations from his fellow Muslims. And he wanted the Muslims to be at a certain level of perfection, class and goodness. Like any other poet, his poetry kind of led us to believe in those images. Those images could be of belief, hope, concern for the youth, love, knowledge and hundreds of other areas.

Following are a few beautiful examples:

Na Ho Nau`meed, Nau`meedi Zavalae` Ilm`o`Irfaan Hae
Umeed Murdae` Momin hae Khuda kae Raaz`danoan Mae

Tae`rae Sofae` Haen Afrangi, Tae`rae Kaleen Irani
Lahoo Mujh Ko Rulati Hae Javanoan Kee Tun Asaani

In my view, in today`s day and age that much focus on millat/ummah is not healthy for the Muslims. This focus on ummah will isolate the Muslims from the rest of the world. It will always be us vs. them. And that`s where some of his couplets can be misread or misinterpreted.

On the other end, Jawahra brought up an interesting point on Ummah in one of her interacts under her article on FGM. Among Muslims(I cannot say about others), the concept, pupose and evolution of Ummah is debatable and needs more intellectual discussion to either have a consensus or a better understanding.

Just like nuclear technology, poetry and religion can be used or abused to achieve certain objectives. Ironically, those objective do not need to be in compliance with human well being.

Re: # 193, ZahraJ:
Due to a hectic weekend, I am replying now.

You probably have had epiphanies in your write-ups and I do not know enough Urdu to fully respond to the couplets quoted by you.

One thing is clear that you have pain due to ``misuse`` of Iqbal by the wicked in ummah. That is most likely to be true, i.e., Iqbal may have been deliberately misunderstood and exploited for the politicians` purposes. However, my pain is more fundamental because I feel that he was exploited by the British politicians and he, himself, fell victim to the clever ruses and fate. I grant him his fate but I want to learn and identify the unfortunate circumstances which moved him from the content of your comment in #45 to the divider he himself became. Forget the petty and obviously exploitative politicians.

So what are we to do? My compromise is that I enjoy the literature but discard the social philosophy of Iqbal, particularly in the context of the United South Asia. I am not naa-ummiid about the return of sane conditions that would obviate the division/partition. Yes, such of my generation may not live to see the change but while we are there we will strengthen understanding and toleration and try to make do with - what I believe - are petty quarrels. Vo subah kabhii to aayegii.

India has adopted the path of reconciliation by accepting the Mulims in India and giving them same fundamental rights as any other Indian irrespective of the Iqbal`s ``two nations theory`` and the achivement of the fruit thereof by Jinnah. My fond hope is that the new generations of South Asians will abrogate the illusion that was engendered by International Politics and the local promoters of dstrust among the people (period).

Finally, I urge you to pursue your epiphany/reevalution of the deluding concepts of ummah/millat or whatever that leads to systematic division of people(period). I would enjoy the pursuit if you are willing to undergo the labor of a Chowk article.

Naqshbandi sahib:

I missed your post completely. here is Iqbal on Khushhaal Khan.

It is called the : Last Will of Khushhaal Khan Khataak. Very Powerful indeed!

Re: # 194

I am not sure if you got my drift. I am strongly against this ummah concept, but there is some clear-cut poetry that tries to bring the ummah together. It is great to bring any community together when you have a constructive goal on the horizon. It`s horrible to use ummah-centric poetry to wage jehad or destruction in the world. Unfortunately, there is more emphasis on the latter vs. the former. Beyond that, this subject area is of least interest to me. My lack of interest should not hold you back from discussing or analyzing this subject area. I am sure there are many on Chowk (excluding me) who would love to comment on your discoveries in this context.

``I am strongly against this ummah concept, there is some clear-cut poetry that tries to bring the ummah together.``
****I do not even know what ummah is other than the interaction I have had with you in this board. It seems that it is a pan-ethnic effort to organize Muslims against all other religions. If this is correct, it is a totally absurd and suicidal. The prostitution of poetry to that end will result in the decline of the language that has that kind of poetry.****

``It`s horrible to use ummah-centric poetry to wage jehad or destruction in the world. ``

****I have already indicated my agreement above.****

As for my expectations from you: I assumed that being a Muslim you might have greater knowledge of the fall of Iqbal, particularly in view of #45. Of course, it is perfectly OK to not worry about that aspect of Iqbal`s life. As I have clearly stated in #194, my objectives are two: Firstly, if Iqbal has fabricated interesting thoughts, I would like to enjoy them. Secondly, I would like to promote South Asia.