The era of Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal

Born on November 9, 1877 in Sialkot¹, Punjab, British India, the national poet of Pakistan Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a lawyer by profession. A well educated both in the east and in the west Iqbal was politically conscious personality widely known for his significant writings such as patriotic song ‘Sare Jahan se accha Hidustan hamara’² and poetic works Asrar-e-Khudi(Secrets of the Self)³ and Bang-e-Dara (The Call of the Marching Bell)⁴.

While staying In London for studying law and philosophy he became a member of the London branch of the All-India Muslim League. In November 1926, Iqbal contested for a seat in the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Muslim district of Lahore⁵ and defeated his opponent.

  

Sir Muhammad Iqbal was elected president of the Muslim League in 1930 at its session in Allahabad⁶, in the United Province. He also elected President for the session in Lahore in 1932. It is remarkable that in his presidential address on 29 December 1930, Iqbal outlined a vision of an independent state for Muslim-majority provinces in northwestern India:

"I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province⁷, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-government within the British Empire, or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated Northwest Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of Northwest India.

It may be noted here that he reiterated is views also in his Presidential address for the session in Lahore in 1932.

He travelled Europe and West Asia to accumulate political and financial feedback for the League. Besides, during the Third Round-Table Conference, he denied the Congress and proposals for transfer of power without considerable autonomy or independence for Muslim majority areas.

Iqbal had a great influence on Jinnah. He requested him to end his self-imposed exile in London and returned to India. He also requested him to take over the charge of the Muslim League. In this regard, he wrote to Jinnah:

"I know you are a busy man but I do hope you won't mind my writing to you often, as you are the only Muslim in India today to whom the community has right to look up for safe guidance through the storm which is coming to North-West India and, perhaps, to the whole of India."

Iqbal had a perfect political thought about the Muslims in India. On the political outlook of Muslims in India, Iqbal said:

"There is only one way out. Muslims should strengthen Jinnah's hands. They should join the Muslim League. Indian question, as is now being solved, can be countered by our united front against both the Hindus and the English. Without it, our demands are not going to be accepted. People say our demands smack of communalism. This is sheer propaganda. These demands relate to the defense of our national existence.... The united front can be formed under the leadership of the Muslim League. And the Muslim League can succeed only on account of Jinnah. Now none but Jinnah is capable of leading the Muslims."

Iqbal concisely described to Jinnah his dream of a separate Muslim state in a letter posted on 21 June 1937:

"A separate federation of Muslim Provinces, reformed on the lines I have suggested above, is the only course by which we can secure a peaceful India and save Muslims from the domination of Non-Muslims. Why should not the Muslims of North-West India and Bengal be considered as nations entitled to self-determination just as other nations in India and outside India are.

Political Timeline of Muhammad Iqbal:

§  1877: Born at Sialkot (present-day pakistan) on Friday, November 9, 1877. Kashmiri origin.

§  1913: Wrote History of India for middle school students, Lahore.

§  1915: Resigned from professorship to spread the message of Islam.

§  1923: Awarded Knighthood⁸ at Lahore on January 1, 1923.

§  1926: Elected to Punjab Legislative Council, Lahore (1926–1929).

§  1930: President, All-India Muslim League. Elaborated on the idea of an independent Muslim state in his presidential speech at Allahabad.

§  1931:Participated in Motamar-Alam-e-Islami (World Muslim Conference)⁹ in Palestine. Participated in the Second Round table Conference¹⁰, London, September 7–December 31, 1931.

§  1932:Participated in the Third Round Table Conference, London, November 17–December 24, 1932.

§  1933: Iqbal met Mussolini¹¹ in Rome after Mussolini expressed his interest to meet him.

§  1938: Iqbal died at Lahore on April 21, 1938.