Although the federal government’s decision on restoring the holiday falling on the birth anniversary of Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal has amused all and sundry, the day affords the Pakistani nation, particularly the young generation, a much-needed time and space for soul searching and to revisit the sublime message of the great philosopher of the previous century to usher the nation to a path of self-reliance and independence. It is tragic to note that our young generation has either totally forgotten the message and philosophy of Allama Iqbal, or they woefully overlooked the heroic achievements of our national heroes amid a mundane race for self-aggrandizement.
Allama Iqbal through his inspirational message of Khudi, which in broader terms means self-respect and self-confidence, imbued a vision of self-realization in the young generation so that the nation can be safely steered through the turbulent times ahead.
History is witness to the fact that other nations, particularly those in our neighborhood, have interpreted Iqbal’s philosophical message and achieved what Dr Iqbal advocated for prosperity of his nation.
It is a wise step by the federal government to restore November 9 and enlighten the nation about the struggle to break the yoke of slavery. Iqbal’s Khudi provides a pedestal for self-respect and absolute high moral standards and carries a deep significance in the present time, when the world is clearly divided into belligerent blocs. Iqbal’s philosophy inculcates a deeper understanding of contemporary social, political and economic upheavals that have afflicted the country’s progress over the decades.
Dr Iqbal’s Khudi is presented as the attainment of highest moral standards, a perfect advice for Muslims youth in the grip of severe despair. Iqbal never expected Muslims, especially the young generation of his time to go astray and always tried its level best to taunt them for having forgotten the right path and called Muslims to devour whatever the Holy Quran demands from them.
In many of his verses, Allama Iqbal significantly identified the hypocritical nature of society and its negative impacts on Muslims. One can easily understand, for instance, in Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, the real message of Iqbal shows the lost state of Muslims in the sub-continent.
Iqbal’s keenness to look for deeper meanings of things and how things actually work out in every aspect of our lives made him a great philosopher. His ideas and values shaped the works of eastern and western writers alike.
It’s a very high time for us as a nation to get some insight from the message of Iqbal to negotiate with other nations in a respectable manner. Iqbal’s teachings guide us in all the critical and essential areas of our lives. It guides us towards a better life by developing virtues that are characteristic of successful and happy nations.
For youngsters, in one of his praiseworthy messages, Iqbal encouraged them to aim high for the very best in life. The youth of our country must acquire a deeper understanding of things from his work and so attain a high level of both spiritual and material satisfaction and happiness and play a due role in steering the country out of the quagmire of political and social problems. A mere holiday without putting to act upon the message of Allama Iqbal would not do what is needed of us as a nation.
