The 144th birth anniversary of the national poet, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, is being observed with national zeal.
The day will dawn with special prayers in mosques for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. Known as the Poet of the East, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He awakened the Muslims of the Subcontinent through his poetry and political acumen by presenting the idea of the creation of Pakistan through his historic address at Allahabad in 1930.
Allama Iqbal had given a clear direction and separate identity to the Muslims of the Sub-Continent to achieve Pakistan. Allama Iqbal's ideology and principles of life are the best source of inspiration for people in all sectors of life by strictly adhering to his lesson of Khudi (ego) and preservation of national identity. His best literary work includes Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam- i-Mashriq, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i-Kalim and Armughan-e-Hijaz.
His poetry was translated into Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, English and many other languages. The Indians, Pakistanis, Iranians and other foreign literary scholars revered Iqbal as a famous poet. His first poetry book, The Secrets of the Self, was published in the Persian language in 1915, and other poetry books include The Secrets of Selflessness, The Message from the East and the Persian Psalms.
The iconic poet passed away on April 21, 1938.