Hyderabad City set to host 1000th lecture on Allama Iqbal

Nampally: The thousandth lecture on legendary Urdu poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal will be held at Urdu Hall in Himayath Nagar on October 12 and 13. A two-day commemorative programme is being organised to mark the occasion in the lecture series titled 'Mehfil e Iqbal Shinasi', held every week at Jama Masjid-e-Alia, Gun Foundry.

The first Mehfil e Iqbal Shinasi (Sessions for Understanding Iqbal) on the topic 'Iqbal and Thoughts of Iqbal' was held on October 18, 1997 and was delivered by Mohammed Zaheeruddin Ahmed.

Considered as one of the greatest Urdu poets of the sub-continent has produced, Iqbal is known for some of his famous works, 'Saare Jahan se Acha..Hindustan Hamara..', 'Shikwa' and 'Jawaab-e-Shikwa'.

Chairman of the reception committee and senior High Court advocate Ghulam Yazadani, who initiated the lecture series with the first lecture in 1997, says "the objective of Mahafil-e-Iqbal Shinasi has been to provide an opportunity of dialogue and objective assessment literature, philosophy and poetry of Iqbal.

This is also to bring together the scholars within the country and from various parts of the world." Hyderabad has the distinction of observing the first 'Yaum-e-Iqbal' (Iqbal Day) on January 3, 1937, while the legend was still alive.

Iqbal also visited Hyderabad thrice including once on the invitation of the Maharaja Kishan Prasad. He also visited the Qutub Shahi Tombs to pay homage to the founder of Hyderabad and its first Urdu poet. Yazadani added "Iqbal is one of the foremost poets and thinkers of modern age."

Emerging from the contemporary world of literature and thought, Iqbal created a permanent place for himself in the literature and thought of our times, involved in the human predicament of the 20th century, the significance of Iqbal's modernity lies in his successful synthesis of the three approaches; religious, philosophical and scientific for resolving existing conflicts and crisis."

Yazdani will preside over the inaugural function, while Professor Mohsin Osmani will preside over the seminar. Professor M M Taqi Khan, Professor Ashraf Rafi will be the guests of honour while Ziauddin Nayyar, Professor Khaja Nasir uddin, Professor Majeed Bedar, Dr Syed Islamuddin Mujahid, Ayaz us Shaikh, Mujtaba Farooq will present their research papers during the programme.