Allama Iqbal Commemoration (November 9, 1974)

The format of the stamp is vertical. The main feature of the stamp is the portrait of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, the great poet and Philosopher, which is printed in Black and Blue colours. In the upper most Ultramarine Blue panel the caption Iqbal Centenary 1977 is printed in Turquoise Blue and in the lower panel the date of birth 9 November, 1877 and the date of death 21 Apr 1938 is printed on the bottom right side. The word Postage and denomination figure \'20-Paisa\' are printed in Black on the bottom left corner in the lower panel. The word Pakistan in Urdu and English are printed on both sides of the portrait.

Pakistan Post Office is issuing a promotional Commemorative Postage Stamp of 20-Paisa on 9^th November, 1974 to announce 1977 as Allama Iqbal Centenary Year.

Iqbal started writing verses in his very school days in Sialkot. He recited his well-known poem Nala-I-Yatim in the annual meeting of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam which brought his poetical genius into lime light and evoked admiration from all sections of Muslims of the Sub-Continent. On his return from England, Iqbal wrote epoch making Shikwa, Jawab-i-Shikwa, Shama aur Sha\'ir, Asar and Ramuz. But these indicate that the genius in Iqbal had not yet passed through formative period and lacked maturity of latter master pieces like the Javid Nama. In 1921 appeared Khidr-i-Rah and in 1922 Tulu-i-mashriq. After the publication of these poems appeared Piyam-i-Mashriq which was followed by Ban-e-Dira and then later on by Zabur-i-Ajam. The latter was followed by Javid Nama which can be truly regarded as Iqbal\'s Magnum Opus. In 1935 appeared Bal-i-Jibril and in 1936 another collection Zarb-i-Kalim was published. 134 a Persian poem Musafir and 1036 Pas-Che-Bayed kard was published. The final collection of his poem known as Armughan-i-Hejaz appeared after his death.

DR. MUHAMMAD IQBAL'S ROLE IN PAKISTAN MOVEMENT

Thinker, poet and philosopher Dr. Muhammad Iqbal was a visionary who saw the establishment of Pakistan as a step not only toward the sovereignty and independence of nation of eighty million people, but also as part of a concerted move for the emancipation of Muslims all over the world. He was the first to give a concrete shape to the Muslim aspirations in India for a separate homeland, and defined its geographical boundaries as clearly and unambiguously as it could be possible, far back in the year 1930. In his presidential address at the Annual sessions of the All India Muslim League, at Allahabad, he boldly asserted the Muslim demand for the creation of a Muslim India within India, and said, I would like to see the Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State.

The unites of Indian society are not territorial as in European countries, he asserted and pointed out that the Muslim demand \'is actuated by a genuine desire for free development which is practically impossible under the type of unitary Government contemplated by the nationalist Hindu politicians with a view of securing permanent communal dominance in the whole on India\'. \'The formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State\', he added, \'appears to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India.\'

Iqbal held firm belief that the Indian Muslim is entitled to full and free development on the lines of his own culture and tradition in his own Indian homeland. But this right could not be exercised in a unified India as he made it clear in one of his letters to Quaid-e-Azam. He wrote the enforcement and development of the Shariat of Islam is impossible in this country without a free Muslim state or states. This realisation inevitably let to another one, The life of Islam as a cultural force in this country very largely depends on its centralization, in a specified territory.

It was Iqbal\'s fervent appeal which persuaded the Quaid-e-Azam in 1034 to return to politics, and it as in his letters to the Quaid-e-Azam during the last years of his life in 1936 and 1037, that he elaborated his scheme in its political as well as cultural context. He succeeded in convincing the Quaid-e-Azam that Pakistan was the only solution to the political problem of the Muslims of India, and it was on the foundation laid by Iqbal that the Muslim League\'s historic Pakistan Resolution of 1940 was based.

Thus Iqbal gave the blueprint for Pakistan. But the role he played in promoting an intellectual revolution among Muslims of the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent is even more important. He was a profound thinker who believed in dynamism, and throughout his poetry and prose he placed the greatest emphasis on action, interpreting it as movement. His philosophy found poetical expression in its maturest form in Israr-e-Khudi (Secrets of the Self) and Ramooz-e-Bekhudi) Mysteries of Selflessness or Non-Ego).

Allama Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on 9^th November, 1877. In his early age, he was greatly influenced by his father Sheikh Noor Mohammad who was a very pious man. He received his early education under the guidance of Shamsul Ullama Mir Hasan who was great oriental scholar of his time. He passed his Middle and High School examination with distinction and was awarded scholarships in both the examinations. After clearing Intermediate examination he joined Government College, Lahore, were he as a student of Professor Arnold, a great literary figure of his time. He stood fist in B.A. examination with distinction in Arabic and English and obtained a Gold Medal in M.A. Soon he as appointed as Professor of Philosophy in Oriental College, Lahore, After some time he went over to Government College, Lahore. He went to England in 1095 and joined Cambridge University as a student of Philosophy. He was awarded the degree of Ph.D. by the Munich University (Germany) on this thesis entitled Mabaadul Tibyyat. He as walled to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London and was appointed as Professor of Arabic at London University. He returned home in 1908 and again joined service in Government College, Lahore. After some time he resigned his job and started law practice. He was elected member Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1926 for 3 years. In 1930 Dr. Iqbal was elected President of the Muslim League session held at Allahabad. In 1931 and 1932 he attended the Round Table Conference which met in London to frame a Constitution for India and took an active part in its various Committees.

Iqbal developed kidney trouble in 1927, which was cured by Hakim Abdul Wahab and he kept good heath till 1934. In 1934, he developed heart trouble accompanied by loss of voice. His illness took a serious turn on 25^th March, 1938 and he breathed his last in the early hours of 21^st April, 1938. Half an hour before his death, he recited the following verses:

The last word Iqbal uttered as \'Allah\'. He lived in God and died in God.