Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: AIOU has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting the thought and philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal through sustained academic, research and intellectual initiatives. The commitment was reiterated during a distinguished scholarly session organized to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Poet of the East, Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The event featured eminent poet, writer and scholar Iftikhar Arif as the keynote speaker and was presided over by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Nasir Mahmood.
In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Nasir Mahmood said that Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s message continues to serve as a beacon of intellectual, moral, and spiritual guidance for the younger generation. He emphasized that in keeping with its name and mission, AIOU considers the promotion of Iqbal’s thought a national, academic and cultural responsibility.
He noted that the University has been consistently organizing scholarly and research activities to advance Iqbal’s philosophy and reaffirmed AIOU’s resolve to strengthen the nation’s intellectual heritage through academic dialogue and research.
Speaking on “The Intellectual Legacy of Allama Iqbal” Iftikhar Arif said that Allama Iqbal portrayed the tragedy of Karbala as an enduring symbol of truth, justice, freedom, dignity and resistance against oppression.
He observed that the sacrifices of Imam Hussain (RA) and the Ahl al-Bayt stand as a timeless declaration that truth must be upheld at any cost and that one should never submit to tyranny, injustice, or falsehood.
Iftikhar Arif further stated that in the rich traditions of Urdu and Persian poetry, few poets have reflected on the Ahl al-Bayt and the tragedy of Karbala with the intellectual depth, breadth of vision and poetic excellence demonstrated by Allama Iqbal.
He urged young people to move beyond merely studying Iqbal’s works and instead incorporate his philosophy into their character, education, practical lives and sense of national responsibility. According to him, embracing Iqbal’s ideals is essential for building a principled, enlightened, self-reliant, and progressive society.
Prof. Dr Abdul Aziz Sahir, Director of the Iqbal Chair and Sufi Thought announced on the occasion the launch of a unique project to produce an audio recording of Kulliyat-e-Iqbal in the voice of Iftikhar Arif.
He said the initiative would help preserve Iqbal’s literary legacy while making his works more accessible for research, teaching and intellectual discourse.
The event was attended by faculty members, researchers, students and literature enthusiasts who paid tribute to Allama Iqbal’s enduring contributions to Islamic thought, literature and the intellectual awakening of the Muslim world.
