JEDDAH — Jeddah based literally and cultural organization Majlis-e-Iqbal a subsidiary of Aalami Urdu Markaz (AUM), held its monthly session to mark the occasion of death anniversary of philosopher, thinker and poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal and to pay homage the eminent poet Jamil uddin Aali who passed away a few days earlier in Karachi. Ather Nafees Abbasi, renowned poet and president of AUM, presided over the gathering. Abbasi expressed deep grief over the demise of Aali. He praised his national, literary, social and cultural services. Abbasi said the struggle for the establishment of the Federal Urdu University is monumental and historical achievement of Aaliji, which will be remembered forever. Aali was a true patriot, said Abbasi. Syed Shehabuddin, general secretary of Majlis-e-Iqbal conducted the proceeding and spoke a little about the late Jamil uddin Aali. He said Aaliji was great poet, writer, columnist, scholar and one of the great personalities of Indo-Pak subcontinent. His death has left a huge gap in the literary world. His immortal patriotic songs as ‘jeevay jeevay Pakistan', ‘aye watan kay sajeelay jawano', ‘mera pegham Pakistan', ‘hum ta ba abad saee-o-taghayyur kay wali hein' and ‘itnay baray jeevan sagar main' will warm the hearts of people, said Shehabuddin. Host Dr. Munawar Hussain Bodla, meanwhile, shed light on Allama's thinking and philosophy. He said Iqbal had a unique, graceful and matchless beautiful style of poetry both in Urdu and Persian languages. It was Allama Iqbal, who infused a new sprite among the Muslims of sub-continent by his poetry, Bodla added. Famous humorist Urdu writer Mohammed Amanatullah said, Iqbal was a learned person whose ideas and values were shaped by reading the works of a variety of Eastern and Western writers. He said there was a time when fear of the Jews and the Christians were trembling, but just the opposite is the case today, we have forgotten God and His Messenger orders altogether. Local poets included Ather Abbasi, Naushad Usman, Altaf Shehryar and Jawaid Azmi presented their poem. At the end Qari Asif made supplications for Pakistan in general and particular for all Muslims.
