Muhammad Iqbal

My fondness for the poetry of Muhammad Iqbal is well known, and today in Allahabad nigh on 80 years back he propounded his theory of the Two Nations which laid the eventual basis for the foundation of modern day Pakistan.

Here are a couple of lines in which he praises Persian (the language)

Garche Urdu dar uzūbat shakar ast
Lék Pārsī-am ze Hindi shīrīntar ast

(Even though in sweetness Urdu is sugar
nevertheless my Persian is sweeter than Hindi)

Here Urdu/Hindi are the same language albeit written in two different scripts.

Happy Birthday Pakistan

Today as many of you will know is the date in 1947 when Pakistan gained independence from the British Indian Empire and joined the Commonwealth.

I know many Pakistani-born and Pakistani-heritage friends in Keighley and beyond will be celebrating later today.
My best to you all on this Yom-e-Istiqlal.

A line of Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal's poetry comes to mind however, "mazhab nahin sikhata apas men bair rakhna" "religion does not teach us to bear ill-will among ourselves".

Pakistan zinda-baad.