Pashto Times

 Iqbal by Umar Nawaz Attal When talking about a poet we have to look at two aspects: 1) The subject matter or the thoughts expressed Here we see confusion and transition from the universal to parochial. I would stop short of calling him intellectually dishonest but that is what it appears. This is a typical feature of intellectuals representing the political ideas of the elites. First he praises democracy (sultani e jambhoor ka aata hai zamana / jo naqsh e kohan tum to nazar aaye mita do) and later mocks it (jambhooriat ik tarz e hukumat hai jis mein / bandon ko gina kartay hain tola nahi kartay) And the guy who said "tu shab aafridi, chiragh aafridum" and "Bay khatar kood para aatish e namrood mein ishq" later on yearns for "aik hon muslim haram ki paasbaani kay liye". From universality he comes down to parochialism. Iqbal on the whole is regressive in his thoughts and pro status-quo. Actually his poems "Aazadi e Niswan" and "Aurat aur Tale

 Some Questions on Iqbal  Sir Mohammad Iqbal is Pakistan’s national poet. Here are some questions which I would request my friends to answer: -Who sponsored Iqbal’s higher studies abroad? -Despite being a beneficiary of Western education, why was Iqbal so critical of Western values? -Why was Iqbal against women education? -What was Iqbal’s regular profession? At one time, as he was taking care of three wives, what was his source of income? -Was Iqbal in receipt of pensions and stipends from Nawabs?  -What were the services of Iqbal for which in 1923 he was granted the title “Sir” by King George V? -Did he ever convert to Ahmadiyat? -The ideal of many Islamists, did he ever perform Haj?  -Did Iqbal kill a prostitute of Lahore’s red light area? - How much of Iqbal’s poetry is original? -Was Iqbal also a philosopher?  - Was Iqbal a supporter of democracy or he opposed it?  -Why did Iqbal meet Mussolini and why did he defend the fascist leader?  -Did Iqbal really want one independent state