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`Iqbal's contributions unrecognised'

Staff Reporter

He too was the poet of the East: Karan Singh

KOZHIKODE: Karan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP and Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, inaugurated the Dr. Sir Mohammed Iqbal School of the Self, here on Saturday. The school is attached to the Allama Iqbal Indian Humanitarian Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Karan Singh said that the country was yet to recognise Mohammed Iqbal who was a great thinker and philosopher. It might be because of the political situation prevailing here.

``Like Rabindranath Tagore, he too was the poet of the East. Iqbal's reconstruction of religious thought remains significant even today, '' he said.

(The Islamic poet-philosopher was the first to advocate the formation of an independent Muslim State for the sub-continent).

He said that Iqbal was not a detached and aloof philosopher but was involved in the political and social struggle during the two centuries of British rule. ``However, his contributions must not be appropriated by others. He was born as an Indian and died as an Indian,'' said Dr. Singh, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

Famous song

The famous song ``Sara Jaan Se Acche Hindustan Hamara...'' had become a sort of a national song during the Independence struggle. Crores of children had sung it.

`The song sums up the secularism and pluralism existing in the country,'' he said.

He compared the works of Iqbal with Aurobindo Ghosh. Both got inspiration from religious books and developed original compositions. A study should be conducted on their contributions to philosophy, he said.

The 76-year old statesman and writer said that the glory of India lay in religious pluralism and cultural pluralism. It was the totality of different beautiful cultures. In Kashmir, particularly down the ages there was an interaction between religions - Vedic, Buddhism, Shaivas and Sufis. ``Today Kashmir is a crucible of all these religions, '' he said.

Kerala had also established the same traditions. Three religions had lived in harmony for centuries, said Dr. Karan, who was visiting Kozhikode for the first time.

He said that the opening of the Mohammed Iqbal School of the Self would pave the way for dialogue among various religions. This was also the movement which Dr. Singh was involved in for 30 years.

``It is not because that India is multi-religious but globally the clash of the civilisations is being discussed.

The key lies in the multiple-path to the divine,'' he said.``The truth is one but the wise call it by many names, '' Dr. Singh said while quoting the Upanishad.

M. P. Abdussamad Samadani, director, Allama Iqbal Indian Humanitarian Foundation, presided over the inaugural session.

A.Sujanapal, MLA was also present.

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