Iqbal the biography, published by Vintage/Random House, studies little-known aspects of the life of Islamic philosopher, poet and polyglot Mohammad Iqbal (1877-1938), widely regarded as one of the greatest Islamic poets of the 20th century and the ‘spiritual father of Pakistan’.
While Iqbal’s role in the struggle for India’s freedom and the Pakistan movement is well chronicled, not much is known about his personal life, said Singapore-based journalist and writer Zafar Anjum. “This book highlights some of the least known facets of the poet’s life,” Anjum said.
A contemporary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Allama Mohammad Iqbal, whom Sarojini Naidu called the ‘Poet laureate of Asia’, remains a controversial figure in the history of the Indian subcontinent. On the one hand, he is considered the ‘Spiritual Father of Pakistan’, Urdu’s greatest modern poet, and the author of one of India’s most popular national anthems, Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara. On the other, his message of Eastern revivalism places him in the ranks of the 20th century’s major intellectuals.
Iqbal’s tragedy was that after his death, he was made the national poet of Pakistan and largely ignored in India. This biography redresses that neglect, covering Iqbal’s evolution as a poet, philosopher and politician. This book discusses how a nationalist poet turned into one about Islamic revivalism and global revolution; how three years in Europe changed his political and philosophical outlook, and why he started writing in Persian during his European stay.
The 320-page book was launched at the 9th annual conference of ISAS in Singapore. “In his book, Zafar Anjum has captured the spirit of Iqbal,” ISAS Chairman Padma Shri Gopinath Pillai said at the launch.
“The last book on Iqbal’s life in India was written nearly 20 years ago by Dr Rafiq Zakaria,” said Anjum. “Iqbal has nearly been forgotten in India. The fact remains that Iqbal is part of our Asian legacy and his life and his message of action and self-development and of reinventing Islam is more relevant than ever, not just for Muslims but for the entire world. He, like Tagore, was suspicious of nationalism as a divisive force among mankind, leading to colonial competition, wars, and excessive materialism.”
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