145th birth anniversary of national poet Dr Allama Iqbal celebrated in KP.

PESHAWAR -- Like others parts of the country, the 145th birthday anniversary of the great poet philosopher, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated with national enthusiasm in Khyber Pakthunkhwa on Wednesday.

The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and eternal peace of all martyrs of the country including those Muslims, who laid down lives during Pakistan's freedom movement.

The government had declared a public holiday in connection with the momentous day and all the federal and provincial government's offices, schools and colleges were closed. The poet of the east was born on 9 November 1877 in Sialkot.

Dr Muhammad Iqbal came into political and literary horizon of the subcontinent when the Muslims were subjected to an unending ordeal of discrimination, inequality and disparity after failure of 1857 war of independence.

'The Muslims, who ruled over the united India for over 800 years, had faced great mental agony, a sense of deprivation and dejection after they were pushed to the wall in terms of intellectual, political, economic and education decay after losing the war of independence in 1857,' said Muhammad Younas Khan, Chairman Pakistan Studies Department, Islamia College University while talking to reporter.

However, the Muslims of British India were given a new hope and direction by social reformer, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and later by Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal who instilled a new vigour and inspiration into Muslims after an inspired teachings of the renowned religious leaders, Mojadad Alf Sani and Shah Waliullah.

Brought about an intellectual revolution among Muslims through his educational, political and social reforms first by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and later by Dr Iqbal through his inspirational poetry, he said both these leaders had nullified the malicious propaganda of the colonial rulers, hindus and pessimist forces and gave a new direction to the Muslims to achieve their legitimate right of freedom.

He said the historic Allahabad address delivered by the great poet philosopher during the 21st annual session of the All India Muslim League on 29th December 1930 had...