On the occasion of the 144th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal, ECO Cultural Institute held the international event "Iqbal-e Ishq" on Monday, November 15, 2021 in partnership with the Embassy of Pakistan and the Sahar Universal Network (TV Channel).
According to the ECO Cultural Institute, the International Iqbal-e Ishq celebration was attended by ambassadors and diplomats from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Poland, Algeria, Brazil, Mexico, Oman, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Greece, Senegal and more. Also, at the event, Sarvar Bakhti, President of ECO Cultural Institute; Dr. Mahmoud Shaloui, Advisor to the Minister and Director General of the Minister's Office and Acting Deputy Minister for Arts Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; Rahim Hayat Qureshi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to I.R. Iran; Walid Iqbal, grandson of Allama Iqbal; Moinoddin Saeedi, Representative of Chabahar city in the Islamic Consultative Assembly(Iranian Parliament); Dr. Hakimeh Dastaranji, author of the book "Our Iqbal" delivered their speeches.
At the opening of the meeting, Sarvar Bakhti, President of ECO Cultural Institute referred to Iqbal as one of the epoch-making and freedom-loving thinkers of the contemporary history and called him a philosopher who seeks to open new horizons for the nations. He further added that Iqbal encourages reawakening, self-confidence and valuing their original identity in the peoples and nations of the East.
While appreciating the efforts of Dr. Hakimeh Dastranji in writing the great book "Our Iqbal", ECI President, stressed that the book will enhance Iqbal studies in our time and helps realizing Iqbal's words that described himself "The poet of Tomorrow".
Dr. Mahmoud Shaloui, Advisor to the Minister and Director General of the Ministry and Head of the Artistic Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, emphasizing the issue of love in the poems of Allama Iqbal, considered Iqbal's philosophical school as a continuation of Attar, Sanai, Rumi, Hafez and Saadi. He added: "Persian is the language of love and the highest concept of love has been expressed with this language, while many countries in the region are familiar with this language and speak it."
Later at the celebration, Rahim Hayat Qureshi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Iran; called Iqbal a messenger of freedom in the Islamic world, which was plagued by separation and division. "Allama had a strange love for Iran and Iranians also have paid a lot of attention to Iqbal's poems because of the commonality of thought, especially during the Islamic Revolution," he added.
Walid Iqbal's program, Allama's grandson elaborated on the difference between Iqbal and other poets about love. He stated that his grandfather believed that love is the summary of life.
"Iqbal considered love as a burning fire that is warming the life." he added.
Moinoddin Saeedi, the representative of Chabahar city in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iranian Parliament) said that many poets call Iqbal the greatest poet after Jami. Saeedi also declared that because of his love for Iran, Iqbal could be considered a genuine Iranian. "Iqbal is a philosopher and Islamic scholar who encourages the society to self-confidence and returning to the self." he added.
During launching of the book "Our Iqbal", Dr. Hakimeh Dastranji, the author of the book, spoke about the introduction, analysis and necessity of Iqbal studies in Iran. Saying that Iqbal's collection of poems and speeches contains his messages and views on the relationship between man and God and the critique of Eastern and Western culture, he called Iqbal a truth-seeker who was influenced by Iranian philosophy and became the founder of new intellectual currents.
At the Iqbal-e Ishq International Celebration, Iqbal Salahuddin, President, Dabistan Iqbal in Lahore; Dr. Ehsan Khazaei, Cultural Attaché of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan; Sayed Ahmad Shahriyar, Pakistani poet and translator, Dr. Muhammad Safeer, Head of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad; Dr. Muzaffar Ali Kashmiri, Professor, International Islamic University; Dr. Rabia Kiani, Professor of Persian Language and Literature from Islamabad; Dr. Almouth Degner, Iqbal scholar and professor at the University of Mainz, Germany, and Dr. Razia Akbar, Associate Professor, National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, discussed Iqbal's position in the ECO region and reviewed the book "Our Iqbal".
The relevant organizations contributed to the event included: " Cultural Counsellorship of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad", " Cultural Center of The I.R.Iran in Quetta", " Dabistan Iqbal ", "Iqbal Lahori Literary Association", "Iran Book News Agency (IBNA)" And "Seda-ye Mellat". The program featured live music performances by Master Keyvan Saket, Master Abbas Habibzadeh and the music band "Iqbal" led by Master Khosrow Azarbeig.