A grand function on the 145th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal at Govt Murray College Sialkot.

A memorial ceremony on the occasion of Allama Iqbal's 145th birth anniversary was held at Government Murray College, Sialkot,  on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. This college is  the alma mater of Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz and the leading educational institution of the Indian subcontinent. It was held in Maulvi Mir Hasan Hall, a hall dedicated to the teacher of Allama Iqbal.

The credit of organizing this event goes to the Department of Urdu and Department of Islamic Studies. The title of this this session was "Thoughts of Iqbal for new generation". Dr. Baseera Ambreen, Director of Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Lahore, was key speaker of the session. She has a unique identity as a renowned Iqbal scholar, researcher and critic. Her critical and research books "Maqaisah Armaghan Hijaz (Persian), Tazminaat Iqbal, Mohsinat Sher Iqbal, Iqbal aur Wajood e Zan  have been praised in the sub-continent, in Pakistan and India and outside Pakistan.

Upon the arrival of the distinguished guests, they were presented with bouquets of flowers. Prof. Nadeem Islam Silhari , Assistant Professor of Urdu Department performed the duties of organizing the ceremony very well. The ceremony formally started with  recitation of the Holy Quran. Muniba Siddique was blessed to present Naat Shareef. The guest speaker was asked to deliver her address. In the beginning, she expressed immense pleasure that she was visiting Murray College for the first time. She paid thanks and tributes to
the Principal, Dr. Muhammad Nawaz, the college administration, the Secretary General and Vice Chairman Sirat.

Dr. Baseera Ambreen started her lecture with the early life of Allama Iqbal and presented the details of the circumstances and events of his journey to Europe in a very comprehensive way for the audience. She said that when Iqbal went to Europe in 1905, the direction of his poetry changed. There was a clear change in his thoughts and ideas. Regarding Iqbal's addressees, she said that he was addressing the new generation. The focus of her talk was monotheism and prophethood, the effects of Sufism, selfhood, men of belief and other aspects of Iqbal's Thought.

She concluded her discussion in a very good manner by talking about Iqbal's message to the new generation. The audience applauded her lecture.  The participants of this intellectual session were associated with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including Khawaja Masood, owner of Forward Sports, Sialkot who is also the current Vice Chairman of Sirat Study Center Sialkot and Chairman of Sialkot Airport,  Khawaja Khawar Anwar, former President of Sialkot Chamber of Industry and Commerce, well-known industrialist Dawood Sair and other important personalities of the city. The credit of organizing this intellectual gathering goes to Mr. Asad Ejaz, Secretary General, Sirat Siddi Center, Sialkot. Renowned lawyer, poet, columnist, Mr. Asif Bhali also participated in the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, Principal Govt. Murray College, Sialkot Dr. Muhammad Nawaz thanked the chief guest and well-known industrial personalities of Sialkot for joining this intellectual meeting. Prof. Naseer Ghazi, Vice Principal of the college, Prof. Maher Ilyas, Prof. Sajjad Bhatti, Prof. Shahid Chauhan, Prof. Shahbaz Haider, Dr. Tayyab Usmani, Prof. Kashif Ali and other distinguished teachers participated in the ceremony. There was a large number of students in the hall who listened to the guest speaker with great keeness. The efforts of Prof. Nadeem Islam Silhari and Dr. Tayyab Usmani deserve to be commended for the success of this memorable meeting. Other colleagues of Department of Urdu and Islamiat, Government Murray College Sialkot and Sirat Study Center Sialkot gave full support in organizing this event.