Allama Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal ( , ) (November 9, 1877–April 21, 1938), commonly known as Allama Iqbal (in Persian: Allameh Eghbal), was an important colonial era Indian Muslim poet, philosopher, and thinker of Kashmiri origin, though based in Sialkot (now in Pakistan). In Urdu, Allama means learned or wise and Iqbal means good fortune, luck or prosperity. Though his legal name is Muhammad Iqbal, he is always called Allama Iqbal by the general public in Pakistan.
A major Urdu and Persian writer and poet, Allama Iqbal is in the unusual position of having written one of India's major national songs ("Saare Jahan Se Achcha") while at the same time being credited as a major force behind the creation of Pakistan. He is posthumously revered in Pakistan as "Muffakir-e-Pakistan" ("The Thinker of Pakistan") or "Shair-i-Mashriq" ("The Poet of the East"). Along with Muhammad Ali Jinnah he is considered one of the preeminent founding fathers of Pakistan, arguably having convinced Jinnah to return from England and lead the movement demanding a separate homeland for South Asia's Muslims when Britain granted independence to the region. (Jinnah had practically gone into self-exile after having given up trying to get the national secular and Muslim leaderships to work together.)
Iqbal's father Shaikh Nur Muhammad was a tailor whose handiwork was quite well known in Sialkot. But it was his devotion to Islam, especially its mystical aspects, that gained him respect among his Sufi peers and other associates. His wife, Imam Bibi, was also a devout Muslim. The couple instilled a deep religious consciousness in all their five children.
According to most historians, Sahaj Ram Sapru, an official in Kashmir during the administration of the Afghan Governor Azim Khan, was Iqbal's grandfather,however the link has never been positively confirmed.
Allama Iqbal was born on November 9, 1877 in the city of Sialkot. His initial education was in Sialkot. Iqbal's potential as a poet was first recognized by one of his early tutors, Sayyid Mir Hassan, from whom he learned classical poetry. Mir Hassan never learned English, but his awareness of the merits of Western education and his appreciation of modernity ensured him a position as Professor of Oriental Literature at Scotch Mission. He was Iqbal's tutor until his graduation in 1892.
It was also in 1892 that Iqbal was married to Karim Bibi, the daughter of an affluent Gujarati physician. They separated in 1916, but Iqbal provided financial support to Karim Bibi until he died. The couple had three children.
In 1895, after completing his studies at Scotch Mission, Iqbal entered the Government College in Lahore, where he studied Philosophy and Arabic and English Literature for his Bachelor of Arts degree. He was an excellent student, graduating cum laude and winning a gold medal for being the only candidate who passed the final comprehensive examination. Meanwhile, he continued writing poetry. When he received his Master's degree in 1899, he had already begun to make his mark among the literary circles of Lahore.
While reading for his Master's degree, Iqbal became acquainted with a figure who was to have a strong influence on his intellectual development. Sir Thomas Arnold, an erudite scholar of Islam and modern philosophy, became for Iqbal a bridge between East and West. It was Arnold who inspired in him the desire to pursue higher studies in Europe.
One influence on him was Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan.
Anupamaa
