Lecture on ‘Iqbal’s Humanistic Philosophy and Integration’

Aligarh : “Allama Iqbal was one of the most pronounced poets, philosophers and seers of humanity. He exercised considerable influence on the minds of people throughout the world and his philosophy is not passive contemplation but it comes with practical outcomes. His contribution to literature and thought will live forever”, said Prof Latif Hussain Shah Kazmi, Chairman, Department of philosophy, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in the lecture on ‘Iqbal’s Humanistic Philosophy and Integration’ conducted under the Monthly Study Circle of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), New Delhi at the Department of Philosophy in AMU to mark Allama Iqbal’s birth anniversary.

He emphasised that Iqbal was a great poet-philosopher of the East and his vision and mission, and art and thought need to be revisited in our time.

Prof Kazmi stressed that Iqbal’s message is universal for he was committed to bringing a renaissance for peace, harmony, freedom and justice in society.

“Iqbal looked at humanity without divisions of caste, colour, creed, language, nation and geography. He took the best from the Eastern and Western sources and was inspired by religious scriptures”, said Prof Kazmi.

He delineated various aspects of Iqbal’s philosophy such as emphasis on human being as the vicegerent of God on earth, merits and demerits of Eastern and Western thought, unity in diversity through interfaith and intra-faith dialogue, Nationalism and Internationalism, constant struggle, relation of individual and society, mutual respect and love for all, spiritual-material balance, misinterpretation of religion and Sufism among other topics.

The nation always remembers Iqbal for his song, ‘Sarayjahan se Achcha Hindustan Hamara’, said Prof Kazmi.