A momentous day in the life of a leader, writer or poet is when he sees his ideas translated into reality. Iqbal did not live up to the day when his dream of a separate nation for Muslims of South Asia became a reality on 14 August 1947. He was not a part of the galaxy of leaders of the Muslim League that had gathered in the Minto Park, Lahore on 24 March 19, 1930 to see enthusiastic crowds greeting the idea of ‘Muslim Homeland’ he had set afloat at the annual session of the All India Muslim League on December 29, 1930, in Allahabad with thunderous applause. He had departed from this world two years before the Lahore Resolution now known as Qarardad-e-Pakistan was adopted. A momentous day in his life has been when people of Jammu and Kashmir revolted against the brutal feudal autocracy. He saw the day as his dream come true. ‘Dr. Mumtaz Hassan had said that one day when he was sitting with Allama Iqbal and discussing political struggle in Kashmir. Mentioning about a Persian Poem ‘Saqi Nama’ in Payam-e-Mashriq, which he had written in Nishat Bagh, Kashmir (1920) Allama told him: “In one of the verses, I had mentioned about silk factories and workers working therein. I am amazed Kashmir political struggle started with a rebellion by workers of a Silk factory in 1924.”Iqbal
‘Mumtaz has said that he possessed signed a copy of Payam-e-Mashriq that was published in 1932, containing the verses starting with ‘Baresham Qaba.’ In the same poem, Allama Iqbal prayed to God to ‘Bring revolution in the hearts of Kashmiris so that they can live with honour in this world……’ ( Rozgar-e-Fiqar page 358) Allama Iqbal had communicated same to Molvi Abdul Haq through his letter. (Book: Allama Iqbal aur Abdul Haq, Letters, Page 56,)
A year or so back, in this column looking at Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s role in Kashmir freedom movement from 1909, till he breathed his last I had said that I see this epoch-making poet as the founder of Kashmiri struggle. It had ruffled feathers of some friends. Nevertheless, there can be no denying that Iqbal was the “guiding light” as called by eminent international scholar Hafiz Malik “of the Kashmir Committee.” He was the spirit behind mobilizing the public opinion in support of the people of Kashmir and organizing Kashmir Day on August 14, 1931. Muslim across India came in support of Kashmiris when Iqbal issued an appeal, which few others also signed. The appeal read:
“After attacking repeatedly, the enemy has deluded itself into believing that Muslims are a dead nation. To refute this misbelief, you must make the Kashmir Day a resounding success. By actions, Muslims must demonstrate that they were not going to be willing victims of their enemies’ injustice and repression.”
The July massacre in Kashmir was massive on Iqbal’s mind. It had bruised his heart. ‘He raised donations for victims of violence and sent these to Kashmir leaders. Also, he persuaded some-well-known lawyers to visit Kashmir to provide legal aid to jailed Kashmiris. The authorities expelled these leaders and some including Dr. Iqbal was banned from entering into Kashmir. “It is noteworthy,” writes Dr. Hafiz Malik, “That due to Iqbal’s efforts the Glancy Commission was appointed by the British government, which recommended a variety of constitutional reforms in the state after conducting a thorough investigation.”
His stirring speech on 14 August 1931, on Kashmir Day about Muslims in India and Punjab not having been genuinely interested in the affairs of Kashmir- even Punjabis of Kashmiri origin being ignoramus about the plight of their brethren had woken up the Muslims in India more particularly in Punjab about the fate of Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir:
“The political movement (against British) was bound to rouse the people of Kashmir. Consequently, they became like their neighbors. The modern times are politicizing the people, and people of Kashmir were going to rise in protest and demand the grant of their rights. It was net political consequences of oppression, which the people of Kashmir have endured… History bears witness to the fact that people who conquer a country cannot rule without the support of its population.”
Iqbal defeated some hideous moves for using the Kashmir Committee as a vessel for spreading of a particular religious doctrine that he believed was against the tenets of Muslim faith. That could also create further confusion amongst Kashmiri Muslims who had already fragmented in three groups. He equated Kashmir Movement with the Khilafat movement of 1920 that’ reflected the Islamic impulse in practical terms.’ To help the people of Kashmir, on 30 June 1933, he and Malik Barkat Ali secretary of newly reconstituted All India Kashmir Committee issued an appeal to help the people of Kashmir and raise funds:
“Kashmiris are an inseparable part of the Muslim nation, and to separate their fate from our national destiny amounts to consign the entire nation to self-destruction.”
In this long highly empathetic appeal every word of which is important he said, “If Kashmiris were alive and enjoyed the life of an energized nations their innovative skills could help in improving the economic conditions of India. It may be stated that people of Kashmir are the best part of the Muslims in India, and that part is in pain and anguish then it is impossible for other members of the nation to sleep in peace.”
‘The period of September 1931- February 1932 was hectic in Iqbal’s life. By this time he was acknowledged as a Muslim leader and thinker. Nevertheless, the cause of Kashmir was so dear to the philosopher-poet of the East that he missed no opportunity to talk about Kashmir. His presidential address on being elected President of the All India Muslim Conference on March 21, 1932, held at Lahore indicates how deeply he felt concerned about Kashmir. But Kashmir leaders who for past eighty years have been parroting his poetry have betrayed him by not heeding to his all-time advice contained in his statement issued on 7 June 1933:
“I appeal to Muslims of Kashmir to beware of the forces that are working against them and uniting their ranks. The time for two or three Muslim political parties in Kashmir has not yet come. The supreme need of the moment is a single party representing all Muslims in the State.”
He warned these leaders, “If perfect unanimity of political opinion is not secured in Kashmir, all efforts to advance the interests of the people of the State will prove ineffective.”
This warning of Dr. Iqbal to Kashmir holds as good today as it was eighty five years back- but there no takers amongst Kashmir leaders.
Z. G .MUHAMMAD
Columnist and Writer
Srinagar,
Kashmir.
www.peacewatchkashmir.com
Talking about Dr. Iqbal is nice. But, it’s difficult also. It should be noted that, as the article cites, “I had mentioned about silk factories and workers working therein. I am amazed Kashmir political struggle started with a rebellion by workers of a Silk factory in 1924.” It’s factories and workers; it’s political struggle started … by workers of a silk factory.” Factories and workers carry broader meaning. It also means factory owners, capitalists, interests opposing workers. In the same poem, as the article cites, Dr. Iqbal called to “Bring revolution”. Isn’t it? Which revolution is it? Revolution is radical change, a change in property relation, revolution is a change in sectarian attitude, revolution is change in worldview. And, who it is who said: Saare jaahaa se aachchha Hindoostaa haamaaraa”? Who it is who said: “Hindoostaa haamaaraa”? Who is the poet who called on the hungry peasants to burn crops of the fields from where hungry peasants don’t get their share?
So, it’s not wise to limit a poet within a sectarian limit. The sectarian effort kills a poet, and backfires. In East Pakistan, today’s independent Bangladesh, the Pakistan rulers tried to depict Qazi Nazrul Islam as a poet, who represented sectarian viewpoint, which is quite the opposite. The rulers changed words in his poems. For example, “sashaan”, cremating ground of the Hindoo believers, in one his Nazrul’s poems was changed to “gorostaan”, burial ground of the Muslim believers. The poem was in syllabus of a lower class at secondary school. But, what happened. The Baangaalees opposed, rebelled, fought an armed struggle, and ultimately, Bangladesh emerged as an independent country. So, looking at poets, artists, philosophers, and of the same groups of intellectuals, with a sectarian window doesn’t help struggling people.
Shall not the people in Kashmir look at another poet with love, who has not specifically mentioned Kashmir? Sectarian attitude ultimately doesn’t help struggling people; it narrows down their allies and sympathizers.