Translation of Iqbal’s poetry into Pakistani languages help promote national harmony, patriotism: Irfan Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD, Jan 9 (APP):Advisor to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage(NH&LH), Irfan Siddiqui Tuesday said translation of poetry of Allama Iqbal into different Pakistani languages will help promote national harmony and patriotism among the citizens.
He was speaking at the launching ceremony of books carrying translation of poems of Allama Muhammad Iqbal into eight different languages including Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Hindko, Brahvi, Seriaki and Balti.
Irfan Siddiqui said Iqbal’s poetry is the combination of past, present and future and his universal thoughts and vision has great significance today.
He said disseminating Iqbal’s message among the younger generation is need of the hour.
For this purpose, translation of Iqbal’s Urdu and Persian poetry can help youth understand the thoughts and messages of Iqbal in better way, providing them guidance about principles to live a dignified life, he said.
While compilation of Iqbal dictionary for understanding his poetry can be instrumental for educating youth about his messages.
Irfan Siddiqui said his division is diligently working to promote Pakistani literature and writers and expansion of PAL’s offices to far flung areas of country is one of those initiatives.
He said the office of PAL has been established in Multan while more offices are being set up in Gilgit-Baltistan, Dadu and Muzzaffarabad.
He said the amount of monthly stipend for deserving writers has been increased upto Rs13,000 while the number of national literary awards has been increased from 11 to 20.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PAL Dr Qasim Bughio said this is the first ever effort to translate Iqbal’s works into eight Pakistani languages at a time.
He said the poems were selected by renowned literary persons including Dr Tauseef Tabbasum and Jaleel Aali.
The poems of Iqbal have been translated in Punjabi by Dr Ahsan Akbar, Seriaki by Syed Zia ud din Naeem, Sindhi by Sarmad Chandio, Pashto by Sultan Faridi, Balochi by Wahid Baksh Bazdar, Brahvi by Arif Zia, Hindko by Imtiaz ul Haq Imtiaz and Balti by Ahsaan Ali Danish.
Presenting the key note address, Dr Rafiuddin Hashmi said Iqbal was an extraordinary poet whose messages will have great relevance in all the times.
He said literary organizations must play their role to spread his messages among youth. He said Iqbal’s works like Zarb-i-Kaleem and Armaghan-i-Hijaz must be translated.
Advisor to Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui distributed prizes among the winners of national songs competition Ammar Ali, Duaeey Zahra and Ujala Nasir who got first, second and third positions respectively.