Iqbal Library turns 75, diamond jubilee celebrated in the historic institution in Bhopal

The historic Iqbal Library, which is said to be the first institution named after legendary Urdu poet Allama Iqbal, has completed 75 years.

The library was established in Bhopal in 1940, barely two years after Allama Iqbal's death.

On February 14, the diamond jubilee celebration was held in the library which now has a collection of nearly 1 lakh books.

It is a long story of how a non-governmental library not only survived but kept growing with years and has now become a major institution in the country--all due to dedication and hard work of those associated with it, apart from the Urdu lovers of Bhopal.

The library was set up by late Asif Shahmiri in pre-independent India. Late Mamnoon Hasan Khan played a pivotal role in preserving the library. Subsequently, late Umar Ansari gave his best years to the library.

After his death, litterateur Rasheed Anjum, is at the helm. He is doing his best to ensure that the library Lack of funds, fall in membership, hardly any government support apart from decline in number of readers have been the major problems facing the library.

Today, the library has a rare collection of Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, English and Marathi books apart from magazines. Files of rare Urdu magazines that ceases publication decades ago, are a prized collection of this library.

Interestingly, many in New Bhopal, aren't aware about the library, which is now located in a part of the Iqbal Maidan, amidst the royal complex--Moti Mahal, Shaukat Mahal and Sheesh Mahal. It was at Sheesh Mahal that Iqbal had stayed in his Bhopal visit during Nawab Hamidullah Khan's reign.

On February 14, the diamond jubilee function was organised in the library. Principal secretary, Culture, Manoj Srivastava, who was the chief guest, lauded the role of the library. On this occasion, litterateurs, journalists and writers were felicitated.

Seminar on Iqbal's use of the word 'kuchh' in Bhopal, RSS-BJP leaders participate! اقبال کے شعر میں لفظ “کچھ“ پر سیمینار

اقبال کے شعر میں لفظ “کچھ“ پر سیمینار ؛ کچھ بات ھے کہ ہستی مٹتی نہیں ہماری

Allama Iqbal is one of the greatest poets of the sub-continent but it might come as a surprise to even his most ardent fans that a symposium was held on Iqbal's 'kuchh' in Bhopal.

Senior RSS and BJP leaders attended it [as Madhya Pradesh has a BJP government and all keyposts in culture department now have RSS sympathisers who are generally considered averse to Iqbal].

Still, the event was held successfully. This 'Kuchh' [something*] comes from Iqbal's famous couplet 

'Kuchh baat hai ki hasti miT-ti nahiiN hamaari' and the RSS-BJP ideologues gathered at Aiwan-e-Mulla Ramoozi to discuss what lies behind this 'kuchh' in this couplet.

The Iqbal Markaz conducted the event and MP Sahitya Academy chief Dr Devendra Deepak organised it. Speaker after speaker tried to dissect this 'kuchh'. [Iqbal might be turning in his grave with the interpretations. Some interpretations were really good but a few others were too wild and; far-fetched].

A police official said that Afghanistan prided on its cultural heritage but today it is a destroyed nation and so we must learn to protect our 'kuchh' lest we also get on the same path of destruction.

A senior BJP leader said that 'kuchh' was so meaningful and 'the depth of the word here 'intellectually stimulating'--just the kind of stimulation which ever society needs'.....[my goodness].

...is kuchh mein kuchh zaroor hai....Iqbal ka kuchh hamari sanskriti [culture] ...blah blah.....is kuchh mein nihit bhav ko samajhne ki avashyakta hai.....Surely, it was interesting event.

At least Iqbal is remembered in Bhopal. Even when the poet's name was anathema at All India Radio and those in government avoided holding or participating any event on him, the State government not only aided Iqbal Library and assisted Kull Hind Allama Iqbal Adabi Markaz but also constructed the Minaar-e-Iqbal.

Now the BJP administration is also enthusiastically working for spreading the work of Iqbal at the state-level though at national level they are not keen on Urdu or Iqbal. Where else anybody could have organised a seminar with the topic 'kuchh baat'.

Would anybody have imagined holding such an event in his Lahore or Sialkot! The banners read 'kuchh baat' and the invitations also had this prominently mentioned on the top. Some newspapers find it odd and mentioned that it was a seminar on Iqbal's couplet.

In fact, last year also a workshop on Iqbal's kuchh was organised in Bhopal.

[*The couplet can be translated loosely as: There is something in our civilisation that we have survived despite numerous attacks...]