JOURNAL OF PAKISTAN STUDIES

Abstract

We feel previleged to present to our readers the first issue of THE JOURNAL OF PAKISTAN STUDIES. The present volume is exclusively devoted to SIR DR. MUHAMMAD IQBAL, the Poet-Philosopher of Humanity as a centennial tribute on the anniversary of his birthday which was celebrated year before not only in Pakistan, but also elsewhere around the world. Our Pakistan Centre at Columbia Univers:ty in the City of New York also celebrated Iqbal's centennial birthday anniversary on December 10, 1977. Mr. A. K. Brohi, leader of Pakistan Delegation at the United Nations, and later Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs graced the function,and delivered a special lecture on Islamic Sources of Iqbal's Philosophy. Besides, several scholarly papers were presented at a Symposium on Iqbal. In this volume, we-reproduce the revised versions of Mr. Brohi's lecture, and a: few other papers . . - In substance, the message of Iqbal is addressed to mankind in general insofar as it asserts that Islamic ideology is the only panacea for the ailing humanity. However, Iqbal's message has a special significance for the people of Pakistan at this very critical juncture ofournational history. Pakistan, itself, is a living symbol of all those ideals which our poet had always cherished for the regeneration of the Indian Muslim community. It is a sad reminder to all of us that Iqbal had envisioned the idea of creating a new Islamic Republic in the Indian sub-continent so that we, Muslims, could fashion ourselves into a new kind of individuals on truly Islamic model, and integrate ourselves. into a new social entity-the Millat which would ultimately merge itself together with other Muslim peoples into a Muslim Commonwealth of Peoples. Let us ask ourselves a very pertinent question: have we fulfilled Iqbal's mission? Ifnot why have we strayed away from his noble ideals? These questions become much more relevant in the present disposition of our national life. During the past thirty years, our ruling elites have only misguided us into dismal abyss of tyranny, anarchy, and ideological limbo. This is the appropriate time for all of us to pause and reflect seriously on the nature, and causes of the all pervasive crisis which has gripped our nation