Zafar Darik Qasmi

Allama Muhammad Iqbal poetry inspired the entire Indian subcontinent with messages of awakening, self-realisation, and devotion to the homeland. He is regarded as one of the greatest poets, thinkers, and reformers of the twentieth century.

Iqbal’s poetic vision was both intellectual and spiritual, calling humanity toward self-awareness, dignity, and moral elevation. Through his verses, he expressed profound admiration for India’s land, culture, history, diversity, and moral beauty.

His celebrated poem “Taranah-e-Hindi” stands as a timeless expression of love for the motherland: “Sāre Jahān Se Achha, Hindustan Hamara, Hum Bulbulein Hain Is Ki, Yeh Gulistan Hamara.” (India is the best country in the world; we are its nightingales, and it is our garden. — Bang-e-Dra)

These lines reflect Iqbal’s emotional and spiritual bond with his motherland, expressing his ideal of unity, brotherhood, and national pride. His early poetry portrays India as the centre of his love and pride — deeply attached to its spirit, natural beauty, and historical grandeur, he infused his verses with sincere patriotic feeling.

Iqbal believed that national identity must be rooted in justice, brotherhood, and moral values rather than race or religion. His poem “Naya Shiwala” (The New Temple) beautifully reflects this ideal:

“Mazhab Nahin Sikhata Aapas Mein Bair Rakhna, Hindī Hain Hum, Watan Hai Hindustān Hamara.” (Religion does not teach us to fight or hate one another. We are Indians, and our country is India. — Bang-e-Dra, p. 95). This verse embodies Iqbal’s dream of harmony among India’s diverse communities — a vision of collective progress through unity and mutual respect.

Although a Muslim philosopher, Iqbal held deep respect for India’s ancient spiritual and philosophical heritage. He appreciated the profound insights of Vedanta, Buddhism, and Hindu philosophy, seeing in them humanity’s shared quest for truth. In his poem “Ram,” he paid homage to Lord Rama, calling him Imam-e-Hind:

“Hai Raam Ke Wujood Pe Hindustān Ko Naaz, Ahl-e-Nazar Samajhte Hain Is Ko Imam-e-Hind.” (India is proud of the existence of Lord Ram; people of understanding regard him as the spiritual leader of India. — Bang-e-Dra, p. 231). These verses highlight Iqbal’s broad-mindedness and his recognition of India’s moral and spiritual depth.

Iqbal’s poetry also reveals an artist’s eye for nature. He brought India’s rivers, mountains, trees, and seasons to life, blending them with philosophical meaning. Alongside Himalaya, his poem “Aik Pahar Aur Gulehri” (A Mountain and a Squirrel, Bang-e-Dra, p. 27) shows his ability to find wisdom in nature’s smallest details. Such works illustrate his aesthetic sensitivity and admiration for India’s natural splendour.

He admired India’s multicultural setting, religious tolerance, and cultural harmony. For Iqbal, the true greatness of India lay in its diversity and mutual respect. In his poem “Himalaya,” he symbolically described India’s natural beauty and permanence:

“Ae Himala! Ae Faseel-e-Kishwar-e-Hindustan, Choomta Hai Teri Paishani Ko Jhuk Kar Aasman.” (O Himalaya! O fortress of the land of India, the sky bows and kisses your forehead. — Bang-e-Dra, p. 14)

For Iqbal, the Himalayas represented not just natural magnificence but also India’s strength, stability, and spiritual grandeur.

Iqbal used poetry as a medium of moral and intellectual guidance. He urged Indians to rise from ignorance and servitude toward knowledge, self-reliance, and moral freedom. In “Khizr-e-Rah” (Bang-e-Dra), he emphasized that true independence rests on knowledge, action, and character — not merely political change. His verses inspired awakening, courage, and a sense of responsibility among India’s youth — ideas that remain deeply relevant today.

He also revived India’s glorious past in his poetry, honouring figures such as Ashoka, Lord Rama, and Mahatma Gandhi as embodiments of humanity, justice, and moral strength. Poems like “Taranah-e-Hindi” and “Naya Shiwala” connect India’s historical greatness with the vision of a proud, enlightened nation.

In 1930, during his famous Allahabad Address, Iqbal declared that India’s greatness did not lie in material progress or political power, but in its spiritual and intellectual strength — the ability of its people to understand themselves and their connection with God. He believed that if Indians followed the path of morality, justice, knowledge, and mutual respect, the country could once again emerge as a guiding light for the world.

In his speeches, Iqbal often said that India’s real strength lay in unity within diversity. Though people belonged to different religions, languages, and cultures, he believed they could remain united through shared spiritual values. For him, this unity was the most beautiful and powerful aspect of India’s greatness.

In his lectures, Iqbal outlined the true elements of India’s greatness — spirituality, morality, knowledge, and humanity — conveying a clear message of progress and unity that remains relevant across the subcontinent today.

A recurring theme in Iqbal’s thought is the unity of humankind. He believed India’s greatness would endure only through love, tolerance, and mutual respect. For Iqbal, religion was meant to unite humanity, not divide it. He viewed India as a symbol of harmony, where diverse faiths, languages, and traditions coexisted within a shared civilisation.

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In Iqbal’s view, the greatness of a nation lies not in its geography but in the character, knowledge, and unity of its people. His poetry continues to remind us that India’s enduring glory rests upon diversity and tolerance — values that make it one of the world’s most noble civilisations.