West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will felicitate Waleed Iqbal, the grandson of famous poet Allama Iqbal, at a three-day international literary festival organised by State’s Urdu Academy later this month.
“Waleed Iqbal will come from Lahore to accept the award at the literacy conference Jashn-e-Iqbal,” Nayeem Anis, the chairman of the publication sub-committee of West Bengal Urdu Akademy, told The Hindu on Saturday.
Known for his poem Saare Jahan Se Achcha , also referred as Tarana-e-Hind, Muhammad Iqbal, or Allama Iqbal, is considered one of an important poets of the pre-Independent India. However, at the same time he is also a considered controversial figure in certain circles as many scholars consider him to be a proponent of the nation theory which led to the Partition in 1947.
Ms Banerjee, the chairman of the West Bengal Urdu Academy, is very fond of the poem Saare Jahan se Achcha. She will confer Tarana-e-Hind award on the poet’s grandson.
“The West Bengal Urdu Academy is making all efforts to make the event a success. The event will also help in the spread of Urdu language in the State,” Md. Nadimul Haque, Trinamool Congress MP to Rajya Sabha, said.
A section of the library of the West Bengal Urdu Academy will be dedicated to literature of Iqbal during the festival starting May 29.
She will confer Tarana-e-Hind award on Waleed Iqbal
