1st National Conference on Iqbal at Bahria University
28-29 November 2019
Iqbal Chair organized 1st National Conference on Iqbal, 2019 on 28th and 29 November 2019, with partnership of Educational Resource Development Center (ERDC), Karachi and Riphah International University Islamabad. It was first ever conference on Iqbal in the Bahria University. The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi graced the conference as chief guest. The objective of this conference was to actively explore Iqbal’s philosophical and practical guidance through academic exercise and to investigate ways for its implementation in different domains of an Islamic state. The conference ran in four tracks: Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology, Law and Media. The main theme of this conference was
فلسفہ اقبال کی آفاقیت اور اسکی شخصی و سماجی افادیت
‘The inclusiveness of Iqbal’s philosophy and its potential for personal and social change’
The conference was intended to spur more meaningful conversations about Iqbal’s ideology among the fields of research in social sciences, psychology, media and law more broadly, and move this domain in the direction of greater coherence, shared knowledge, and community.
The conference was marked by the attendance of young and brilliant researchers, eminent scholars and talented students from Bahria as well as other universities, who have driven this event to a great success. There were over 70 research abstracts received from all over Pakistan, representing different universities, civil society, academia and the private sector out of which 48 papers were presented. This was a gigantic event with parallel running seminars and scientific sessions. Bahria University Lahore and Karachi campus also participated in full through Live YouTube transmission and VLC.
The conference proceedings were carried out through various Scientific-sessions and plenary lectures. The conference was embarked with an opening ceremony followed by a series of Track sessions.
The conference served as a platform for sharing experiences of Iqbal’s study and his personal life at different levels, from debates by famous personalities who are affiliated with Allama Iqbal’s philosophy. The main outcome of the conference was to influence youth by acquainting them with Iqbal’s ideology through various means like speeches, panel discussions, paper presentation and presentation of Iqbal’s poetry as Kalam and stage play.
The opening address was delivered by the Rector Bahria University, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat HI (M), who welcomed the guests and participants and reiterated the Bahria University’s commitment to inculcate core Islamic and ethical values in its students. Host of the conference was Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik (SI), Iqbal Chair Bahria University.
The Chief Guest, Chief of the Naval Staff Pakistan Navy, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI(M), HI(M), SI(M), delivered a comprehensive address emphasizing on Quaid and Iqbal’s idea of Pakistan and stated that the core of muslim nation is very unique, it can’t flourish by the ways of imitation of West. He also said, “It is important for our students to know history of Pakistan and the purpose for the creation of a separate country, we must keep our roots alive.”
Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik (SI) in his keynote address, emphasized that Iqbal reminds us of the glories of our forefathers, and the attributes that led to that glory, but sad as it is that we Muslims are not realizing our full potential and are greatly negligent in research and technology.
There were valuable tracks speeches and panel discussions. The worthy track keynote and speakers were no other than speakers like Hon Iftikhar Arif (SI, HI), Prof Dr. Anis Ahmad (Vice-Chancellor of Riphah International University), Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri (Vice Chancellor Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi), Hon Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali (Chairman Muslim Institute, Islamabad), Justice Nasira Javid Iqbal (SI), Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman Asim (Director Center for Islamic Studies, Bahria University), Prof Dr. Shahid Siddiqi (Ex Rector Allama Iqbal Open University, and presently dean Faculty of Social Sciences NUML), Dr. Tahir Hameed Tanoli (Head of Academics department Iqbal Academy Pakistan), Mr. Salman Asif Siddiqui (Director Education Resource Development Center, Educational Psychologist), Dr. Fahad Khan (Clinical Psychologist, Faculty member at Concordia University Chicago and National Louis University), Prof. Dr. Zainab F. Zadeh (Dean and Director of the Institute of Professional Psychology (IPP), Bahria University), Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif, and Mr. Saqib Jawad (Civil Judge District Court Islamabad).
The key focus of the speeches and discussions was the practicality of Iqbal’s message for the present times. Many of the speakers pointed out that Iqbal’s message was being deliberately removed and kept out of our academic curricula in Pakistan. They stressed on its inclusion in national curricula.
In the concluding session of this very successful conference, the efforts of all the organizing teams were lauded by the Chairman Conference, Rear Admiral Nasir Mahmood HI (M) and Chief Organizer Dr. Muhammad Abid Ali.