Muhammad Iqbal, poet, writer, scholar and politician, passed away on this day. His views played a crucial role in establishing the idea of Pakistan.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was in Calcutta on this day. In his condolence message published the next day, Jinnah said that Iqbal was a remarkable poet (he had written the song Sare jahan se achchha), praised him for his services to his country and Muslims and described him as “the staunchest and the most loyal champion of the policy and programme of the All-India Muslim League”.
Jinnah added that Iqbal was “a friend, guide and philosopher and during the darkest moments through which the Muslim League had to go, he stood like a rock”. Jinnah said Iqbal must have read that only three days ago “complete unity” was achieved in Calcutta of the Muslim leaders of the Punjab, who had all come under the banner of the All-India Muslim League. In this Iqbal had played a significant part, Jinnah added.