BOOKS OF THE WEEK

IQBAL : THE LIFE OF A POET, PHILOSOPHER AND POLITICIAN

BY - ZAFAR ANJUM 

About the Book : 

Allama Mohammad Iqbal, whom Sarojini Naidu called the Poet laureate of Asia, remains a controversial figure in the history of the Indian subcontinent. On the one hand, he is considered the Spiritual Father of Pakistan. On the other, his message of eastern revivalism places him in the ranks of the twentieth centurys major intellectuals. Iqbals tragedy was that after his death, he was made the national poet of Pakistan and largely ignored in India. In his time, he was lauded as much as Tagore, but today India celebrates Tagore while Iqbal has been banished from her consciousness.

This meticulously researched biography will redress that erasure. This is the story of Iqbals evolution as a poet, philosopher and politician. While his role in the struggle for Indias freedom and the Pakistan movement are well known, not much is known about his personal life. This book highlights some of the least known facets of the poets life-how did a nationalist poet transform into a poet of Islamic revivalism and global revolution? How did three years in Europe change Iqbals political and philosophical outlook? Why did he start writing in Persian during his stay in Europe? Why did his first marriage fail and how did his romantic relationships affect him? What exactly was the poets role in bringing about Partition? Written with the passion of an ardent devotee, Zafar Anjums Iqbal answers all of these questions-and many more-in this carefully told biography.

About the Author :

Singapore-based journalist, writer and filmmaker Zafar Anjum has been published in India, the US, the UK, Singapore and other countries. His most recent works include a work of non-fiction, The Resurgence of Satyam (Random House India, 2012) and a collection of short stories, The Singapore Decalogue - Episodes in the Life of a Foreign Talent (Red Wheelbarrow Books, Singapore, 2012).

ISBN : 9788184005868 PRICE  Rs. 499/-