The nest of the fragile branch: the history of Iqbal's establishment in Europe

The 3-year stay in Europe has had a profound effect on Iqbal's life and thought.

Historians, philosophers and poets have different dimensions in the world of science and art. There are many things in common and contradictory in these ways of consciousness and perception, imagination and feeling and search and exploration.

Now call it Hassan Ittefaq or the miracle of perfect nature that these three aspects in Iqbal's personality somehow seem to us together. Therefore, while studying Iqbal's personality, we have to keep these three conditions in mind.

Iqbal says:

Don't consider Murree Nawae Parishan as poetry

That I am Muharram Raz inside the house

While studying these three aspects of Iqbal, we need to look at and understand his establishment of Europe very closely so that his historical dimension and the breadth and maturity of his philosophical ideas can be accurately analyzed.

Iqbal's life and the way in which the song of soul and the human soul is present in his words not only nurtures our thoughts but also closes the bursting rivers and streams of art. That is why Iqbal comes to us as a symbol of movement on many levels.

In this article, an attempt is made to present the stages of Iqbal's establishment in Europe (1907-1905), the scientific, literary and philosophical sciences he acquired and the experiences he went through.

The 3-year stay in Europe has had a profound effect on Iqbal's life and thought. As well as peeking into the intellectual depths of Europe, he has also made an accurate analysis of Islamic thought.

During this short period of 3 years, he had understood many mysteries and secrets of thought and philosophy in the company of his teacher Sir Thomas Walker Arnold. A student who is fond of the Urdu language and literature is known by his name. Sir Thomas Arnold became Professor of Philosophy at MAO (Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental) College, Aligarh in 1888 and at Government College, Lahore in 1898. He was the acting principal of the University Oriental College from April 1899 and again from August 1902 to April 1903. In 1904, he was appointed Assistant Librarian of the India Office Library (London).

Allama Iqbal studied philosophy at Government College, Lahore. When Allama Iqbal decided to give up poetry in Europe, it was Sir Thomas Arnold who stopped him from doing so. Sir Thomas Arnold's influence can be seen scientifically not only in Iqbal's life but also in many aspects of Islamic civilization.

Sheikh Abdul Qadir, the editor of the magazine 'Makhzan', who was a close friend of Iqbal and a close associate of his during his stay in Europe, describes his and Arnold's conversation in the magazine Makhzan and quotes Arnold as saying:

One day Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal told me (Arnold) that I was determined to give up poetry and swore that I would not do poetry. The time spent in poetry will be used for some other useful work. I (Arnold) told him that his poetry was not something that should be abandoned, but rather that his words had the effect of curing our afflicted nation and our lesser ailments.

From this quote, one can feel the kindness of Sir Thomas Arnold towards the Urdu world and Iqbal's personality. If he had not introduced Iqbal to philosophy and advised him to continue his poetry, then perhaps Qalandar men like Iqbal would not have been able to present his imagination in this way in language and literature and in the political, cultural and intellectual life of South Asia.

The poems that Iqbal himself has written about Sir Thomas Arnold show his love and affection. When he left Arnold Government College Lahore in 1904 and moved to London, Iqbal wrote the poem 'Nala Faraq' in his memory.

Go and settle in the west, O house

Ah, the East did not like it

Remembering the days of Salaf can break my heart

I come running to you in peace

The cordial and spiritual attachment he had with Professor Arnold during Lahore and Cambridge lasted forever. This can be gauged from the attribution of his PhD dissertation The Development of Metaphysics in Persia.

Iqbal and Cambridge

Allama Iqbal entered Trinity College Cambridge on October 1, 1905. He entered the college as an Advanced Student. That is a student who already has a BA or MA degree from a university. His teacher here was Adam Sedgwick, a professor of zoology at the university.

زفرق تا بقدم ہر کجا کہ می نگرم

کرشمہ دامنِ دل می کشد کہ جا اینجاست

Trinity College is the largest college in Cambridge. From this college, people like Newton, Lord Byron, Tennyson and Bertrand Russell studied. Besides, Jawaharlal Nehru has also studied in the same college. In the dining hall of this college, there was a portrait of famous Pakistani artist Gul Ji on Iqbal but for some reason, it was removed from here. Iqbal writes of Cambridge:

Cambridge is, in my view, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Apart from Venice, there is no other city that offers such a marquee of charm, desert, ancient historical environment and natural beauty that can be seen in Cambridge.

According to the poet in this city

Everywhere you look today, the tide of protectionist sentiment is flowing

Charisma touches the heart where it's here

Saeed Akhtar Durrani, the author of 'Iqbal in Europe' and 'Nawadir Iqbal in Europe', raises the question of why Iqbal went to Germany for his PhD degree if he showed so much attachment to this city.

Saeed Akhtar Durrani further writes that:

As I researched the answer to this question, it became clear to me that the rules for a PhD degree at Cambridge were drawn up in May 1910, and that the first PhD student was admitted there in 1921. Prior to that, students travelled to Germany to pursue higher degrees. That's why Iqbal received his PhD from Munich.

When Iqbal was in Cambridge, the city of Afaq philosophers was present here, many famous Orientalists were involved in teaching here and the name of Bertrand Russell among them needs no introduction.

Iqbal was to write his dissertation at Trinity College under the supervision of Dr Mac Taggart, a renowned researcher and scholar of Hegelian philosophy. He had a profound effect on Iqbal's thoughts and ideas. The other teacher was Professor WR Sorley, whose special field was theology and moral values.

Apart from philosophical discussions and their basics, Iqbal also benefited from the history of Islam and Persian poetry and literature in Cambridge. At that time Cambridge University was also rich in these fields. Among them is an Orientalist, Dr Nicholson, who had a certificate on Maulana Rome. The English translation of Iqbal's important Masnavi 'Israr Khodi' was done by Dr Nicholson in 1920. In addition to Nicholson, Dr Brown (EG Brown) also contributed significantly to Iqbal's dissertation The Development of Metaphysics in Persia.

Iqbal and Munich

Iqbal arrived in Munich from London in July 1907. Professor Arnold encouraged her to pursue a PhD from Germany. In addition to Arnold, Cambridge and other teachers were involved. Personally, Iqbal was a fan of the Germans and used to say, "If you want to consolidate your knowledge, go to Germany." Due to these factors, he decided to go to Germany. He asked his brother Sheikh Ata Muhammad to send money. Sheikh Ata Muhammad was the one who sponsored his higher education.

Iqbal applied to Ludwig Million University in Munich to submit his PhD dissertation in English instead of German or Latin, entitled The Development of Metaphysics in Persia. Upon receiving permission, Iqbal submitted his dissertation. However, the university stipulated that they must stay in Germany for three months to learn German.

Iqbal Heidelberg and Emma Wagnerist

After completing all these tasks, Iqbal left for Heidelberg. Stayed at Scherrer Mansion on the banks of the Neckar River. It was on this floor that he met Emma Wegenast, his German teacher. This meeting became an unforgettable event of life for the poet Iqbal in terms of satisfying Iqbal's taste for beauty and aesthetic maturity.

He spent a lot of time with Emma. He also practised the German language and talked with him about poetry and literature and some scientific topics. Among the German poets, especially Goethe and Heine were the subjects of his interest. Emma was 2 years younger than Iqbal and had her education at the University of Heidelberg. According to Emma's sister, Sophie Vaginast, Emma was called the brains of the family.

In the light of Iqbal and Emma's 28 letters, it would not be out of place to say that Iqbal also has Emma Gotha, Hyena and Chopin Har. The same is true of Heidelberg and the river Neckar.

In Iqbal's life, Emma Vaginast did a wonderful job of winning hearts by teaching language. Due to this attitude and action, Iqbal's feelings became clear that Emma is the real strength of my life and Germany is my second

I will never forget the days of Heidelberg when you taught me Goethe's Faust and helped me in many other ways. What a wonderful day that was. I will do my best to come to Heidelberg and meet you at the same old place. I still remember the Neckar River that we both used to hang out on.

Commemorative plaque of Allama Iqbal's residence in Heidelberg, Germany. - Photo courtesy of Zaria Hashmi

Road named after Allama Iqbal in Heidelberg

Bang Dara's poem "On the banks of the Neckar River (Heidelberg)" presents these moments in a similar way.

The moon is silent

There are silent branches of every tree

Valley's new vendor is silent

The green cover of Kehsar is silent

Nature has fainted

She has fallen asleep at night

Something like this is a trap of silence

I also have a beaded necklace

O, heart! Still, be quiet

Swelling in the arms of grief

Iqbal has expressed the same sentiments in other poems of this period like 'Hasan wa Ishq' and 'Wisal'.

However, on November 4, 1907, a five-member board headed by Professor Friedrich Ho-Mill, supervising the dissertation, took an oral examination of Iqbal and awarded him a PhD.

The certificate issued to him by the university has the following words written for Iqbal:

This certificate is being issued to a Famous and learned man and the exalted person with Great Praise.

Iqbal left Munich on November 5. Maybe Iqbal had left his heart here for which he said:

O, heart! Still, be quiet

Swelling in the arms of grief

On July 1, 1908, he was awarded a Bachelor of Laws degree from Lincoln's Inn. After returning from Germany, he lectured in London on many important topics and here he also met Begum Atiya Faizi which is an addition to the beauty of Iqbal's life.

In the field of Iqbal's scientific and educational achievements, this 3-year period has not only been influential but has taken its full form. He received his BA from Cambridge, his PhD from Munich, and his barrister's degree from Lincoln's Inn is just a short span of 3 years. In that sense, it is possible for South Asia to have a prominent position. Many of the personalities who left here have not been able to get this position till today even though their son Javed Iqbal stayed in England for 7 years to study but the distinction of Iqbal's personality shows his genius.