Allama IQBAL's Life - Timeline

Allama Iqbal's contributions are numerous and it is not possible to give even a
glimpse of his work here. A brief outline of Allama Iqbal's life and achievements is
presented below:

1877
Born at Sialkot (present Pakistan) on Friday, November 9, 1877. Kashmiri origin.

1893-95
High School and Intermediate - Scotch Mission College, Sialkot.

1897
B. A. (Arabic and Philosophy) - Government College, Lahore. Awarded Jamaluddin
Gold Medal for securing highest marks in Arabic, and another Gold Medal in English.

1899
M.A. (Philosophy) - Government College, Lahore. Secured first rank in Punjab state
and awarded Gold Medal.
Reader in Arabic, Oriental College, Lahore.

1900
Read his poem "Nala-e-Yateem," (Wails of an Orphan) at the annual function of
Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam at Lahore.

1901
Poem 'Himala' published in Makhzan.
Assistant Commissioner's Examination (didn't qualify due to medical reasons).

1903
Assistant Professor, Government College, Lahore. Published his first book, "Ilmul-
Iqtasad" (Study of Economics), Lahore.

1905
Traveled to England for higher studies.

1907
Ph.D., Munich University, Germany (Thesis: Development of Metaphysics in Persia).

1907-08
Professor of Arabic, London University.

1908
Bar-at-Law, London. Returned to India.
Started law practice on October 22, 1908.
Part-time Professor of Philosophy and English Literature.

1911
Wrote and read famous poem "Shikwa" (Complaint) at Lahore.
Professor of Philosophy, Government College, Lahore.
1912
Wrote the epoch-making "Jawab-e-Shikwa" (Reply to Complaint).

1913
Wrote "History of India" for middle school students, Lahore (now out of print).

1915
Published a long Persian poem "Asrar-e-Khudi" (Secrets of Self). Resigned from
professorship to spread the message of Islam.

1918
In counterpart to "Asrar-e-Khudi", published "Rumuz-e-Bekhudi" (Mysteries of
Selflessness) in Persian.

1920
English translation of "Asrar-e-Khudi" by Prof. R.A. Nicholson of Cambridge
University entitled "Secrets of Self."
Visited Kashmir and presented his famous poem "Saqi Nama" at Srinagar.

1923
Awarded knighthood "Sir" at Lahore on January 1, 1923. Published "Pay am-e-
Mashriq" (The Message of the East) in Persian. It was written in response to Goethe's
West-Ostlicher Divan.

1924
Prepared an Urdu course material for Grade 6,7 students at Lahore. Published "Bang-
e-Dara" (Call of the Caravan) in Urdu in March 1924.

1926
Elected to Punjab Legislative Council, Lahore (1926-1929).

1927
Published "Zaboor-e-A'jam" in Persian.

1929
Delivered his famous six lectures at Madras, Osmania University at Hyderabad, and
Aligarh. He made very thought provoking comments on the latest scientific and
philosophical developments of the 1920s in the light of Islamic teachings.

1930
President, All India Muslim League. Elaborated on the idea of an independent Muslim
state in his presidential speech at Allahabad. [Refer to 1924-28 events in particular
and 1912-29 in general in the Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent - V 1800 - 1950
CE].

1931
Published "Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam," - a collection of six
lectures, Lahore; it was also published by Oxford University.
Participated in Mo'tamar-A'lam-e-Islami (World Muslim Conference) in Palestine.
Participated in the Second Round Table Conference, London, September 7 -
December 31, 1931.

1932
Visited Paris and met French philosophers Bergson and Massignon. Bergson was
astonished to hear his remark on the Islamic concept of time.
Published "Javed Namah" in Persian. It was a reply to Dante's 'Divine Comedy'.
Participated in the Third Round Table Conference, London, November 17 - December
24, 1932.

1933
Allama Iqbal met Mussolini in Rome after Mussolini expressed his interest to meet
him.
Visited Qurtuba, Spain and wrote the poems "Dua" (Supplication) "Masjid-e-
Qurtuba." (The Mosque of Cordoba).
Served as Advisor to the Government of Afghanistan on higher education (October
1933).
Awarded Honorary D. Litt degree by Punjab University on Dec. 4,1933.

1934
Musafir (Traveler) in Persian.

1935
Published "Bal-e-Jibril" in Urdu.

1936
Published "Zarab-e-Kalim" in April 1936, "Pas Che Bayad Kard" in Persian, and
"Payam-e-Mashriq" in September 1936.

1937
Ulema from Al-Azhar University visited Allama Iqbal at Lahore.

1938
Jawahar Lal Nehru visited Allama Iqbal at Lahore in January 1938.
Allama Iqbal died at Lahore on April 21,1938. He was a versatile genius-poet,
philosopher, lawyer, educationist, politician, and a reformer. "Armughan-e-Hijaz"
published posthumously. It was a collection of Urdu and Persian poems.