![Iqbal Manzil the birthplace of Iqbal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Iqbal_Manzil_the_birthplace_of_Iqbal.JPG)
Iqbal Manzil (; "Manzil"; word in Urdu meaning 'building' or 'mansion') is the birthplace of Muslim poet and philosopher Dr
Muhammad Allama Iqbal (1877-1938). It is located in the heart of the city of
Sialkot
Sialkot ( ur, ) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of Sialkot District and the 13th most populous city in Pakistan. The boundaries of Sialkot are joined with Jammu (the winter capital of Indian administered Jammu and Ka ...
in Punjab province of
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
.
History
Iqbal Manzil was purchased in 1861 by Mohammad Rafique, the great-grandfather of Allama Iqbal. The house was originally very small, but each successor kept adding to it and the building grew in size.
After the death of his father Noor Muhammad, Iqbal's his elder brother, Ata Mohammad, was named the owner of the Iqbal Manzil. Ata Mohammed's sons after his death, left the house and took up residences in Karachi and Lahore.
Allama Iqbal's son
Javed Iqbal was born in the Iqbal Manzil on 5 October 1924. Javed Iqbal spent his childhood in Lahore but never entered Iqbal Manzil again. Allama Iqbal's other son Aftab Iqbal resided in Karachi for the better part of his life. Allama Iqbal also had a daughter named Munira Iqbal.
Since 1986, Riaz Hussain Naqvi has been the curator at Iqbal Manzil.
Restoration work
The
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=hakúmat-e pákistán) abbreviated as GoP, is a federal government established by the Constitution of Pakistan as a constituted governing authority of the Administrative units of Pakistan, four provin ...
bought Iqbal Manzil for its restoration in 1971 and handed it over to the Archaeology Department, which aptly accorded it the status of a cultural heritage.
Negligence
However, in the early 2000s the Iqbal Manzil became a victim of negligence of the authorities who were responsible for preserving this national heritage. Cracks appeared in several walls of the decades-old building, the doors creaked. The building was in shambles. The number of visitors went from 300 in one day to only a few dozen. The back part of the building was in a dilapidated condition and mostly ignored.
Renovation
The Sialkot District Government renovated the Iqbal Manzil to save it from collapsing. The walls were repaired and whitewashed. The roof was painted. Old curtains were replaced and the second storey was carpeted. After renovation, the number of visitors shot up to about 200 per day. The Government released Rs.14 million for restoring the building.
For few decades approx from 1988 , Riaz Hussain Naqvi, the curator of Iqbal Manzil, has been actively involved in the restoration of this historic building and has been successful to quite some extent and has been nominated for the pride of performance.
Inside the Iqbal Manzil
Many tourists come to
Sialkot
Sialkot ( ur, ) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of Sialkot District and the 13th most populous city in Pakistan. The boundaries of Sialkot are joined with Jammu (the winter capital of Indian administered Jammu and Ka ...
especially to visit the Iqbal Manzil. It is the place where he lived and wrote poetry that would later stimulate the creation of the Pakistan Movement. After renovation, Iqbal Manzil was converted into a library-cum-museum. The museum was inaugurated in 1977. It consists of a guided tour through the rooms of the mansion spread out on three storeys. On display is the furniture and many other objects used by Allama Iqbal and his family decades ago.
Moreover, several rare pictures of Allama Iqbal with his family, teachers, class fellows and leaders of the
All India Muslim League
The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party established in Dhaka in 1906 when a group of prominent Muslim politicians met the Viceroy of British India, Lord Minto, with the goal of securing Muslim interests on the Indian subcontin ...
adorn the walls of the building. Many of these hold autographs of Allama Iqbal. Iqbal's poetry written in his own handwriting is also on display.
A pen and ink pot used by him are also on display.
Library
The library at the Iqbal Manzil holds over 4000 books, 2000 on Iqbaliyat alone, all of which were donated by visitors. Visitors can sit in the library free of cost and peruse the scholarly works at their own leisure. The library has facilitated 5 students in attaining their Ph.D on the works of Iqbal. The Punjab Government has announced to establish an advance research centre at the Iqbal Manzil which would facilitate research being conducted on Iqbal and his works. The research centre has not yet been established despite more than two years have passed since the project was approved.
Visitors
Since its renovation, Iqbal Manzil has enjoyed a host of visitors who have reveled in its historic significance. Some notable visitors include the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakista
Mr. Sherali S. Jononov A Japanese delegation fro
Osaka University Japan also paid a visit to Iqbal Mazil and enjoyed the traditional breakfast of Hulwa Puri there.
See also
*
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal ( ur, ; 9 November 187721 April 1938), was a South Asian Muslim writer, philosopher, Quote: "In Persian, ... he published six volumes of mainly long poems between 1915 and 1936, ... more or less complete works on philoso ...
*
Sialkot
Sialkot ( ur, ) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of Sialkot District and the 13th most populous city in Pakistan. The boundaries of Sialkot are joined with Jammu (the winter capital of Indian administered Jammu and Ka ...
*
List of museums in Pakistan
This is a list of museums, galleries, and related building structures in Pakistan.
Museums and galleries
Archaeological and historical museums
* Harappa Museum, Harappa
* Baha ...
References
{{coord missing, Punjab, Pakistan
Buildings and structures in Sialkot
Museums established in 1977
Museums in Punjab, Pakistan
Memorials to Muhammad Iqbal
Biographical museums in Pakistan
Tourist attractions in Sialkot