A brief outline of Allama Iqbal's life and achievements

Allama Muhammad 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.