LAHORE: The Government College University has identified the hostel room where Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal resided between 1895 and 1900.

“The cubicle, located at the then boarding house (now Allama Iqbal Hostel) of the GCU is still in same condition as it was during Allama Iqbal’s stay. No renovation or alteration has been made to it,” GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said while inaugurating the Iqbal’s room here on Saturday. Allama’s grandson Muneeb Iqbal was also accompanying the vice-chancellor.

Prof Shah said it was a national obligation on the part of the varsity administration to identify and preserve this heritage site.

The evidence that helped the varsity in tracing Allam’s room was an article written by Iqbal’s contemporary at the GCU, Ghulam Bhik Nairang, who sketched the poet’s personality as a student and mentioned the exact location of his cubicle.

Muneeb Iqbal said it was one of the last wishes of his father (the late Justice Javed Iqbal) that Allama Iqbal’s room at the GCU be identified and preserved. He said no other place where Allama Iqbal resided was so well-preserved as his cubicle.

“I wish I could spend some time in this room and feel the spirit, feelings and thoughts of my grandfather,” Mr Muneeb said.

A varsity committee has recommended that the room should be restored to its original condition and the academic toppers be given an opportunity to stay in the room for short periods.

Later, Prof Shah and Muneeb Iqbal inaugurated the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Allama Iqbal Hostel.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2016