KARACHI, Nov 10: Noted poet and writer Jamiluddin Aali was highly critical of the present state of affairs in the country because of feudalism, and deceit and hypocrisy of the rulers in the country.

Every act was being done totally against the message of Allama Iqbal. Feudalism, against which the great Shaer-i-Mashriq spoke in no uncertain words later got hold of the country and the concept of an independent, upright, tolerant, egalitarian Muslim state, visualised by Iqbal was totally destroyed.

Jamiluddin Aali was speaking at the Iqbal Day function jointly held by Daera-i-Adabo Saqafat, the Dhaka Group of Institutions and Bazm-i-Kehkeshan on Tuesday.

His presidential discourse was received with clapping when he condemned the recent Karo-kari Act as "deceit and a bundle of lies," meant to further establish the hold of the feudals.

Allama Iqbal had totally rejected the class and 'biradri' systems and also the sectarianism, when he thought of Pakistan. As against this, the sectarianism was at its worst, six decades after his demise.

Incidentally, poet Amirul Islam Hashmi, a brilliant satirist had earlier presented some stanzas from his long poem dilating on the same theme, later carried by Aali:

Iqbal teray des ka kya haal sunaon

Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum, the Pakistan Steel Mills chairman, was the guest of honour who suggested the youth to seek guidance from Allama Iqbal's poetry and the long essays, foreseeing the tumultuous future of the Indo-Pakistan publications.

Prof Saher Ansari said that Iqbal had changed the instance of certain terms like 'Khudi' and gave them fresh meaning. Eagle, to him was symbol of personal ego, sense of dignity and self- respect. Iqbal had advised Muslims the world over, to regain the past glory and never compromise on their self-respect.

Prof Afaq Siddiqui quoted passages from Iqbal's letters, signifying utmost respect for his seniors like Maulana Shibli and Maulana Sulaiman Nadvi. He said Iqbalalways looked for bright future of Muslims.

Talaat Farooq, a poet and a learned lady, dilated upon the message of Iqbal and lamented that 'Iqbal framoshi' had become common in present times. "We are passing through an identity crisis for which only we should be held responsible," she observed.

Masood Ahmad Barkati read out a paper on Iqbal's poetry for children.

At the outset, Zafar Mohyuddin presented his introductory paper on the life and message of the great poet. Javed Manzer did the compering. -H.A.