PESHAWAR, July 11: Dr Mohammad Iqbal, who produced two-thirds of his poetry in Persian language, could not speak a single word of the language which gave him a special place in the history of Persian poetry.

This was stated by Dr Zahoor Ahmed Awan, a local columnist, in his speech at the certificate-awarding ceremony organized  by the  Khana Farhang-i-Islami Jamhoori, Iran here on Wednesday.  The ceremony  was  arranged to award  certificate  to  students  of Persian  language  who completed their first  and  second  level courses this year.

Dr Awan said Dr Iqbal with Allama Syed Suleman Nadvi and Sir  Rass  Masood visited Afghanistan in October 1933.  They  were invited by King Nadir Shah, father of King Zahir Shah to  compile the syllabus for students of Kabul University.

On  their way to Afghanistan, he said, Dr Iqbal, Allama  Nadvi and Sir Masood stayed for a night at the Dean Hotel in Peshawar. During his 15-day tour, Dr Iqbal spoke at various gatherings, but in  Urdu  or  English and Allama Nadvi  made  translation  of  Dr Iqbal’s speeches, he added.

He said Dr Iqbal was the pioneer of a unique style in Persian poetry  which ended with the death of the poet of the east.  But, he could not speak the language of his mentor, Maulana Rumi, Hafiz Shiraz, Saadi, Jami, Khaqani and Firdusi. It was unique  handicap, which needs a research to be made, he added.

The Director of Khana Farhang, Peshawar, Agha  Raeesusaadat, said Persian had motherly relation  with  the Urdu.