گرتے ہیں شہ سوار ہی میدانِ جنگ میں وہ طفل کیا گرے جو گھٹنوں کے بل چلے

 گرتے ہیں شہ سوار ہی میدانِ جنگ میں

وہ طفل کیا گرے جو گھٹنوں کے بل چلے

Who is Iqbal? - Brief Introduction to the Legendary poet of the east

Sir Muhammad Iqbal (Urdu: محمد اقبال; 9 November 1877 – 21 April 1938),

Allama Muhammad lqbal was born in Sialkot on 9th November, 1877 in a home belonging to a pious and practicing Muslim family. Beginning his educational career at the Scottish Mission School, he went on to acquire his M. A. in Philosophy, before joining Trinity College, and later earning the degree of Bar-at-Law. He furthered his education by getting the degree of doctorate from Germany on 'The Development of Metaphysics in Persia'.

He worked in different capacities at different points of time; he taught philosophy, practised law, got involved in politics, and also attended the second Round Table Conference.

His thesis, 'The Development of Metaphysics in Persia' revealed some aspects of Islamic mysticism formerly unknown in Europe. Through poetic symposia in which memorizing verse was customary, his poetry became widely known. On his return from Europe, he gained his livelihood by the practice of law. He started writing and composing poetry at the age of 15 influenced by an event when he was under the pupilage of Syed Mir Hassan (Shams ul Ulama).

His early poetry consisted of the typical genre of poetry at that age (worldly love, dialogues and stories).

Before he visited Europe, his poetry affirmed Indian nationalism, as in Naya shawalã ("The New Altar"), but time away from India caused him to shift his perspective. He came to criticize nationalism for a twofold reason: in Europe it had led to destructive racism and imperialism, and in India it was not founded on an adequate degree of common purpose. In a speech delivered at Aligarh in 1910, under the title "Islam as a Social and Political Ideal," he indicated the new Pan-Islamic direction of his hopes. His famous poem, "Wataniyat" smashes the idol of nationalism. The recurrent themes of Iqbal's poetry are a memory of the vanished glories of Islam, a complaint about its present decadence, and a call to unity and reform.

Reform can be achieved by strengthening the individual through three successive stages: obedience to the law of Islam, self-control, and acceptance of the idea that everyone is potentially a vicegerent of God (naib, Khalifa or mumin).

Shikwah ("The Complaint"), Jawäb-e shikwah ("The Answer to the Complaint"), and Khizr-e räh ("Khizr, the Guide"), were published later in 1924 in the Urdu collection Bang-e darã ("The Call of the Bell"). In those works Iqbal gave intense expression to the anguish of Muslim powerlessness. Notoriety came in 1915 with the publication of his long Persian poem Asrar-e khüdi (The Secrets of the Self).

He spoke strongly against the capitalism as practiced by the west. He was of the view that this system has ripped human beings of their basic rights and has kicked them into a generational slavery. A slavery of mental and physical anguish.

The significance of the Self (Khudi, Ego) in an individual, lqbal argued, is that it is the source through which we can bring ourselves closest to the Ultimate. Let us, therefore, study the nature and immense power that lies in the human self. labal has gone so deep into the ocean of the self that it has become difficult for a common person to dive with him to that depth.

This is why he had to face severe criticism during his lifetime particularly from religious people. In fact he possessed a very high aesthetic sense, on account of which he adopted a highly literary and poetic method to explain his creative ideas with respect to developing the rich faculties of the human mind through the self. If you want to understand God you have to understand your self first. To understand and then awaken your self you have to pass through strenuous stages; and the most difficult task for you is to fight against yourself.

The Muslim community, as lqbal conceived it, ought effectively to teach and to encourage generous service to the ideals of brotherhood and justice. The mystery of selflessness was the hidden strength of Islam. Ultimately, the only satisfactory mode of active self-realization was the sacrifice of the self in the service of causes greater than the self. The paradigm was the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the devoted service of the first believers.

His philosophical position was articulated in 'The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam (1934)', a volume based on six lectures delivered at Madras (now Chennai), Hyderabad, and Aligarh in 1928-29. He argued that a rightly focused man should unceasingly generate vitality through interaction with the purposes of the living God.

The Prophet Muhammad had returned from his unitary experience of God to let loose on the earth a new type of manhood and a cultural world characterized by the abolition of priesthood and hereditary kingship and by an emphasis on the study of history and nature.

At the annual session of the league at Allahabad in 1930, he gave the presidential address, in which he made a famous statement that the Muslims of northwestern India should demand status as a separate state. This was the peak of his political career and disposition.

After a long period of ill health, lqbal died in April 1938 and was buried in front of the great Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. Two years later the Muslim League voted for the idea of Pakistan, which became a reality in 1947.

He is also called Muffakir-e-Pakistan,

"The Inceptor of Pakistan", and Hakeem-ul-Ummat, "The Sage of the Ummah".

Pakistan has officially recognised him as its "national poet". In Iran and Afghanistan he is famous as lqbal-e Lahori (lqbal of Lahore), and he is most appreciated for his Persian work.

Iqbal lives today through his poetry and philosophical works. However, the nation he wrote for has turned its direction from him. The dream he saw for the Muslim Ummah lies incomplete. He has influenced revolutions in Iran, Central Asia and Egypt. He is more relevant than ever. His poetry, as claimed by him, contains nothing but the love of God and his Prophet (PBUH).

It is now upto to the Shabab-e-Millat (Youth) to study his message and strive to spread it. We can't underestimate the power of planting a seed.

اقبال کا ترانہ بانگِ درا ہے گویا

ہوتا ہے جادہ پیما پھر کارواں ہمارا

Iqbal's song is like the bell of a caravan;

Once more our caravan measures the road.

M.Chinnaswamy Stadium - Bengaluru INDIA

 Venue Description

M Chinnaswamy stadium, lying in the heart of the state capital, continues to remain one of the biggest cricketing centres of the country. Starting off as a humble abode, the stadium has now turned out to be a marquee venue, capable of hosting some of the biggest cricket matches to be played in the country. Home to some of the classiest match-winners of India, Chinnaswamy stadium, in its debut Test match had the honour of hosting the West Indies in 1974. The match also marked the emergence of two modern legends, Gordon Greenidge and Sir Viv Richards. Since then, the stadium has regularly hosted Tests, although it's unfortunately considered as one of India's unluckiest venues.

Bangalore hosted the final Test against Pakistan in 1987, remembered more for the minefield of a pitch and the consequent 96 from Sunil Gavaskar, one of the best ever knocks played by the little master. The venue also hosted Sachin Tendulkar's last Test as India's captain, against South Africa in February, 2000, enabling Hansie Cronje's men complete a historic series win. Unlike traditional Indian pitches, Bangalore offers more pace and bounce and it's one of the biggest reasons why overseas teams enjoy playing on this surface.

Floodlights were installed on this beautiful ground in 1996 and the first D/N match was the epic battle between India and Pakistan in the 1996 World Cup. The other much talked about match at this venue is the Titan Cup match between India and Australia in 1996. India sneaked home by 2 wickets after local heroes, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, were involved in a stunning 52-run partnership for the unbroken ninth wicket. Bangalore also hosted two India matches during the 2011 World Cup, with the game against England ending in a thrilling tie. The ground is also a regular host of IPL matches, with RCB playing all their home games, in front of their most loyal and boisterous supporters.

How does the pitch play?

Short boundaries and high altitude makes the Chinnaswamy track a heaven for batters in the limited-overs formats. Many big scores have been posted and chased down with immense ease. While it’s a batting paradise in the shorter format of the game, the track tends to help the pacers in Test cricket. One of the few Indian grounds to boast of a pitch with plenty of spice, many pacers have loved exhibiting their wares in the five-day version of the game.

Stats and Trivia:

Rohit Sharma scored his first ODI double hundred on this ground, a fine 209 against Australia in 2013

The venue was also the scene of Ireland's biggest win. They beat England in the 2011 World Cup encounter after Kevin O'Brien smashed a 50-ball 100, the fastest hundred in a WC match.

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Early wickets in ODI, All rounders play vital role