فکر اقبال اور مسئلہ کشمیر

Abstract

This academic paper examines the profound connection between the philosophical thought and political activism of Allama Muhammad Iqbal and the Kashmir issue during the British Raj. It posits that Iqbal’s engagement was multifaceted, driven not only by his own Kashmiri heritage but also by a deep ideological commitment to justice and Muslim self-determination. The research employs narrative and analytical methods to explore Iqbal’s poetic works, political speeches, and personal correspondence, which consistently highlighted the oppression faced by Kashmiri Muslims under the Dogra Hindu rule sanctioned by the British Empire. The study details how Iqbal transcended mere poetic lamentation to become a central figure in the early Kashmiri freedom movement. He mobilized political consciousness, provided strategic leadership through the All-India Muslim Kashmir Conference, advocated for Kashmiri rights at international forums like the Round Table Conferences, and organized financial and moral support for political prisoners. Despite facing a ban on entry into Kashmir and government-sponsored propaganda, Iqbal’s efforts were instrumental in fostering a sense of ‘Khudi’ (selfhood) and resistance among Kashmiris. The paper concludes that Iqbal’s perspective—emphasizing unity, political awakening, and ethical resistance—remains critically relevant to understanding the historical and ongoing struggle in Kashmir, framing it as an enduring quest for justice against occupation.