ABOUT US · HISTORY
Twenty years of the Academy
From a seminar on Iqbal and mysticism in 1987 to a medallion struck at Lahore in 2007: the conferences, lectures, portraits and publications of the Academy's second and third decades, as recorded in its own programmes and brochures.
- Chronology
- 1987 — 2007
- Held in
- England, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Czechia
- Longest partnership
- Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Lahore
From the archive
Iqbal in Cordoba, 1991 — Junta de Andalucía. 
Inside the Mosque of Córdoba, 1991. 
An Academy occasion at a civic hall.
The chronology
1987 — 2007Compiled from the Academy's brochures and conference programmes. Proceedings of several of these gatherings were published in the Iqbal Review, Lahore, and by Iqbal Academy Pakistan.
- 1987
November
Iqbal & Mysticism — International Seminar
The first international seminar of Dr Saeed Durrani's chairmanship. Proceedings published in Iqbal Review, Lahore, October–December 1988.
- 1988
Arnold Day
Marking the hundredth anniversary of Sir Thomas Arnold's arrival in India, at Aligarh — the teacher who first encouraged Iqbal to study in Europe. Proceedings published in Iqbal Review, November 1989.
- 1989
August
Iqbal & Hyderabad Seminar
Held in London with the Hyderabad Association.
London
November
Iqbal Day at Trinity College, Cambridge
Held at Iqbal's own college with the Cambridge University Pakistan Students' Society.
Trinity College, Cambridge
- 1990
June
Iqbal Seminar at the Oriental Institute, Prague
The Academy's first seminar behind what had until months earlier been the Iron Curtain.
Prague, Czechoslovakia
December
Iqbal Portrait commissioned from Gulgee
The renowned Pakistani artist Gulgee commissioned at Karachi to paint the portrait of Iqbal.
Karachi
- 1991
Iqbal in Cordoba — International Conference
Held at Cordoba, Spain, in association with Islam et Occident — in the city of the Mosque where Iqbal wrote his celebrated prayer.
Cordoba, Spain
- 1992
April
Gulgee portrait inaugurated at the University of Birmingham
Unveiled in the presence of the painter, the Master, Professor Sir Michael Atiyah OM, and the High Commissioner for Pakistan.
University of Birmingham
April
Ahang-e Iqbal — compact disc launched
Iqbal's Urdu and Persian poetry sung by celebrated Pakistani artists.
- 1993
April
Iqbal Portrait installed at Trinity College, Cambridge
The portrait hung at alma mater — the college where Iqbal read for his degree in 1905–07.
Trinity College, Cambridge
- 1994
November
Iqbal Day at the Nehru Centre, London
Held in the presence of the High Commissioner for India, Mr Gopala Krishna Gandhi, and the Director of the Centre.
Nehru Centre, London
- 1995
October
Iqbal & The Fine Arts: The Heritage of Islamic Creativity
International Conference and Festival at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham.
Barber Institute, Birmingham
- 1996
October
Navadir-i Iqbal Europe mein launched
The Urdu edition launched in London and Birmingham.
- 1997
November
Iqbal & the New Era — International Conference
Held at Ghent in association with the Iqbal Foundation Europe. Proceedings published by Iqbal Academy Pakistan in 2006.
Ghent, Belgium
- 1998
March
Islamic Calligraphy Exhibition
Held at the BBC, Pebble Mill.
BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham
- 1999
October
Annual Iqbal Lecture — Professor Jagan Nath Azad
Given by the prominent Indian Iqbalist at the University of Birmingham.
University of Birmingham
- 2000
October
Millennium of Music: Classical (Sufi) Music of the East
A gala of South Asian classical and spiritual music at Symphony Hall, in the presence of HRH Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan, with the BBC and Birmingham City Council.
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
- 2001
October
Asrar-i Khudi (Secrets of the Self) launched
Dr S. A. Durrani's edition, with extensive annotations in Iqbal's own hand, published by the Karachi University Press.
- 2002
October
Some Unknown Aspects of Iqbal's Life
Lecture by Professor Saeed Durrani at the German Embassy, London. Proceedings published as alma mater.
German Embassy, London
- 2003
April
A Quest for the Sacred — Annemarie Schimmel Commemorative Seminar
International seminar on the life and work of Professor Annemarie Schimmel, held with Iqbal Academy Pakistan.
December
Navadir-i Iqbal Europe mein — third edition
The third Urdu edition published.
- 2004
April
Iqbal Europe mein — lecture by Professor Suheyl Umar
Given by the Director of Iqbal Academy Pakistan, in conjunction with the Pakistan Embassy, at Birmingham.
Birmingham
- 2005
April
Iqbal Day at the Chester Beatty Centre, Dublin
The Academy's first Iqbal Day held in Ireland.
Dublin
June
The Golden Age of Islamic Astronomy
Lecture by Dr Allan Chapman of the University of Oxford, in the presence of Lord Ahmed of Rotherham.
June
Spoken Urdu launched at the House of Lords
The textbook and two accompanying CDs, launched at an event presided over by Lord Ahmed with the Birmingham and Midland Institute.
House of Lords, London
December
Navadir-i Iqbal Europe mein in Hindi — second edition
Published by the Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu, New Delhi.
New Delhi
- 2006
June
First Schimmel Memorial Lecture
"Sufism, Christian Mysticism, and Interfaith Dialogue", given by the Rt Rev. Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, Lord Bishop of Rochester, at the University of Birmingham.
University of Birmingham
October
Spoken Urdu — Golden Age textbook launched
Launched in conjunction with the Pakistan Embassy.
- 2007
March
Spoken Urdu launched at Birmingham City Council
Launched at the Council's Banqueting Suite, with music for Pakistan Day.
Birmingham
July
The Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani Medallion struck
Struck at Lahore, bearing the calligraphy of Rasheed Butt, and afterwards presented at the 2008 centenary conference.
Lahore
September
Gulshan-i Raz-i Jadid launched
Professor Durrani's The New Garden of Mystery — a translation of Iqbal from the manuscript of Arthur J. Arberry.
The archive
The chronology continues in the Academy's own records.
Programmes, proceedings, photographs and correspondence from 1971 onwards are held by the Academy. Researchers and members are welcome to write to us.