Seminar set on great Moslem poet

JAKARTA (JP): Two Indonesian ministers will address a seminar on the great Pakistani-born Moslem poet, philosopher and thinker Muhammad Iqbal on Saturday.

Embassy of Pakistan spokesman Ayaz Pirzada said on Thursday that Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi Sasono and Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture Marzuki Usman were the scheduled guests of honor at the seminar, organized by the Iqbal Academy in cooperation with the embassy of Pakistan.

Pakistani Ambassador Afzal Akbar Khan said Iqbal's message did not speak to Pakistan alone, but was universal. He added that his powerful poetry was aimed at the awakening of Moslems.

Iqbal's poetry has been translated into Indonesian and several well-known Indonesian writers have authored works on his views. Pesan Kepada Bangsa-Bangsa Timur (Message to the Nations of the East), a translated poetry collection, and Percikan Filsafat Iqbal tentang Pendidikan (Fragments of Iqbal's Philosophy on Education), are among the works.

Khan hoped the seminar would contribute to a greater understanding of Iqbal's views on Islam, life philosophy and poetry. (bnt)