HEIDELBERG: A distinguished literary gathering celebrating the legacy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was held on the banks of the Neckar River in Heidelberg, Germany, bringing together diplomats, scholars and members of the Pakistani community to promote literary and cultural dialogue.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany, Saqlain Syedah, attended the event as the chief guest, while the ceremony and poetry recital were chaired by prominent German-Pakistani community leader Syed Iqbal Haider.
Among the distinguished participants were Waseem Butt, a member of the Heidelberg City Council, Professor Hans Herder, and several other notable academic and community figures.
Addressing the audience, Ambassador Saqlain Syedah emphasized the importance of literary gatherings in promoting Urdu language, literature and Pakistani culture among overseas communities.
He also announced that the restoration of the Allama Iqbal Chair at Heidelberg University is in its final stage, expressing confidence that the initiative would further strengthen academic, cultural and educational cooperation between Pakistan and Germany.
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The ambassador noted that the revival of the Iqbal Chair would provide new opportunities for scholarly research and cultural exchange while preserving the intellectual legacy of Allama Iqbal.
A special segment of the event highlighted Allama Iqbal’s historic association with Heidelberg and the Neckar River, recalling the period the philosopher-poet spent in the German city during his academic journey, which profoundly influenced his literary and philosophical thought.
The ceremony concluded with poetry recitations and discussions celebrating the enduring intellectual connection between Allama Iqbal and Goethe, two towering figures whose works continue to inspire dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations.
