From Kulgam to Sialkot: Iqbal’s Unbreakable Link to Kashmir

As the head of the All India Kashmir Committee, Iqbal worked tirelessly to highlight the oppression faced by Kashmiris under the Dogra regime.

April 21 marks the death anniversary of one of the greatest minds of the 20th century — Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the visionary poet-philosopher, thinker, and political leader whose influence extends across generations and geographies. While Iqbal is widely celebrated as the “Poet of the East” and the ideological founder of Pakistan, his deep-rooted connection with Kashmir is often overlooked. More than just a poet, Iqbal was a passionate advocate for Kashmir’s freedom, and to many, he remains the true founder of the Kashmir freedom movement.

Iqbal’s ties to Kashmir were not merely emotional or ideological — they were ancestral. His forefathers hailed from Kulgam, a district in southern Kashmir, before migrating to Sialkot. According to renowned Kashmiri historian Muhammad Yusuf Teng, Iqbal is “the only personality who lives in every vein of the Kashmiri people.” His identity, poetry, and political activism were deeply influenced by his connection to his ancestral homeland.

Iqbal was not a silent observer of the injustices in Kashmir. He played a proactive role in advocating for the rights and dignity of the Kashmiri people, particularly during the most turbulent periods of their history. As the head of the All India Kashmir Committee, Iqbal worked tirelessly to highlight the oppression faced by Kashmiris under the Dogra regime.

His leadership inspired a nationwide strike across undivided India, mobilizing mass support for Kashmir’s freedom. In response to the July 13, 1931 massacre, in which dozens of innocent Kashmiris were brutally killed while protesting outside Srinagar Central Jail, Iqbal spearheaded a campaign to raise awareness and provide legal support for the victims and their families.

He also personally persuaded some of the most respected lawyers of British India to visit Kashmir and assist the affected families legally. This initiative was so impactful that it unsettled the authorities — prompting the Dogra government to ban Allama Iqbal from entering Kashmir.

Iqbal’s poetry captures the essence of resistance, spiritual awakening, and self-respect. His verse continues to inspire those who fight against tyranny and long for justice:

Translated version:

‘Break the hand of that tyrant, O Lord, who trampled the soul of Kashmir’s freedom‘

— Allama Iqbal

This couplet is not just poetic expression; it is a call to divine justice and a reflection of Iqbal’s deep sorrow over the plight of his fellow Kashmiris.

Allama Iqbal’s legacy remains alive in the hearts of Kashmiris. He is not merely remembered — he is revered. His poetry is recited in households, his vision taught in classrooms, and his resistance echoed in the voices of those who still yearn for freedom and dignity in the valley.

As Muslims commemorate Allama Iqbal on April 21, the world is reminded that his vision was not bound by time or borders. His dream of justice, self-determination, and human dignity for Kashmir continues to inspire movements and minds alike.