بنگلہ زبان میں اقبال شناسی ۔ تاریخی و تنقیدی مطالعہ

Iqbal Studies in Bengali Language: A Historical and Critical Analysis

Abstract

This study presents a historical and critical analysis of Allama Iqbal's reception in Bengali literature, divided into three distinct phases: the pre-Partition era (until 1947), the Pakistan period (1947–1971), and post-independence Bangladesh (1971 onward). Focusing primarily on the first phase, the article examines how Bengali Muslim intellectuals initially engaged with Iqbal's works through Persian and Urdu before systematic Bengali translations emerged. The famous Tarana-e-Milli (translated in 1916–17) became an early cultural bridge, resonating deeply with Bengali Muslims who saw in Iqbal's poetry a reflection of their political and ideological aspirations during the Indian independence movement. The article highlights pioneering translators like Dr. Amiya Chakravarty (who rendered Sare Jahan Se Achha in 1914), Syed Abdul Mannan (awarded for his 1945 Bengali translation of Asrar-e-Khudi), and Muhammad Sultan (celebrated for Shikwa/Jawab-e-Shikwa). It explores how Iqbal's philosophy influenced three intellectual currents in Bengali literature: Islamic cultural revival, the doctrine of "Khudi" (selfhood), and literary aesthetics. Despite lacking institutional support, early translations were driven by voluntary efforts, gaining momentum after the 1940 Lahore Resolution. Through archival evidence and textual analysis, this paper reveals how Iqbal's ideas were localized in Bengal, often intersecting with—and sometimes contesting—the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. The study underscores the socio-political motivations behind Iqbal's Bengali reception, offering insights into the transnational dynamics of South Asian intellectual history.