Allama Iqbal was an intellectual who was born far ahead of his times. These were times where politics was dominated by men who never hesitated in shameful compromises to please their British colonial masters, who rewarded all those that offered their services for the Raj. Iqbal on the other hand belonged to the small minority of politicians for whom the integrity of Muslims as a nation, that could live in a separate homeland, free from economic domination of both the colonial masters, or majority Hindus was his sole political objective. Allama was neither a religious fanatic, nor did he have any bias against members of other faiths, which was made abundantly clear when he stood up and opposed the unfair trial of Bhagat Singh in 1930. He was a man who never considered himself to have divine blessings, but a leader with a vision who never compromised on his political objectives. It were others who conspired against him, which became clear when his Punjab Muslim League's affiliation with the All India Muslim League was cancelled by a sub committee in Delhi, dominated by Muslim minority area leaders in 1938, few weeks before his death. He stood like a rock, in spite of his illness which made him physically weak during the last year of his life. He was a man from the middle classes, who went to Germany, which in those times was the seat of learning to study philosophy and get a doctorate. He shared with Maulvi Fazal-ul-Haq, the Sher-e-Bengal, distinction of being pioneers for a separate nation identity for the Muslims of sub continent. This was a man, who was far more educated than many others of his time, but never lived a life of luxury, because of his refusal to make political compromises with those who were amply rewarded by British with lands and titles. Had Allama Iqbal not played his role, Pakistan might never have emerged as a sovereign independent state in 1947. He had an association with Quaid-i-Azam, which continued till his death. Allama Iqbal never shied from expressing his political views on issues that were important to him and he opposed the role of Unionists in Punjab and the Jinnah Sikander Pact with all the force that he had. He shall always be remembered for his commitment and courage to resist all temptations and the struggle for a separate homeland for Muslims, where they could live in peace with men of other faith, free from economic domination. Allama Iqbal could never visualize that Pakistan which he struggled to create would be dominated by men who have no principles in life and their only aim is to seek power to get rich and transfer all their assets abroad. MALIK TARIQ ALI, April 2