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  Iqbal Manzil

Many tourists come especially to Sialkot to take a look at the poet’s home, which has now been restored as part of national heritage, where he lived and wrote poetry that one day would make him the legend that he is!

Iqbal Manzil was purchased in 1861 by Mohammad Rafique, the great-grandfather of Allama Mohammed Iqbal – the famous poet! The house was originally very small, but each successor kept adding to it and the building grew in size. After the death of his father, Allama Iqbal named his elder brother, Ata Mohammad, the owner of the house. Ata Mohammed left two sons after his death who left the house and took up residences in Karachi and Lahore.

The Government of Pakistan bought Iqbal Manzil for its restoration in 1971 and handed it over to the Archaeology Department, who aptly accorded it the status of a cultural heritage. After some renovation, Iqbal Manzil was converted into a library-cum-museum. The library contains some 5,000 books, either on Iqbal, or his own works. The museum consists of a guided tour of some rooms of the mansion, and displays some furniture and other objects used by Allama Iqbal.

Despite its importance, the building is not very well tended, and the old house and its beautiful façade have started to crumble! The Archaeology Department and the government should give the building due importance, and restore it to its historical beauty. All the rooms should be renovated, and the museum made attractive to encourage more visits by the locals and foreigners.

Curator of Iqbal Manzil…..dedicated passionately to his Job!!

Riaz Hussain Naqvi has been the curator at the Iqbal Manzil since 1986. In these last 18 years, he has been immersed completely in the restoration and rebuilding of this crumbling historic building. He has been successful in refurbishing the building to quite an extent, but he still has many ambitious plans for the late Poet’s house. The Radio Buraq team went to visit the historic site, and it was sheer pleasure to talk to a man, who is so dedicated and committed to his profession, which, in fact, is also his passion.

When Mr. Riaz Naqvi joined Iqbal Manzil as its in-charge, there wasn’t even any running water and electricity available at the house, and most parts of the building were dangerously close to collapsing. He then took immediate adequate measures to save the old building. Infact, at times, Mr. Naqvi has spent on the renovation out of his own pocket, one example of which are the numerous family photos and portraits lining the walls of this ancestral home. Mr. Naqvi acquired and framed most of these photos at his own expense. His passion for restoring the building and recounting the life and history of Allama Mohammad Iqbal seems insatiable.

One of the most notable achievements of Mr. Riaz Hussain Naqvi is his success in renewing the library at the Iqbal Manzil which was shut down and almost in shambles when he was appointed the curator in 1986. He added many literary pieces to the library, and allowed the people to sit and read in the library free of cost. Now, as soon as you enter Iqbal Manzil, you can see people of all ages, sitting in the hall enjoying the dailies and other books. Mr. Naqvi hopes to build a large library by collecting books, both on and by Iqbal, from all over the world where research is being conducted on the poet and his works.

Mr. Riaz Hussain Naqvi also accomplished another feat when he facilitated 5 students to attain their Ph.D on the works of Iqbal by letting them study from the vast library on Iqbal currently available in the Iqbal Manzil. He hopes to see more young people interested in Iqbal and aspiring to do thorough research on his poetry.

Mr. Riaz Hussain Naqvi has been an immense help to Pakistan for his dedicated efforts to save a national heritage. He hopes to revamp the entire outlook of the building by more renovation, and also by bringing back artifacts which originally belonged to Iqbal Manzil, but are currently on display in Lahore at the Jawed Manzil. Mr. Riaz Hussain Naqvi sincerely hopes to make Iqbal Manzil a historical landmark which will be able attract people from all over the subcontinent, and the rest of the world!

Sialkot City Guide