Literary giants together

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON proved we’re not just about Shakespeare when we helped celebrate the recent birthday of renowned Eastern man of letters, Dr Sir Allama Mohammed Iqbal.

Last Wednesday, 9th November, the Pakistan Consulate in Birmingham, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and the Iqbal Academy hosted a joint celebration at the Shakespeare Centre of two of the world’s leading writers, Shakespeare and Iqbal — the renowned poet-philosopher, who is regarded as a founding father of modern day Pakistan.

The evening of music and poetry was attended by leading figures and the wider community from both literary traditions, including the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Syed Ibne Abbas.

He said: “This celebration is a befitting tribute to our two literary greats.

"Though they lived and wrote more than two centuries apart, Shakespeare and Iqbal both speak to people around the world. There are many striking similarities, their works, literature and thoughts relate to human emotions and transcends all space and time.

"The words of these two great men connect our cultures in so many ways and I’m encouraged to see their creative legacies continue to enrich the lives of future generations.”

Dr Diana Owen, chief executive of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “We are proud to be associated, through Shakespeare’s legacy, with the literary geniuses of other nations.

"We are dedicated to the worldwide promotion of Shakespeare’s work and our centre here in Stratford is a natural hub – a global cultural meeting place – to connect people through Shakespeare.”