LITERATURE FOR LIFE: IQBAL’S KHUDI FOR ETHOS, PEACE AND COEXISTENCE

Abstract

The entire literary workof Dr. Muhammad Iqbal is about higherdimensions of life. These dimensions are woven around his famous concept of‘Khudi’. His vision of ‘Khudi’ sheds inspiration to ethos for human dignity,equality of social rights and notion of coexistence. The survivalof all living beingsis interdependent which necessitates proportionate space to breath and flourish.It leads to the notion of globalized society of living beings. The concept is basedon the conviction that God has created all living beings with utmostrespect,beauty and survivability. Self-identity forms the basis of right to exist andcontribute in the collective livability of this interdependent world. Understandingthe Iqbal’s perspective of ‘Khudi’ and putting it into practice has become evenmoreimportant in today’s environment of self-centered approach where onesegment of this more socialized world disregards even the right to exist of othersegment; we have examples around us. The tendency of exclusion prevails allover the globe for self-growth and survival of own generations at the cost ofeliminating other beings. The research article is based on references from thebooks of Dr. Allama Iqbal in English, Urdu and Persian. Urdu and Persianreferences have been translated into English for non-Urdu and Persian readers.The paper culminates with focus on literature for life to value the ‘Self’ foridentity, human dignity and notion of coexistence.