November 9th is Allama Iqbal’s date of birth. Iqbal was a poet, a philosopher and a great visionary. Nowadays it seems to me as if the most important historical dates of Pakistan’s history go unchecked. For instance, I didn’t remember that tomorrow was ‘Iqbal Day’. It was only when my daughter, who is six by the way, asked me who Allama Iqbal was that I was truly taken aback.
I was really surprised that my daughter, a student of the first grade, was not familiar with a man who played a pivotal role in making us an independent nation. With this in mind I sat my three kids down and told them about this great man. And to further accentuate my point, I announced that tomorrow we would be celebrating the day by cooking what Iqbal liked to eat the most. My kids were a bit surprised. They seemed quite bewildered by my emotional outburst; but since it involved food, they seemed okay with it.
So of course I didn’t know what the great man liked to eat, so Google came to my rescue. And then it hit me, why not motivate people to do the same. So folks, here are some of the poet’s favorite dishes I have managed to compile. You may want to prepare them on Iqbal Day as a tribute to the man who conceived the notion of Pakistan. And on this day, do tell your children about our history, and the stories of our great leaders. It is thanks to them that we are sitting cozy and free in our own country.
Sindhi Pulao
It’s simple, it’s nutritious and it’s really yummy. Rice in any form was Iqbal’s favorite dish, especially on Fridays. It’s the ideal lunch on a cold winter’s day. Here’s our simple recipe for Sindhi Pulao.
Daal Maash
Don’t want to make a fuss over cooking today? Try using these tips to make the perfect dhaaba-style daal mash and serve it with a side of salad and chutney. I’m sure Iqbal would’ve loved to dine with you as you make another one of his favorite dishes.
Channa Daal Gosht
Iqbal was a man of simple tastes. He preferred to eat simple, well-cooked foods. This particular style of cooking lentils with meat was another one of his favorites. The flavor of the meat combined with channa daal is a unique and delicious ways of cooking this daal. Do give our recipe for Channa Daal Gosht a try.
So here were three of of Iqbal’s favorite things to eat. On this day, where most of us have forgotten the realms of knowledge that Iqbal has blessed us with, we all should re-evaluate how are we contributing towards the prosperity of Pakistan. Muhammad Iqbal has inspired people across the world both intellectually and spiritually, and we are the ones who are destined to pass on the knowledge and gifts of Iqbal and follow them ourselves. So try out these recipes and let’s all resolve to better follow Iqbal’s teachings.
