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Romanian Ambassador in Pakistan, Dr. Emil Ghitulescu

A MAGNIFICENT n’ marvellous monument — a fabulous emblem of an inspiring n’ alluring tribute by Romania—befitting the illustrious eminence of the mystic Poet of the East, Allama Iqbal is being hoisted in Islamabad and the task on the enormous project would be over by the end of next year.

This was stated by the Romanian Ambassador in Pakistan, Dr. Emil Ghitulescu in an exclusive interview with ‘Pakistan Times’ — Saturday.

The memorial shall represent a combination of some of the specific traits of Pakistan-Romania architecture — with a fantastic touch. The 20-foot towering monument — the first of its kind in Pakistan’s capital — would have an edifice — with re-enforced concrete, bronze, granite with white marble, a cute n’ curious stone, available in abundance in the mountainous soils of this awe-inspiring landscape. The life-size marble gaze of the monument, which is expected to cost Rs 1.5M, will have effigies of Allama Iqbal and Mihai Eminescu in bronze. The incredible configuration will — in a way — be a wonderful gift to the dwellers of Islamabad from various groups of set-ups n’ individuals — whose names are contemplated to be inscribed on the special metal plaque.

With emotions of esteem n’ admiration for the poet-philosopher — of all times — the Romanian Envoy said that Iqbal is — by all perceptions — a universal spiritual poet, whose stanza n’ rhyme beams to the globe a message of peace, liberty and love for entire humankind.

Syllabus

With a realism that spiritualism — a unique characteristic of Allama Iqbal — is open to the full world n’ is not confined to an explicit faith, colour, cast, creed or credo — Romania has decided to introduce the dazzling works of the devout soul — on its realm, as a part of curriculum on the university-level, he remarked. Its’ virtually an initial step where after, plans are simultaneously in the offing to introduce the great poet at the lofty scale, as has been done by Germany.

Emil Ghitulescu, an alluring aficionado n’ lover of Allama Iqbal said that the electronic media of Romania — Radio n’ Television — has disseminated the message of Iqbal this year which, he said will be a everlasting feature even in times ahead with focus on his vision vis-à-vis self-respect with self-reliance — [Khuddi] — as the podium of the curiousness.

A few nations are blessed by sanctified spirits — like Iqbal n’ Pakistan can pragmatically — feel proud of having Iqbal — as its great asset — as an atypical cerebral, who is loved n’ adored all-around the world — as a luminous icon of the global galaxy of intellectuals.

Allama Iqbal n’ Mihai Eminescu

Sketching a comparison between Allama Iqbal and that of Mihai Eminescu, a noted and well-loved Romanian poet, the Envoy said that he was working on a project to install a memorial after the names of the two great poets of Pakistan and Romania at central place of the federal capital. This monument will help bring the peoples of the two friendly countries still more closely to each other and cement the ties of ever mounting friendship between the two nations.

Dr Emil, who himself is a great devotee and scholar of Iqbaliyat, has written two books where-in, salient features of Iqbal’s poetry and that of Mihai Eminescu have been elucidated in a fascinating style threadbare. The works of Emil Ghitulescu are: ‘Dialogue between Civilizations: Mihai Eminescu and Allama Iqbal’ and ‘Universal Values of Pakistan and Romania’ — which depict Allama Iqbal and Mihai Eminescu — with a Surprising Resemblance’.

The books underline the ideas of liberty, justice and progress of the two great poet-philosophers as well as the similarities of thoughts and literary works of both the grand poets and authors—blessed with extraordinary outlook. They fought to inculcate in the scruples of their peoples the ideas of freedom, national coherence with dignity and to shield the human rights —with optimal zest.

The two poets, as the erudite emissary Emil Ghitulescu says have had almost analogous life experiences. They chanced to live in Germany during their learning courses. They also shared each others’ thoughts and were really inspired by the philosophy of Kant, Goethe, Hegel, Nietzsche and Schopenhauer.

Goodwill Gesture

This monument and donation of books to National Library are amongst the good-will gestures marking the ensuing National Day of Romania — on December 1.

An exhibition of Romanian Glass Art is also on cards to mark the auspicious occasion.

Backdrop

Romania celebrates its National Day on Dec-1 every year. Eighty-five years ago, the Romanians achieved their century-old cherished goal, the creation of their own national sovereign state. The end of World War II brought communism in Romania.

In December 1989 Romania regained its democracy and decorum. It was the populous uprising that threw away the communalist regime and brought Romania back on the path of an egalitarian rule with reverence — all around the world.

During the last 14 years, and after decades of socialist rule, Romania took decisive steps to embark upon democratic reforms and development of a genuine free-market. All mechanisms of centralised economy were abolished and replaced with those of liberal or free-market economy.

Pakistan-Romania Ties

Speaking about Pakistan-Romania satisfying relations, the Ambassador said that the Romanian President Ion Iliescu, Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana hold Pakistan in their high esteem and value its bonds with Romania in a variety of fields.

The Government of Romania has customarily expressed enthusiastic interest to boost links with Pakistan in educational and cultural fields through exchanges of information, material and students’ teams.

With an optimistic note, he said that in spite of distance, language and geography, the acquaintance—marked by superb friendship between Romania and Pakistan will develop with mutual back-up and the peoples of the two countries will ascertain newest vistas for bilateral harmony amid emotions of glorious n’ fêted venerate n’ idolize on both the sides.

Donates books to National Library

By donating books on comparative studies of Allama Iqbal and Mihai Eminescu to the National Library in Islamabad, Ambassador of Romania Dr Emil Ghitulescu renewed his deep-seated commitment to fortify the friendly ties between the two countries.

Federal Secretary Education Shafqat Ezdi Shah, noted poet, scholar and Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters Iftikhar Arif, DG National Library Dr Riaz Ahmed, a number of students from Quaid-i-Azam University also attended the remarkable ceremony

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Emil said he had discovered many similarities between the two great poets of Romania and Pakistan. Both of them are national poets of their realms. Though they were born in two different periods, [Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889) and Iqbal (1877-1938)] and belong to two diverse cultural areas yet their message reflects the similar thesis of love, peace, brotherhood—with moral values, atop. These facets are amply portrayed in his first book “Universal Values of Pakistan and Romania—Allama Iqbal and Mihai Eminescu—A Surprising Resemblance”. He judged the birth of the two mammoth poet-scholars as predestined for the noble purpose to warm the hearts of the nations they belonged to.

About Dr Javed Iqbal, he said that he wrote in the foreword of this book: “Nations are born in the heart of the poet”. And this he thinks is enormously true in case of Iqbal and Eminescu. His second book “Pakistan—Romania”, is an anthology of essays, interviews, conferences and commentaries, carried by the Pakistan’s Press. He, in that book, has tried to develop one key idea. In the world we live in a permanent concern is the growing fear of clash of civilizations which poses perils to peace and tranquillity the globe-over.

Towards this aspect n’ raison d'être, he has emphasized the need for a dialogue between the cultures, spiritual and moral values of the two civilizations in Romania and Pakistan. This, he said will help promote brotherhood, peace, justice and amity.

Tracing a resemblance in both the poets, he said, they were brought up as they studied great German philosophers during the course of their academic career. On many occasions they have prayed to God in their poems. Mihai Eminescu, he said, was the subject of his Ph. D thesis and in Nov-2002, after his arrival in Pakistan he have had opportunity to read the rhyme n’ poetry of Allama Iqbal. One of his great poems is “The Morning Star—Venus”—‘Akhtar-e-Subh’. Mihai Eminescu has also inked a poem with an identical title. Both of the poems moved him a great deal and he began to study Iqbal — in-depth.

Another contribution Dr Emil Ghitulescu is going to make is that of the installation of a monument on Iqbal and Eminescu on a square at Dewan Farooque Visual Park—along the Blue Area. This will be made possible in collaboration with noted artist Jamal Shah’s college of visual arts, Hunarkada. The project is likely to take off on December 1, the National Day of Romania. He also emphasized the need to introduce the people and students of the two countries to know each other’s national poets. He hoped a measure would be taken by Pakistan to introduce Mihai Eminescu in their syllabus as the most loved poet of Romania.

PT Assures Assistance

The Chairman TIMES Group of Publications and Editor 'Pakistan Times', Mumtaz Hamid Rao, who hails from the familial city of Allama Iqbal, Sialkot —have had a meticulous meeting with the Romanian Envoy, Dr. Emil Ghitulescu in Islamabad — Friday eulogized the matchless initiative by the Ambassador and assured him all-out assistance in the silhouette of optimal projection of the grandiose plan via Pakistan’s well-liked independent daily web newspapers — ‘Pakistan Times’, ‘The World Today’ and his Urdu net daily ‘Daur-e-Jadeed’ as well as for mustering all-possible assist by Allama Iqbal Forum plus the affluent class of the globally-known industrial city of Sialkot — the ancestral abode of the Poet of the East — to translate the vision of the Romanian emissary into a reality at swift pace.