Great Poetry Reading Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Muhammad Iqbal

Someone once said that words are humanity’s greatest weapons, and National Today will observe Great Poetry Reading Day on April 28 to recognise the truth of this statement. Poetry, as a branch of literature, provides us with a means to express our thoughts and emotions by weaving words into simple and/or complex patterns using techniques such as rhyme, metre, metaphors, etc. Similar to prose, poetry also tells a narrative, and in this case, it can do so simply by using a specific number of words in a row or punctuation placement. In the past, if you were a poet, you used poetry to settle scores with your competitors and achieve greater renown. Kings and queens would designate a poet to their court to sing their praises and degrade their adversaries.

The background of Great Poetry Reading Day

Although it is unclear when the first Great Poetry Reading Day was observed, it remains a highly celebrated occasion, with many honouring it by hosting and attending poetry reading events such as open mic evenings. Poetry, in its most fundamental form, is one of the oldest art forms, predating literacy. In ancient times, it was used to convey historical information, culture, and traditions. Because poetry has specific structures, it is simpler to memorise and recall, facilitating the transmission of messages from generation to generation. In contrast, literary prose emerged much later because it not only required literacy but also presented ideas in complex text forms.

Poetry utilised selected words, rhymes, meanings, and metre when it was recorded on stones, monoliths, or merely in human memory. A brief timeline of poetry forms reveals that after being memorised between 2500 and 2000 B.C., poetry began to be written in epic forms, which are lengthy narrative poems. Beginning between 11 and 7 B.C., poetry appeared in ballads as well. A little further into the future, sonnets were written in the thirteenth century, and four centuries later, restoration and modern poetry appeared.

The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is believed to be the earliest known example of poetry. In 2100 B.C., it was inscribed on tablets that were later used to construct city walls. Other ancient epics include Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey” and India’s “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” (both of which are significant in Indian mythology). In the same way that Indian mythology is portrayed in epic poetry forms, other religions also use poetry to create hymns and mantras that are recited during large public gatherings. As the years progressed, poetry became a means of self-expression and resistance to oppression. In the modern era of the Internet, Instagram poets have emerged as a distinct subgenre. Numerous unrecognised or novice poets use the platform to disseminate their visual poems.

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5 MUHAMMAD IQBAL FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

Muhammad Iqbal, a renowned poet and philosopher, had the idea of creating a separate country for Muslims in India, where they encountered constant discrimination.

Muhammad Iqbal preferred Persian over Urdu for his poetic works because he believed that Urdu provided superior articulation.

Iqbal, who also completed his doctoral studies in Germany, has a street in Heidelberg named after him: Iqbal Ufer.

King George bestowed the title “Sir” upon Iqbal in 1922.

Iqbal wrote “Khizr-e-Rah” (“The Guide”) and “Bang-e-Dara” (“Call of the Marching Bell”) after World War I to assist and guide people, particularly Muslims, out of trauma and tragedy.

GREAT POETRY READING DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	April 28	Friday
2024	April 28	Sunday
2025	April 28	Monday
2026	April 28	Tuesday
2027	April 28	Wednesday