Iqbal ’s ‘Koh-Kunn’ Shows up in Chile !
By Khalid A.
London , UK
Allama Iqbal wrote ‘Prophetic words in a poem with his poignant pen’ titled ‘Khizr–e- Rah’, wherein he says:
Zindagaani ki haqeeqat Koh-kunn kay dil say pooch
Joo-e-sher-O-teesha-O-sang-e-giraan hay Zindagi
Meaning: Epic struggles of one’s life are depicted by the untiring marathon life of a mountain digger (a miner) who does not down his tools till he has achieved his goal (a milky stream desired by Farhad’s beloved Sheereen).
Iqbal’s words are an amazing description of the extraordinary events that took place 2,000 feet below ground in Chile. Those 33 lonely souls demonstrated the indomitable spirit of human survival when faced with almost certain, slow and painful death. They defied death and refused to accept defeat.
Every day their fortitude and faith reached dizzy heights, in contrast with the dark depths of their rocky grave. The whole Chilean nation, and indeed the whole world, prayed for them. But those Chileans believed that God helps those who help themselves. They were also able to prove that great technological feats are not the monopoly of super powers. A small nation can become a great nation in 69 days!
Another aspect of their greatness was the fact that the highest in the land were gladly and proudly embracing the manual laborers who were the national heroes. Let us all salute them and emulate them.
A great nation, literally left ‘no stone unturned’ to save 33 lives. Alas, we are in the habit of destroying 33 or more lives, in a single day and we do not even ‘turn our heads’ when such ghastly obscenities take place. Iqbal must be ‘turning’ in his grave!
In Chile, the earth had swallowed the 33 men. But ‘ Mother Earth ’ did give birth again to the glorious 33. The Chilean nation demanded their ‘debt’ of ‘human cargo’ from the earth – and they did not rest till the debt was fully paid. The re-birth of the 33 was the re-birth of a proud nation with a new identity etched in the rocks of San Jose. In the words of Winston Churchill , ‘ This was their finest hour ’.
It is said that the hardest steel comes out of the hottest fire. Great feats are always products of tears, toil, sweat and labor. This indeed was Iqbal’s message to humanity.
Almighty Allah says in the Holy Qur’an that He provides food and nourishment even to the ‘worms buried in rocks’. How very true!
