About the project
Throughout Autumn and Winter 2025, we embarked on a new creative project in partnership with Gladstone Connect Ltd, Pakistan Community Association of Peterborough, The National Literacy Trust, Salaam Radio, The Beeches Primary, and Gladstone Park Academy. The project took inspiration from the life and poetry of Allama Iqbal. We had an artist residency, schools workshops, a radio series, and a qawwali performance.
Allama Iqbal (1877 -1938) was a philosopher and poet, recognised as the national poet of Pakistan. His poetry, written in Punjabi, Farsi, Urdu, English, explores themes of community, nature, social justice, khudi (self-realisation), imagination, and spirituality.
Our community panel member Numra has created a brilliant overview of the works of Allama Iqbal. If you want to learn a bit more about his background and achievements, click the button below.
How it was received
We are incredibly proud to have contributed to a hugely successful, brand new celebration of a South Asian cultural icon here in Peterborough. From school kids to elders, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, it was the first time we’ve ever included birds of prey in a creative activity, and that was a huge highlight for many!
After an overwhelmingly successful Allama Iqbal Weekend, marking the poets birthday with activities and performances, we are now working with our community panel to create an annual celebration for Sir Iqbal every November. If you want to be part of the organising team who shapes activity for future years, get in touch with Charley at charley.genever@neneparktrust.org.uk or message her on 07435 985935.
In numbers…
- 1000+ audience and participants
- 5 workshops & in-progress sharings
- 1 Qawwali night with 400+ people
- 3 birds of prey (a kestrel, an owl, an eagle)
- 20 new artworks and poems on display at the Allama Iqbal centre
- 73.5% Global Majority audiences
In words…
“I enjoyed how multicultural this event is. It helps bring the community together and my girls can see new culture and see the change the community has come in the last few decades from my era.”
“Enthusiastic of our fellow friends and community. To be proud of the roots we belong to.”
“My expectations were exceeded. Very good programme. The team, the Qawwal, the audience”
“The music was uplifting. I need to learn Urdu! The poetry, beautiful, I now know Allama Iqbal was a poet.”
“This was something new to Peterborough which was really good”
“It was easy to learn the song because it was in our own language (Urdu).”
“The performance at the New Theatre made me feel very important being on stage in front of lots of people.”
Meet the projects
Artist Residency: Seyyed Ali Ameem Naqvi and Zain Haider Awan
Artists Seyyed Naqvi and Zain Awan worked with residents and groups at the Allama Iqbal Centre on Cromwell Road, created a new series of permanent artworks for the centre. Taking inspiration from Iqbal’s poems, imagery, use of landscapes and flora, Seyyed & Zain created mixed media artworks that mirror Iqbal’s journey as a poet and philosopher, and the relationship between Iqbal’s ideas and Peterborough’s communities.
Allama Iqbal Day: Chand Ali Khan Qawwal and Party
We celebrated the poetry of Allama Iqbal through Qawwali and musical performances on Sunday 9 November 2025 (Sir Allama Iqbal’s birthday, celebrated in Pakistan and around the world). The event was headlined by internationally renowned Chand Ali Khan Qawwal & Party. The event was supported by local children from Gladstone Primary Academy and The Beeches Primary School, who performed a brilliant group ensemble of Lab Pe Aati Hai dua. Hosting the evening was Salaam Radio’s Akeel Khalil, there were Iqbal readings from Ghulam Shabbir, and original poetry performed by Zain Haider Awan. As well as that, Seyyed Naqvi’s paintings were on display on stage, with additional stage dressing from Naureen Shah.
The atmosphere across the whole evening was incredible! 400 people singing, dancing, cheering, and enjoying themselves.
Salaam Radio Programme
Salaam Radio hosted a powerful short series of conversations with locals about topics related to Iqbal’s work live on Salaam Radio. The Salaam Radio team also supported the project by marketing the events on air and on social media. We’d like to build on this great partnership in the future, with more radio shows dedicated to talking about Iqbal’s work, and sharing poetry and music to local and national audiences.
National Literacy Trust
Poet Imran Hafeez visited The Beeches Primary and Gladstone Primary to work with students to create new poems inspired by Iqbal’s works. They had an inspirational day, writing their own “shikwas” (complaints) and explored choral traditions and freedom through creative writing. The poems created by students were displayed and read out loud during a family celebration day at the Iqbal Centre on Saturday 8 November.
