ڈاکٹر جاوید اقبال بہ حیثیت آپ بیتی نگار

Dr. Javed Iqbal as an Autobiographer

Abstract

This paper evaluates Dr. Javed Iqbal’s autobiography, Apna Gareban Chak, within the broader context of Urdu autobiographical literature. While autobiographies often struggle with personal bias, a successful memoir serves as both a literary masterpiece and an authentic historical document. Tracing the development of Urdu self-narratives from early accounts to 20th-century classics, this study examines how Dr. Javed Iqbal's work stands out for its bold candor, lucid prose, and rich character portraiture (khaka nigari). Apna Gareban Chak offers a rare, humanized depiction of his father, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, demystifying his personal life and domestic realities. Furthermore, drawing on his career as a jurist and senator, Dr. Iqbal provides critical insights into Pakistan’s political evolution, judicial struggles, and key historical shifts. Ultimately, the autobiography is a seminal text bridging personal reflection, Iqbalian thought, and national history.