Editing of Iqbalian Texts and Their Intellectual Significance: A Critical Study of Bashir Ahmad Nahvi’s Edited Urdu Works

Abstract

This study presents a critical examination of the editing of Iqbalian texts and their intellectual significance with special reference to the Urdu books edited by Bashir Ahmad Nahvi. Iqbal studies constitute a vital area of Urdu literary and intellectual tradition, where the role of editors is as significant as that of commentators and critics. Bashir Ahmad Nahvi emerges as an important figure who contributed to the preservation, organization and interpretation of Iqbal’s thought through his editorial endeavors. This research aims to analyze Nahvi’s editorial methodology, selection of texts, arrangement, annotations and overall scholarly approach in his edited Urdu works on Iqbal.The study explores how Nahvi’s editorial practices help shape the understanding of Iqbal’s philosophical, poetic and ideological discourse. It evaluates the extent to which his editorial interventions maintain textual authenticity while also facilitating intellectual clarity for readers, researchers and students of Iqbal. By focusing on selected edited texts, the research highlights Nahvi’s contribution to the continuity and development of Iqbalian scholarship, particularly in making complex ideas accessible without compromising academic rigor. Furthermore, the study situates Bashir Ahmad Nahvi’s work within the broader tradition of Iqbalian editing and scholarship, identifying both its strengths and limitations.

It argues that Nahvi’s editorial efforts play a meaningful role in reinforcing the intellectual relevance of Iqbal in modern times, especially within Urdu literary studies. Through a qualitative and analytical approach, this research underscores the importance of editorial work as a constructive intellectual activity that not only preserves texts but also actively participates in the formation of meaning. Ultimately, the study seeks to establish Bashir Ahmad Nahvi as a significant contributor to Iqbaliyat, whose edited works reflect a conscious balance between textual fidelity and intellectual interpretation, there by enriching contemporary engagement with Iqbal’s thought.

References :

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8. Ibid., p. 169.
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10. Ibid., p. 40.
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18. Ibid., p. 12.
19. Ibid., p. 22.
20. Ibid., p. 26.
21. Ibid., p. 32.
22. Ashraf Kamal, Dr., Adabi Istilahat, Islamabad: National Book Foundation, 2017, p. 56.
23. Ibid., p. 64.