How Allama Iqbal wanted to instil leadership qualities in our youth?

نہیں تیرا نشیمن قصر سلطانی کے گنبد پر
تو شاہیں ہے بسیرا کر پہاڑوں کی چٹانوں میں
Thy abode is not on the dome of a royal palace;
You are an eagle and should live on the rocks of mountains.

Do you understand the meanings of Iqbal’s famous poetry that you are just quoting in your speech?” Umna asked her younger brother Umar who he was preparing for the upcoming Iqbal Day.  
“What?” he couldn’t comprehend his sister’s question.
“Do you think that speeches are enough to serve the purpose? Every year you guys do the same… debates, poetry, speech contests, etc. But nothing practical comes out. How sad!” she expressed her concern.
“What should we do then?” asked Umar impatiently. 
“Can you tell me, what exactly “Iqbal’s Vision” was, and what actually he wanted our youth to become?” her questions were seemingly preparing a comprehensive answer for Umar.
“Go on, sister, you tell please, I’m all ears…” he replied while rolling his eyes.
Umna was the eldest of siblings. She was lucky enough to have got the opportunity of reading and understanding Iqbal’s poetry, in Urdu and Persian, from her grandfather, who died a year before. She said: “Iqbal’s vision for youth was truly divine. He wanted to see the Pakistani nation as an epitome of Islam that is the best of humanity. That’s why he personifies a Muslim youth in the best righteous manhood manner. He calls him Mard-e-Momin who is equipped with self-assurance, dignity and dynamism.” she was in lecturing mood. 
If Iqbal calls such a youth as Mard-e-Momin, why then call him “shaheen”? Umar asked.
“Yes, you’re right! Actually, Allama Iqbal resembles Mard-e-Momin (hero) with eagle (shaheen). He says the characteristics of Mard-e-Momin are similar to characteristics of eagle. So, shaheen symbolizes a Pakistani youth who continues to pursue his goals while working for the betterment of mankind.”
“Sounds interesting…” Umar seemed convinced, “but, could you please elaborate, what are the characteristics of eagle?”
“Eagle is called the king of birds, it is intelligent and brave, it has big wings, crested head, strong beak and very strong feet. It never eats a dead prey. It eats a prey that itself has hounded. It is not easily accessible. It nests above in the rocks of mountains. Above all, eagle is watchful, ever alert, and always vigilant. Falcons, eagle’s other name, are too ponderous for effective aerial pursuit but try to surprise and overwhelm their prey on the ground. Because of their strength, eagles have been a symbol of war and imperial power since Babylonian times. Their likeness is found on Greek and Roman ruins, coins, and medals.” Umna had much information about the king of birds. 
“Hmmm”, Umar dipped into deep thought. Then he asked, “So, how does Allama Iqbal see those characteristics in us, the youth? What should we do? And why?” he was relevantly inquisitive.
“His message for the youth to grow in ourselves the characteristics of eagle are always relevant to the time. When he wrote these poetic verses and started calling the youth as ‘shaheen’, he actually wanted young ones and students to rejuvenate the struggle for independence while being on the forefront of Pakistan Movement. Now when Pakistan has become a reality, Iqbal wants us to continue the struggle for acquiring leadership qualities like that of the eagle, in order to play our part of role in the face of so many challenges confronting the country. Only a real ‘eagle’ in us can bring up with the ability to never give up and never stop the march towards people’s wellbeing and Pakistan’s prosperity.” Umna’s lecture had a clear impact on Umar who affirmatively said: “Well! Now I understand the meanings of Iqbal’s famous couplet.” he solemnly recited:
تو شاہیں ہے پرواز ہے کام تیرا
تیرے سامنے آسماں اور بھی ہیں
You are an eagle; flight is your vocation:
You have other skies stretching out before you.
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Along with other class fellows, Umar was in his high school’s literary club office. The club members were having a discussion with Sir Altaf, the head of the literary club. 
“Sir, this time, on Iqbal’s birthday, my team members shouldn’t be going for debate competition.” Umar opined. Sir Altaf got surprised: “Umer, you can’t say this without a solid reason. Why shouldn’t we? Do you think, Iqbal’s anniversary can be celebrated without this important event that generates healthy discussion, and it helps in sending Iqbal’s universal message across?”
“Yes Sir, of course!” Umar said and added, “I am aware of the fact that Iqbal’s poetry does instil hope, sense of freedom and patriotism. He is the one who revived in us true Muslim culture’s spirit, its social and economic, epic and patriotic values. Above all he gave us the direction as to how we grow in us leadership qualities which he wished to instil in us. But, Sir, in my view mere debate is only a sitting that ends up on just talking, and doing nothing in practical. It is my humble request that my team this time be allowed to prepare a stage play that should come up with doable suggestions and solutions through practically demonstrating on stage, and in front of a sizeable audience.” 
Sir Altaf was happy to hear that as all the team members seconded Umar’s opinion. The head of the club allowed the team members for staging a play on Iqbal Day. He tasked Umar to write its script first, and asked Fahd to direct the play. Umar wanted to have the focus of his script confined to galvanizing leadership quality amongst the young ones, who are to become the future leaders of Pakistan. “I have no doubt that dedicated, dignified and honest young leadership would one day transform the country’s national goals into reality.” Umar’s voice was firm. He recited Iqbal’s couplet:
عقابی روح جب بیدار ہوتی ہے جوانوں میں
نظر آتی ہے اس کو اپنی منزل آسمانوں میں
When an eagle’s spirit awakens in youthful hearts,
It sees its luminous goal beyond the starry heavens.
Sir Altaf patted Umar’s shoulder, saying: “Proud of you, young boy! Go ahead with your plan.” 
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Iqbal Day celebrations were about to begin. Main hall of the high school was full of students from all classes. All eyes were set on the stage. The audience was anxiously waiting for the curtain to rise. Umar had divided his play-team into two groups. One group was acting as shaheen or eagle while the other group was guising as vulture. Vulture is said to be from the same species of bird family that resides in mountain rocks but it is the total opposite of eagles or falcons or hawks. Vulture eats dead prey and never hounds its own. It dies not a natural death, rather commits suicide by straight falling down from height. Vulture represents a rapacious or predatory person, totally contrary to eagle that represents the bold and brave, the daring and fearless.  As the curtain rose, the audience noticed that stage was full of two types of individuals; one was decently dressed up like active and smart, intelligent and sober men belonging to defence, health, education, skilled digital, technological departments – representing the ‘eagle class’; while the others looked shallow characters with low self-esteem and ill morality; who used to earn money through greed, kickbacks, corruption, hoarding or wrong practices, etc. This depiction was evident that they represented the ‘vulture class’. The stage play attracted the audience and left an impact on participants. As the curtain lowered, a voice echoed from the background: “Be a part of virtue and protect yourself and others from evil around you.” The background voice quoted Allama Iqbal’s saying: “Knowledge is useless until it is connected with life; the purpose of knowledge is nothing but to show you the splendours of yourself!” Another background voice echoed: “Never be afraid of opposing forces, keep fighting them because the secret of life lies in the struggle.”
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On Umar’s initiation, the Principal formed “Iqbal’s Shaheen” club in the school that included all the shining students from each class. Umar was made the team leader who organized it in a way that it started exceling in studies as well as in doing philanthropic work for the wellbeing of the needy. It frequently held academic sessions, inviting scholars who focused on teaching the younger generation as to who actually Iqbal was and what exactly was his message?
“Was Iqbal against acquiring foreign education?” asked one of the students during the question-answer session.
“Not at all,” said one of the scholars, “Iqbal rather urged the youth to attain higher education. He considered modern and skill-based education as an integral part and important mean of personality and character building. Allama Iqbal himself studied in England and Germany. He learnt Persian and Arabic, besides English, Urdu and Punjabi. His scholarly contributions are recognized by Heidelberg University that keeps Iqbal’s chair as a monument there… In Germany, he developed love for German philosopher Goethe who used to say “Those who don’t know foreign language other than mother tongue are ignorant.” Iqbal loved the Prophet (PBUH) who said “Acquire knowledge no matter you have to go far off to even China.” Another scholar said, “Iqbal was not against studying abroad if the studies benefit our own nation. If you want to be a foreign qualified person, your aim as per Iqbal’s vision, must be to serve the nation and state at all costs.” Another scholar spoke: “Iqbal was fully aware of the technological superiority of the imperialist powers and the opportunities as well as challenges that globalization could pose. That’s why he urged the youth to gain knowledge and wisdom from Quran and attain modern education so that Muslims could not suffer from inferiority complex and slavish mentality. It’s recommended that the individuality of the teens must also take into account and emphasis should be placed on personality development and building qualities of Shaheen in the Muslim youth.” “Thank you Sir!” said the students as the session ended. Umar and fellow students were now having a clear vision of Iqbal to follow and know how to prove themselves in accordance with Iqbal’s forceful message in this couplet:
افراد کے ہاتھوں میں ہے اقوام کی تقدیر
ہر فرد ہے ملت کے مقدر کا ستارہ
Fortunes of States through individual prowess ripen
Each man one star of their ascendant (Destiny)