In his poetry, Iqbal rejected the traditional symbol of the Bulbul (nightingale)—a bird that sings beautifully of lost love, often from within a cage, symbolizing passivity and melancholy. Instead, he chose the Shaheen (the eagle or falcon). The Shaheen soars high above the world, possesses a keen and fearless vision, does not build a nest (symbolizing a rejection of easy comfort), and preys only on what it catches itself (symbolizing self-reliance).
This is a perfect metaphor for the 21st-century innovator, scientist, and entrepreneur. Iqbal’s message is a powerful call for ambition. He encourages us to be fearless, to aim for the stars in fields like space exploration, quantum computing, technology, and medicine.
But unlike ambition driven by greed or fame, the Shaheen‘s ambition is tied to a higher purpose. It is the ambition to discover, to create, and to elevate the human spirit. This article explores how Iqbal’s vision inspires a new kind of scientific pursuit—one that combines relentless, eagle-eyed inquiry with a profound ethical compass and a sense of responsibility to the future.