The philosopher, poet and politician Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who created one of the most enduring patriotic poems of the Urdu language, 'Saare Jahan Se Accha', died on April 21, 1938.

On his 79th death anniversary, here are some interesting facts about the man and the anthem:

Known alternatively as 'Tarana-e-Hind', this song was originally a poem written by Muhammad Iqbal. The poem was published in the weekly journal Ittehad on August 16, 1904

Recited by Iqbal the following year at Government College, Lahore (now in Pakistan), the song quickly became an anthem of opposition to the British rule in India

As Tarana-e-Hindi, the song, 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' was later published in 1924 in the Urdu book Bang-i-Dara

Muhammad Iqbal was a lecturer at the Government College, Lahore at that time and was invited by a student Lala Har Dayal to preside over a function. Instead of delivering a speech, Iqbal sang 'Saare Jahan Se Accha'

In 1905, the 27-year-old Iqbal left for Europe for a three-year sojourn that was to transform him into an Islamic philosopher and a visionary of a future Islamic society

Mahatma Gandhi is said to have sung 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' over a hundred times when he was imprisoned at Yerawada Jail in Pune during 1930s

The current popular tune of the song was composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar. In 1945, while working in Bombay with IPTA (Indian Peoples Theater Association), Shankar was asked to compose the music for 'Saare Jahan Se Accha'

The song was later recorded by the singer Lata Mangeshkar to a 3rd altogether different tune

The Ravi Shankar version of the song was adopted as the official quick march of the Indian Armed Forces

Former prime minister, Manmohan Singh, quoted the poem at his first press conference after becoming the Prime Minister.

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