Our great poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal had himself been so overwhelmed by the beauty and splendour of this place that he addressed the Almighty in complaint: “Is this not strange that the infidel is given Paradise and houris, while the poor Muslim receives only the promise of houris?” He went even further in his complaint: “No one has ever seen the paradise that is Yours, while every village of the West resembles paradise.” During my current visit, I have also had the opportunity to observe rural and village life in Britain from close quarters.

Visiting this place gives one the feeling that one is not merely tracing the footsteps of a globally renowned writer, but of a human being who once played in these streets, studied here, grew up, fell in love or married, and eventually became one of the greatest writers in the world before returning to the land of his birth.

Even visiting the final resting place of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest benefactors of the English language and literature, involves a charge.

Whatever the purpose of a visit to England may be, the Darvesh tends to treat it as a “study tour” or an educational journey. There is always an effort to observe the historical sites, libraries, art galleries, churches, research centres, representative institutions of the Kingdom and democracy, literary and cultural centres, as well as modern architecture, development and recreational destinations. The aim is to understand, as far as possible, the magnificent past and present of Great Britain and the wider region. Along with urban life, an exploration of rural life is also an important part of this study tour.

This is the land that once established an empire on which the sun never set. Yet the true greatness of Britain is not limited to its political power or empire. In academic, intellectual, scientific, literary and cultural terms, this land has also left a profound impact on the world. Its intellectual and literary heritage has influenced the development of thought and literature across the........

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