Elegance:
Heer Ranjha
Syed Waris Shah wrote it sometime in the** 1760s.**
The story of Heer and Ranjha, like all such stories, is partly true and partly fiction. But it continues to have such a powerful hold on the imagination of rural folks that they want to believe it to be true.
The events of the story are supposed to have occurred sometime in the middle of the 15th century.
*Heer was an extremely beautiful woman born in a wealthy family “Sayyal” . Ranjha (Teedo) was the youngest of four brothers, after a confrontation with his brothers, Ranjha left home and travels around and comes to Heer’s village, where he found his love, Heer, who offered him a job to take care of there cattle. Having met Ranjha, Heer became mesmerised by the way Ranjha played the *flute (Wanjli) and eventually fell in love with him. They would meet each other secrectly for many years until they were caught by her jealous uncle “Kaido” and parents (Chuchak & Malki). Heer was forced to married to another man “Saida Khera” , with the full permission of “Mullah” (priest) , who was well-payed by Kaido.
Ranjha was left broken hearted and left to walk the quiet villages on his own until eventually met a Jogi (devoted beleiver in God). Having entering Gorak’s Tilla (Shrine) Ranjha could only see his departed lover and being emotionally scared he voluntarally became a Jogi. Reciting the name of the Lord “Allakh Naranjjan” on his travels around the Punjab he found the village, where he was reunited with Heer. They escaped (also with Saida Khera’s sister “Sehti” , who was in love with “Murad Baluch” - an another famous love story of Punjabi Culture) but was caught by Maharajah’s police. Maharajah punished him to jail but same night whole city was in flames. Maharajah freed Ranjha and permitted him to marry with Heer.
They came back to Heer’s Village, where Heer’s parents agreed to their marriage. On the wedding day, Heer’s jealous uncle, “Kaido” poisoned her so the wedding wouldn’t take place. Having heard the news Ranjha rushed to aid Heer but was too late as she died. Ranjha becoming broken hearted once again and died on her grave.
Amrita Pritam (died 2005), a great Punjabi poet and novelist refers to the pain and anguish, in a different context, though, in her memorable poem, when she addresses Waris Shah in these words:
Ik roi si dhee Punjab di, Toon likh likh maare vaen Aj lakkhan dheeyan rondiyan, Tainu Waris Shah noon kehn
When one daughter of the Punjab wept You penned a thousand dirges of lament Today a hundred thousand cry out to you To make another statement
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Earlier Folk tales
This is a rare tale which encompasses another love story.
The discussion on Heer ranjha is futile without the reference of two phenomenon, which had immense influence on Punjabi people and culture, without any consideration of boundaries.
Heer Waris Shah- The poetry
People of punjab have for centuries adored listening heer by good singers. This was and is a tradition in villages and at festivals across the region. Many famous singers have sung this poetry with deep devotion. Listners sit quitely and obediently as they consider it sacred.
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