Heer Ranjha is one of many famous Punjabi tragic love stories, other notable ones being "Sohni Mahiwal", "Mirza Sahiban" and "Sassi Punnhun".
WARIS SHAH WORK :
Waris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, best known for immortalizing Heer Ranjha's love story in Punjabi literature.
Waris Shah was well-versed in Sufi. His depiction of the story of romantic love is a poetic expression of the mystical love of the human soul towards God, which is a central theme in both Sufi and Sikh mysticism.
WARIS SHAH :
His version of the legendary romance of Heer is his most notable work. Heer Waris Shah (or The Romance of Heer Ranjha, published in 1766) is thought to be based on the true story of two star-crossed lovers from the 16th century.
No one who followed him has yet been able to surpass the incredible poetic mould he created. Ibrat Nama and Ushtar Nama are two of his other well-known works.
PLOT:
The plot revolves around two lovers: Heer, a beautiful girl from a wealthy Jaat family, and Ranjha, a poor farm boy.
RANJHA :
Dheedo, a young man from the Ranjha clan, once lived in Takht Hazara village. He was the youngest son of a wealthy landowner, and as such, he was somewhat spoiled. He spent his days lazing in the sun and playing his flute, rather than working.
Sadly, his father passed away eventually, and the sons split the land among themselves. When the land was divided, the older brothers gave Ranjha the worst, least fertile portion because they didn't think much of the youngest. For a while, Ranjha made an effort to work his land, but in vain. He took his flute and left Takht Hazara out of disgust.
Ranjha was used to living comfortably on his family's property, so it was difficult for him to eke out a living by begging for scraps, which he did not always succeed in doing. He must, however, have had good intentions because heaven took care of him.
HEER :
Heer, a stunning woman from Jhang, West Punjab, was born into a prosperous Sial clan family. Sials are a Rajput clan that originated in West Punjab's Jhang region and built the city of Sialkot.
LOVE STORY :
Ranjha departs from home and travels to Jhang after receiving a reprimand from his brothers. Chaudhary Chuchak, the father of Heer, offers Ranjha a position herding his cattle. Heer captures his heart in this place. He also mesmerizes her with his flute playing, and she develops feelings for him.
Every day, Heer spent the entire day in the forest with Ranjha, bringing him milk and bread or desserts and rice. She neglected her housework, and all of her female friends. Within a short time, rumors started to circulate.
For many years, they meet in secret before being discovered by Heer's mother Malki and her uncle Kaido.
As a result, Heer was forced to marry another man, and Ranjha left to resume his wanderings until he found refuge in the shelter of a yogi (mystic saint).
Heer, on the other hand, refused to accept another man as her husband. Se severed ties with her family and wrote to Ranjha, begging her to return to her. Ranjha returned to Jhang and eloped with Heer, as per his ladylove's wishes.
The Khaira riders apprehend the eloping couple and mercilessly beat Ranjha. The couple is brought before Raja Adali of Qubala, who demands that Ranjha be executed.
Heer's uncle Kaidu also came to testify against Ranjha, but Chaudhary Chuchak sided with the lovers. Raja Adali, on the advice of elders, orders Saida to divorce Heer in order for her to marry Ranjha.
TRAGIC END :
The couple returns to Heer's village, where Heer's parents approve of their marriage. Kaido, on the other hand, poisons her on the wedding day. When Ranjha learns of this, she rushes to Heer's aid, but it is too late; she has already consumed the poison and died. Ranjha, brokenhearted, eats the remaining poisoned Mithai (sweet) and dies by her side.
Heer and Ranjha are buried in Jhang, Heer's hometown. Visitors to their mausoleum include smitten couples and others.
Today, the graves of Heer and Ranjha are sought after by young lovers who want to marry the person of their choice. They pray by tying threads at the dargah's iron gates.
#heerranjha #tragiclove
