HEER Waris Shah

The Folklore of Heer- Ranjha

Expression of the Punjabi Psyche & Culture

HEER Waris Shah full of poetic intensity

In the tradition of Punjabi poetry the arrival of Waris Shah was an epoch making event, which changed the status, tone and tenor of Punjabi poetry. More than any other poet, it is Waris Shah alone who made Punjabi language enter every heart and hearth of Punjab. Heer is the supreme achievement not only of the poet but also of Punjabi poetry. Waris Shah is a model poet who inspired and guided generations of Punjabi poets belonging to the medieval as well as modern period. He borrowed the story and plot of the Folklore of Heer- Ranjha and structured it a new and contrary to early happy endings raised it to the level of tragedy of classic dimensions. The beauty of this epic poem is that it has attracted every critic worth the name and has led to a variety of interpretations and critical approaches. Some have interpreted this poem from a Marxist point of view whereas now under the kind guidance of Raza Kazim New interpretation HEER with Mentology is carrying out with a little group of critics

Plot of HEER Waris Shah

• HEER Waris Shah is full of poetic intensity, authenticity, critical faculty,deep and wide observation, wisdom gained through living a full and rich life,critical daring, romantic imagination, poetic vision, artistic excellence and natural grace of perfect execution.
• No poet can raise poetic grace of love at so passionate and soulful a pitch without a deep by moving personal experience.

• All Critics has unanimous in their verdict that Waris Shah is the first secular poet of Punjab
• HEER Waris Shah is soulful passionate expression of the Punjabi psyche, culture and aspirations.
• HEER Waris Shah can be viewed from the historical, sociological, mystical, artistic and poetic viewpoints.
• One thing, about which there is no dispute between Punjabis across the borders, is their love, affection, regard and respect for Waris Shah
• One can say that he is the most unique poet ever produced in Punjabi literature
• Heer is so popularly read and recited all over Punjab that people feel proud in owning Waris Shah as their very own bard whose poetry has already survived two centuries of criticism and scrutiny and will stand the test of time in future too.

• Ranjha quarrels with his brothers and their wives and leaves his home in Takht Hazara.
• Ranjha reaches the mosque
• Ranjha reaches the bank of the Chenab
• Heer and her companions come to the ferry
• The meeting of Ranjha and Heer
• Ranjha becomes Chuchaks Cowherd
• Ranjha meets the Five Pirs in the forest.
• Heer and Ranjha meet in the forest
• The Qazi admonishes Heer but she refuses to give up Ranjha
• Ranjha has audience of the Five Pirs and Mithi discourses on love.
• Chuchak finds Heer and Ranjha in the forest.
• Chuchak proposes to get Heer married.
• Heer is married to Saida against her will.
• Heer is taken to Rangpur
• Heer is unhappy in her new home.
• Heer sends a message to Ranjha
• Ranjha decides to become a Jogi
• Ranjha arrives at Rangpur
• Ranjha meets Heer
• Sehti quarrels with the Jogi and turns him out of the house
• Ranjha retires to Kalabagh
• Sehti and Heer make Friends
• The poisoning of Heer and the Death of Ranjha

Continue

Romance and Tragedy

• He has left only one work behind. The immortal Heer, which has enthralled and fascinated generations of listeners and readers, is not only a great literary achievement but also a spiritual testament
• The story of Heer and Ranjha had already become a great love-Folklore in a tradition of high romance and has been written by his predecessors like Damodar and Mukbal
• Waris Shah passionately possessed by this work that when he had completed 600 odd stanzas of varying length
• Waris Shah gives astonishingly authentic details, for instance about astronomy, medicine, social rites, habits of men and women,clothes, kinds of horses and buffaloes, the items of the dowry etc. What surprises the reader is his range of emotions and feelings.

All those who wish to enjoy HEER, should search for him or her in Heer.

• HEER Waris Shah is the story closer to his vision of life and reality.
• HEER is unique conjunction of high romance and tragedy.
• Waris Shah had the insight and perception to see the Heer-Ranjha story as an eternal and ever fresh analogue of immutable love.
• That is why his poem attracted variant readings and interpretations and still has not lot its freshness and fragrance.
• Waris Shah turns the every day language into a verse of beauty and splendor.
• Waris Shah in-depth understanding of life enables him to survey the vast expanse of human behavior, sensitivities and sermonize on the affairs of life
• Waris Shah had a sterling qualities of a master artist that he still translates our deepest emotions, sensitivities and dreams.

HEER Waris Shah