Heer Ranjha (Punjabi: ਹੀਰ ਰਾਂਝਾ, ہیر رانجھا, hīr rāñjhā) is one of the four popular tragic romances of the
Punjab. The other three are
Mirza Sahiba,
Sassi Punnun and
Sohni Mahiwal.
There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being
'Heer' by Waris Shah written in 1766. It tells the story of the love of
Heer and her lover Ranjha. The other poetic narrations were written by
Damodar Daas, Mukbaz and Ahmed Gujjar among others.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji also reffered to heer ranjha in his composition called charitropakhyan.
Heer Saleti was an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy
Jatt
family of the Sayyal clan. Ranjha (his surname), his first name was
Dheedo, also was a Jatt. He was the youngest of four brothers and lived
in the village 'Takht Hazara' by the river
Chenab.
Unlike his older brothers who had to toil in the fields, young Ranjha
had been doled over by his, becoming his father's favorite son. With the
work being handled his father allowed him to lead a life of ease
playing the flute ('Wanjhli'/'Bansuri'). After a quarrel with his
brothers over land, Ranjha left home.
In
Waris Shah's
beloved version of the epic, Ranjha left his home because his
brothers' wives refused to give him food. Eventually he arrives in
Heer's village and falls in deeply in love with her at first sight. Heer
offers Ranjha a job as caretaker of her father's cattle. Soon,
mesmerised by the way Ranjha plays his flute, she eventually falls in
love with him. They met each other secretly for many years until they
were caught by Heer's jealous uncle, Kaido, and her parents Chuchak and
Malki. So Heer, to save the 'honor' of her family, is forced by her
family and the local priest or 'mullah' to marry another (rich,
respected, older local man) named Saida Khera who lived in a distant
village.
Ranjha is heartbroken. He is left to walk the quiet villages on
his own until eventually he meets a 'Jogi' (an ascetic) named Baba
Gorakhnath, who happens to be the founder of the "Kanphata" (pierced
ear) sect of Yogis. Their meeting was at 'Tilla Jogian' (the 'Hill of
Ascetics'), located 50 miles north of the historic town of Bhera,
Sargodha District,
Punjab, India; which since the farengis (the British) partitioned India (dividing the former kingdom of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh)
has been part of (Pakistan)). The heart-broken Ranjha decided to
become a Jogi, piercing his ears and renouncing the material world.
Reciting the name of the Lord, "Alakh Niranjan", as he traveled around
the
Punjab, he eventually finds the village where he is reunited with Heer.
The two returned to Heer's village, where Heer's parents agreed
to their marriage. However, on the wedding day, Heer's jealous uncle
Kaido had arranged for one of his servants to lace some sweets, that
Ranja had sent to Heer, with a deadly poison, such was his jealousy that
he would rather have her die than she her happily married to Ranja.
Being told what Heer's uncle had done, Ranjha rushed to save Heer, but
he was too late, as several pieces of the Laddu were missing and Heer
breath her last just as he arrived. Brokenhearted once again, Ranjha
finished the poisoned Laddu (a sweet) laying down to die by her side.
Heer and Ranjha are buried in a Punjabi town called Jhang, Punjab. Lovers and others often pay visits to their mausoleum.
Full Story:
Waris Shah’s composition, the love story of Heer Ranjha takes a
pre-eminent place, in what may be called the ‘qissa’ literature of
Punjab.
It is the story of the youngman and a youngwomen, which did not receive
the sanction of society in the shape of marriage, a major theme of
literature, music, dance and drama not only in Punjab, but everywhere in
the world. Witness Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet.
The story performed in the form of an opera as well as a ballet is
very typical. Heer was the daughter of a feudal landlord Chuchak Sial
from Jhang. Before her sacrifice for Ranjha, she proved herself to be a
very courageous and daring young girl. It is said that Sardar (Chief)
Noora from the Sambal community, had a really beautiful boat made and
appointed a boatman called Luddan. Noora was very ruthless with his
employees. Due to the ill treatment one day Luddan ran away with the
boat and begged Heer for refuge. Heer gave him moral support as well as
shelter.
Sardar Noora was enraged at this incident. He summoned his
friends and set off to catch Luddan. Heer collected an army of her
friends and confronted Sardar Noora and defeated him. When Heer’s
brothers learnt of this incident they told her,"If a mishap had befallen
you why didn’t you send for us?" To which Heer replied, "What was the
need to send for all of you?
Emperor Akbar had not attacked us."
It is the same Heer who, when she is in love with Ranjha,
sacrifices her life for him and says, "Saying Ranjha, Ranjha all time I
myself have become Ranjha.
No one should call me Heer, call me Dheedho Ranjha."
When Heer’s parents arranged her marriage much against her
wishes, with a member of the house of Khaidon, it is Heer who plucks up
courage during the wedding ceremony and reprimands the Qazi
(priest)."Qazi, I was married in the presence of Nabi (Prophet). When
did God give you the authority to perform my marriage ceremony again and
annul my first marriage? The tragedy is that people like you are easily
bribed to sell their faith and religion. But I will keep my promise
till I go to the grave."
Heer is forcibly married to Khaidon but she cannot forget Ranjha. She
sends a message to him. He comes in the garb of a jogi (ascetic) and
takes her away. When Heer’s parents hear about the elopement they repent
and send for both of them promising to get Heer married to Ranjha. But
Heer’s uncle Khaidon betrays them and poisons Heer.
In this love tale Heer and Ranjha do not have the good fortune of
making a home. But in the folklore sung by the ladies, Heer and Ranjha
always enjoyed a happy married life.
It was Heer’s strong conviction, which has placed this tragic
romantic tale on the prestigious pedestal along with Punjab’s religious
poetry.
