ਲੂਣਾ

by Shiv Kumar Batalvi

The book that won Shiv Kumar Batalvi the Sahita Akademi Award, Luna is a play written in verse.

The king of Sialkot marries a young girl called Luna. She falls in love with the king's son from his first marriage, Puran who is of her age. When Pooran repels her advances, she alleges misbehaviour by him to the king. Pooran is maimed and thrown into a well as a punishment. A sage rescues and treats him, and Pooran turns into a wandering ascetic himself - a Bhagat. Years later, a childless Luna comes to visit the famous Bhagat. When she realises his identity, she admits her mistake. Pooran forgives her and his father, and a child is later born to Luna.

That is how the legend of Puran Bhagar has been told in Punjab for centuries. Shiv Kumar Batalvi has instead turned it into a tale that questions the old legend, shifts the perspective and tells the story from the perspective of the woman. For Batalvi, it is the legend of Luna: a girl of lower caste, married against her wishes, who falls in love with a man of her age. He retells the legend, questions the society and makes Luna the focal point of his tale.

Genres: Poetry, Love, Fiction, Novels

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Shiv Kumar 'Batalvi' (Punjabi: ਸ਼ਿਵ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਬਟਾਲਵੀ) was a well-known Punjabi language poet. He was most famous for his romantic poetry which was noted for its heightened passion, pathos, separation and lovers' agony. He became the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967 for his epic verse play based on the ancient legend of Puran Bhagat, Luna (1965), now considered a masterpiece in modern Punjabi literature. With this work, he also created the modern Punjabi genre of kiss.

Today, he is counted amongst the stalwarts of modern Punjabi poetry, like Mohan Singh and Amrita Pritam, all of whom are popular on both sides of India-Pakistan border.

Reviews

[Rahul Khanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Magnum opus of Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Either read or listen (songs) Shiv Kumar it always have deep meaning. He is not only a poet but also philosopher.
Shiv kumar depict Chamba city with following lines at the beginning of Luna.

Eh desh su chamba sohniye
Eh Ravi su darya(river)
Jo eravati kahavandi
Vichy dev-lok de ja
Eh dhi(daughter) hai pangi rishi di
Eh chandarbhaag bhra(brother)
Chambyali rani de Bali
Ehnu mehnge mul(cost) liya
Te tan hi dhi ton badal ke
Ehda puttar(son) naam piya
Chambiyali khatar javanda
Ehnu chamba shahar kiha.





June-2013. I am reading this book again.
And there are tears in my eyes as read following lines.

ਹਾਂ ਪੂਰਨ !
ਤੂੰ ਸੱਚੀ ਗੱਲ ਉਚਾਰੀ ਹੈ
ਇਹ ਰੁੱਤ ਹੰਝੂਆਂ ਲੱਦੀ
ਬਿਰਹਾ-ਮਾਰੀ ਹੈ !
ਪੂਰਨ !
ਇੰਦਰ ਦੇਵ ਜਦੋਂ ਰੁੱਤਾਂ ਸੀ ਘੜਦਾ
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ
ਐਂਦਰ ਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਇਕ ਪਰੀ ਨੂੰ
ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਬੜਾ ਹੀ ਪਿਆਰ ਸੀ ਕਰਦਾ
ਹਰ ਮੌਸਮ ਦਾ ਰੰਗ
ਉਹਦੇ ਰੰਗਾਂ 'ਚੋਂ ਲੈਂਦਾ
ਰੁੱਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਧਾਰ
ਉਹਦੀ ਮੁਦਰਾ 'ਤੇ ਕਰਦਾ

ਕਹਿੰਦੇ
ਜਦ ਉਹ ਹੱਸੀ
ਰੁੱਤ ਬਹਾਰ ਬਣੀ
ਕਾਮੀ ਨਜ਼ਰੇ ਤੱਕੀ
ਤਾਂ ਅੰਗਿਆਰ ਬਣੀ
ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਮੱਤੀ
ਤਾਂ ਪਤ ਹਾਰ ਬਣੀ
ਸੇਜਾ ਮਾਣ ਕੇ ਥੱਕੀ
ਠੰਡੀ ਠਾਰ ਬਣੀ
ਝਾਂਜਰ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਨੱਚੀ
ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਿੰਗਾਰ ਬਣੀ
ਪੰਜ ਰੁੱਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਐਂਦਰ
ਇਉਂ ਆਧਾਰ ਬਣੀ
ਪਰ ਛੇਵੀਂ ਇਹ ਰੁੱਤ
ਜਿਹੜੀ ਮਲ੍ਹਾਰ ਬਣੀ
ਜੋ ਅੱਜ ਸਾਡੇ ਸਾਹਵੇਂ
ਬਿਰਹਣ ਵਾਂਗ ਖੜ੍ਹੀ
ਦੁੱਖ-ਦਾਇਕ ਹੈ ਪੂਰਨ ਇਸ ਦੀ
ਜਨਮ-ਘੜੀ
ਐਂਦਰ ਹੋਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਦਿਉਤੇ ਸੰਗ
ਗਈ ਵਰੀ
ਬਿਰਹੋਂ-ਜਲੰਦੀ ਐਂਦਰ
ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਰੋਈ ਬੜੀ
ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਉਸ ਦਿਨ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੇ
ਇਹ ਰੁੱਤ ਘੜੀ
ਅੰਬਰ ਨੈਣੀਂ
ਐਂਦਰ ਦੀ ਸਭ
ਪੀੜ ਭਰੀ
ਤੇ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਏਨੀ ਮਦਰਾ ਪੀਤੀ
ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪੇ ਦੀ
ਨਾ ਹੋਸ਼ ਰਹੀ ।
ਕਹਿੰਦੇ
ਜਦ ਵੀ ਅੰਦਰ ਦਾ ਦਿਲ
ਜਲਦਾ ਹੈ
ਐਂਦਰ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਯਾਦ
ਜਦੋਂ ਵੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ
ਉਸੇ ਦਿਨ ਅੰਬਰ ਤੋਂ
ਪਾਣੀ ਵਰ੍ਹਦਾ ਹੈ

[Aristotle · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Luna' is a masterpiece, not only in its beautifully woven verse, but also in the study of human characters and circumstances. The book touches on multiple subjects, which it does not judge, but simply states them and leaves it for the reader to make up his own judgement.
I builds on the Punjabi folklore of 'Puran Bhagat' and then takes it to a whole new level, unshackling it from the restraints of patriarchy and morality. It is one of my all-time favourites.

[Dawinder Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awsm btalvi lv u

[Sonia Dhaliwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

King of Sialkot marries a young girl Loona. She falls for his son (from 1st wife) Puran who is of her age. He declines her advances; she complains abt him; he’s punished (hands/feet amputated and thrown into a well). A guru rescues him; he gets well and becomes a Bhagat. Years later, Loona still childless comes to “the Bhagat”. The truth comes out; she admits her mistake; he forgives them and wishes a child, Rasalu.

That’s how the legend of Puran Bhagar has been told in Punjab for nearly two thousand years. But that’s not how Shiv tells is. For Shiv, it’s the legend of Loona: a girl of lower caste, married against her wishes, falls in love with a man of her age. So what? he asks and retells the legend and makes it about Loona, not the prince-turned-bhagat. A masterpiece at the age of 28! That’s called a great poet.

ਪੂਰਨ !
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਓਸ ਕੁੜੀ ਦਾ
ਨਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ
ਚਿਰਾਂ ਚਿਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਜੀਭ ਮੇਰੀ 'ਤੇ
ਬਲਦਾ, ਬੁਝਦਾ ਧੁਖਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ
ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਨਾ ਲੈਂਦਾ
ਓਸ ਕੁੜੀ ਦਾ
ਆਪਣਾ ਹਾਣੀ
ਓਸ ਕੁੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਂ ਹੈ ਕਹਿੰਦਾ
ਓਸ ਕੁੜੀ ਦੇ
ਪਿਉ ਦਾ ਹਾਣੀ
ਓਸ ਕੁੜੀ ਨੂੰ
ਪਤਨੀ ਕਹਿੰਦਾ

[Vineet Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few human emotions can only be expressed well through verse. Batalvi sahib, one of the most brilliant Punjabi poets of the last century, depicts the old epic of Puran Bhagat in a new light. There are complex yet beautiful emotions that a human heart is capable of, but our darkness become so intense at times as if other emotions never existed.

Luna is for heart. It is for soul. It tells you how greats understand the world better than others, and how their actions transcend their age and stay as a source of inspiration for times to come. Savour Luna to appreciate complexity of human emotions and actions, and in process, you will find ability to see beyond darkness. If not, at least, don't let such a play happen again, as if it does, we are not progressing.

[Jaspreet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shiv Kumar Batalvi

[Roop Dhillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Babu Bably]

m

[Jiya]

Hi pls can one let me know how to read book i dwonlod it but i dont know how to read it its not coming up if any one can help me..many thx.

[Balkaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 Words: Culturally significant

[Harwinder Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book

[Mankirat Sandhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s out here making us feel seen with this 1965 masterpiece. It's based on the Puran Bhagat's story. Instead of Luna being the shady stepmom villain, he zooms in on her POV-her pain, her love, her mess-ups. Luna’s married to this old king and she catches feelings for Puran, the king’s son, who’s her age. When Puran’s like, “Hard pass,” things go dark. She accuses him of being sus, and it’s a whole tragedy-Puran gets yeeted into a well, maimed, the works.

[ਮਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite book. this book describes one chapter/character of punjabi lok-kissa Puran, well written by Shiv in his own Unique poetic manner. I have decided to read all of Shiv's poetry after reading Luna.

[Parneet · Rating 5 out of 5]

ਕਾਵਿ-ਨਾਟਕ ਲੂਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਕਿੱਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਨਵੀਂ ਅਤੇ ਆਧੁਨਿਕ ਵਿਧਾ ਬਣਾਕੇ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਰਦ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਨਵੇਂ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ "ਲੂਣਾ" ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈਅ ਅਤੇ ਤਾਲ ਦੀ ਛਾਪ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੋਕ-ਸੰਗੀਤ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ।

[Deep · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an interesting book... I recommend it.

[Sardool Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

sardol

[Sukhman · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can i read ths book plz tell me

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book and Great poet..

[Jesse Dhammu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and best of his work.

[Bobby Mander · Rating 5 out of 5]

never get a chnce to tead this book but am growing up with listening to Pooran Bhagat story from my mother and my Nani.

[Veer Sikander]

How can read?

[Manpreet Singh]

Good

[Rajveer Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

best one

[Sukhleen Sukhe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nice

[Sanju]

Nic

[Lakhwinder Singh]

😊

[Gurpreet Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice

[Ramandip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Lakhi Bhullar]

How can I read this book online

[Sandhu · Rating 1 out of 5]

oh