The Adventures of Hir and Ranjha

by Waris Shah

The tragic romance of Hir and Ranjha is a classic of the Punjabi language in a new English translation. The painful tale of two lovers who are forced apart by their families can be justly compared to Romeo and Juliet .

Genres: Fiction

217 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Peer Syed Waris Shah (1722–1798) was a Punjabi Sufi poet of Chisti order, renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He is best known for his seminal work Heer Ranjha, based on the traditional folk tale of Heer and her lover Ranjha. Heer is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature. The story of Heer was also told by several other writers, including notable versions by Damodar Das, Mukbal, and Ahmed Gujjar, but Waris Shah's version is by far the most popular today.

Background

Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab,(Present day Pakistan) into a reputed Syed family. His father was Gulsher Shah. Waris acknowledged himself as a disciple of Ustad of Kasur. Waris's parents are said to have died when he was young, and he probably received his education at the shrine of his preceptor. After completing his education in Kasur, he moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometers north of Pakpattan. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic masjid, now called Masjid Waris Shah. His mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage today, especially for those in love. The mausoleum complex was completed in 1978 and is a mixture of the Lahore School and Tughlaq Architecture.

He was a consummate artiste, deeply learned in Islamic and domestic cultural lore. His verse is a treasure-trove of Punjabi phrases, idioms and sayings. His minute and realistic depiction of each detail of Punjabi life and the political situation in the 1700´s remains unique. Of all his works, his version of the legendary romance of Heer is the most outstanding. Heer Waris Shah (or The Romance of Heer Ranjha, written in 1766) is believed to be based on the true account of two star-crossed lovers, who lived during the 16th century. It is also said that Waris Shah sublimated his own unrequited love for a girl (Bhag Bhari) in writing the romance. The amazing poetic mould that he worked within has not been bettered by any of his successors to date. His other famous books are "Ibrat Nama" and "Ushtar Nama". Waris Shah's mausoleum is today a pilgrimage site, especially for those in love.

Reviews

[Zoya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine if you don't know the story and simply want an overview but I've yet to find a translation in English that does justice to the original text. Most translations fail to convey the rich metaphors and symbolism that is central to Heer. Also this is in prose whereas the original is poetry.

[Viswa · Rating 3 out of 5]

couldnt relate with the characters
found it to be kind of confusing
but wasnt bored

[Raja Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels good to read this book.