Punjabi literature

A Complete Article/ Description about Punjabi literature of Pakistan with complete history and famous Writer of Punjabi Literature

1. History of Punjabi Literature

Punjabi literature, specifically literary works written in the Punjabi language, is characteristic of
the historical Punjab of India and Pakistan and the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is
written in several scripts, of which the Shahmukhi and Gurmukhī scripts are the most
commonly used in Pakistan and India, respectively.
Punjabi literature refers to literary works written in the Punjabi language particularly by peoples
from the historical Punjab region of India and Pakistan including the Punjabi diaspora.
The Janamsakhis, stories on the life and legend of Guru Nanak (1469–1539), are early
examples of Punjabi prose literature. Guru Nanak himself composed Punjabi verse incorporating
vocabulary from Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and other South Asian languages as characteristic of
the Gurbani tradition. Punjabi Sufi poetry developed under Shah Hussain (1538–1599), Sultan
Bahu (1628–1691), Shah Sharaf (1640–1724), Ali Haider (1690–1785), Saleh Muhammad
Safoori and Bulleh Shah (1680–1757). In contrast to Persian poets, who had preferred
the ghazal for poetic expression, Punjabi Sufi poets tended to compose in the Kafi.
 Early Punjabi Literature (11-15
th
centuries)
Although the earliest Punjabi literature is found in the fragments of writings of the eleventh
century. The Punjabi literary tradition is popularly seen to commence with Fariduddin
Ganjshakar (1173–1266) whose Sufi poetry was compiled after his death in the Adi Granth.
The Janam sakhis, stories on the life and legend of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), are early examples
of Punjabi prose literature. Nanak’s own poetry was fused Punjabi, Khari Boli and Braj Bhasha,
with vocabulary from Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian as was much of the literature of the later Sikh
Gurus.
 Mughal and Sikh Periods (16
th
century to 1857)
Punjabi poetry developed through Shah Hussain (1538–1599) and the Sufi tradition of Sultan
Bahu (1628–1691), Shah Sharaf (1640–1724), Ali Haider (1690–1785), and Bulleh Shah (1680–
1757). In contrast to Persian poets, who had preferred the ghazal for poetic expression, Punjabi
Sufi poets tended to compose in the Kafi.
Punjabi Sufi poetry also influenced the Punjabi Qissa, a genre of romantic tragedy which also
derived inspiration from Indic, Persian and Quranic sources. The Qissa of Heer
Ranjha by Waris Shah (1706–1798) is among the most popular of Punjabi qisse. Other popular
stories include Sohni Mahiwal by Fazal Shah, Mirza Sahiba by Hafiz Barkhudar (1658–

2. 1707), Sassi Punnun by Hashim Shah (1735?–1843?), and Qissa Puran
Bhagat by Qadaryar (1802–1892).
Heroic ballads known as Vaar enjoy an old oral tradition in Punjabi. Prominent examples of
heroic or epic poetry include Guru Gobind Singh‘s in Chandi di Var (1666–1708). The semi-
historical Nadir Shah Di Vaar by Najabat describes the invasion of India by Nadir Shah in 1739.
The Jangnama, or ‘War Chronicle,’ was introduced into Punjabi literature during the Mughal
period; the Punjabi Jangnama of Shah Mohammad (1780–1862) recounts the First Anglo-Sikh
War of 1845–46.
 The Colonial Period (1858-1947)
The Victorian novel, Elizabethan drama, free verse and Modernism entered Punjabi literature
through the introduction of British education during the Raj. The first Punjabi printing press
(using Gurmukhi) was established through a Christian mission at Ludhiana in 1835, and the first
Punjabi dictionary was published by Reverend J. Newton in 1854.
The Punjabi novel developed through Nanak Singh (1897–1971) and Vir Singh. Starting off as a
pamphleteer and as part of the Singh Sabha Movement, Vir Singh wrote historical romance
through such novels as Sundari, Satwant Kaur and Baba Naudh Singh, whereas Nanak Singh
helped link the novel to the story telling traditions of Qissa and oral tradition as well as to
questions of social reform.
The novels, short stories and poetry of Amrita Pritam (1919–2005) highlighted, among other
themes, the experience of women, and the Partition of India. Punjabi poetry during the British
Raj moreover began to explore more the experiences of the common man and the poor through
the work of Puran Singh (1881–1931). Other poets such as Dhani Ram Chatrik (1876–
1957), Diwan Singh (1897–1944) and Ustad Daman (1911–1984), explored and expressed
nationalism in their poetry during India’s freedom movement.
Modernism was also introduced into Punjabi poetry by Prof. Mohan Singh (1905–78)
and Shareef Kunjahi. The Punjabi diaspora also began to emerge during the Raj and also
produced poetry whose theme was revolt against British rule in Ghadar di Gunj (Echoes of
Mutiny).
 Post-Independence literature West Punjab (Pakistan)
Najm Hossein Syed, Fakhar Zaman and Afzal Ahsan Randhawa are some of the more prominent
names in West Punjabi literature produced in Pakistan since 1947. Literary criticism in Punjabi
has also emerged through the efforts of West Punjabi scholars and poets, Shafqat Tanvir
Mirza (b. 1932), Ahmad Salim, and Najm Hosain Syed (b. 1936). The work of Zaman and
Randhawa often treats the rediscovery of Punjabi identity and language in Pakistan since 1947.
Urdu poets of the Punjab have also written Punjabi poetry including Munir Niazi (1928–2006).

3.  Famous Punjabi Poets

BaBa Farid Ganj Shakar (4 April 1179 – 7 May 1266)
Faridudin GanjShakar was a 12th-century Punjabi
Muslim preacher and mystic. who went on to become "one of the
most revered and distinguished ... Muslim mystics" of the medieval
period. He is known reverentially as Bābā Farīd. One of Farīd's most
important contributions to Punjabi literature was his development of
the language for literary purposes.

There are various explanations of
why Baba Farid was given the title Shakar Ganj ('Treasure of Sugar').
One legend says his mother used to encourage the young Farīd to
pray by placing sugar under his prayer mat. Once, when she forgot, the young Farīd found the
sugar anyway, an experience that gave him more spiritual fervour and led to his being given the
name. Fariduddin Ganjshakar's shrine darbār is located in Pakpattan, Punjab, Pakistan.
Famous Poetry :

Vekh Fareeda Mitti khulli,
Mitti uttay Mitti dulli.
Mitti hassay, Mitti roay,
Anatt Mitti da Mitti hoay.
Naan kar Bandiya “meri meri”,
Naan ay teri, naan ay meri.
Chaar dinan da mela dunya,
Phir Mitti di ban gai dheri.
Na kar eithay hera pheri,
Mitti naal na dhoka ker tu
Too vi Mitti, Oo vi Mitti.
Zaat paat di gal na kar tu,
Zaat vi Mitti, tu vi Mitti.
Zaat sirf Khuda di Uchhi,
Baqi sab kuch mitti, mitti.

4. Shah Hussain
Shah Hussain was a 16th century Punjabi Sufi poet who is regarded as a
pioneer of the Kafi form of Punjabi poetry. Hussain's love for
a Hindu boy named "Madho" has resulted in them being referred to as a
single person with the composite name of "Madho Lal Hussain.
Hussain's poetry consists entirely of short poems known as Kafis.
[4]
A
typical 'Hussain Kafi' contains a refrain and some rhymed lines.
Hussain's Kafis are also composed for, and the singing of them have been set to music based on
Punjabi folk music. Many of his Kafis are part of the traditional Qawwali repertoire. His poems
have been performed as songs by Kaavish, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Ghulam Ali.
His tomb and shrine is located at the Baghbanpura adjacent to the Shalimar Gardens Lahore,
Pakistan. His Urs (annual death anniversary) is celebrated at his shrine every year during the "Mela
Chiraghan" ("Festival of Lights").
Famous Poetry

Mai ne main kinon aakhaan,
Dard vichore da hall ni

Dhuan dhukhay mairay murshid wala,
Jaan phoulaan taan laal ni

Soolan mar dewani keeti,
Birhoun peya saday khayali

Dukhan di roti, Soolaan da saalan,
Aahen da baalan baal

Jungle bailay phiraan
Dhoudaindi ajay na paayo lal

Ranjhan Ranjhan phiraan dhoudaindi,
Ranjhan mairay nal

Kahay Hussain faqeer nimanaa,
Shoh milay taan theevan nihaal

5. Sultan Bahu
Sultan Bahu was a Sufi mystic, poet, and scholar active
during the Mughal empire mostly in the Punjab region. Sultan Bahu was
born in Shorekot, Jhang, in the current Punjab Province of Pakistan. More than forty books
on Sufism are attributed to him. However, it was his Punjabi poetry which had popular appeal
and earned him lasting fame. His verses are sung in many genres of Sufi music,
including qawwali and kafi, and tradition has established a unique style of singing his couplets.
The shrine of Sultan Bahu is located in Garh Maharaja, Punjab.

Famous Poetry


Or

6. Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah‘s real name was Abdullah Shah, was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi poet, a humanist and
philosopher. The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi, a style of
Punjabi, Sindhi and Siraiki poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by
Sikh gurus.
Bulleh Shah’s poetry and philosophy strongly criticizes Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day.
Bulleh Shah’s writings represent him as a humanist, someone providing solutions to the
sociological problems of the world around him as he lives through it. Some of Bulleh Shah's
verses, including "Tere Ishq Nachaya", have been adapted and used in Bollywood film songs
including "Chaiyya Chaiyya". The 2007 Pakistani movie Khuda Kay Liye includes Bulleh
Shah's poetry in the song "Bandeya Ho".
The simplicity with which Bulleh Shah has been able to address the complex fundamental issues
of life and humanity is a large part of his appeal. He was buried in Kasur when he died in 1757.
Famous Poetry

7. OR

Mere Ishq De Vich Mashook Na Ho
Nai Aj Tak Galat Nigah Kitti
Teri Her Mulaqat Main Enj Kitti
Jiwen Musa Naal Khuda Kitti

Nai Farq Kitta Teri Puja Vich
Nai Khatraan Di Parwah Kitti

Ek Tenu Rab Nai Keh Sakda
Baqi Sari Rasm Adaa Kitti...
Waris Shah
Waris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet of the Chishti order, known for his contribution
to Punjabi literature. Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab, He is famous for his story
named as “ Heer Ranjha”. 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. His
Shrine is located in Hafizabad-Sheikhupura Rd, Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab.
Famous Poetry
Meray Dil Di Pehli KAHANI Parrh,
Kisay Hor Noon Yaar Banaveen Naa,
Mennu Soch Samajh Kay Dil Daiween,
Meray Naal Mazaq Banaveen Naa,
Iss Pyar Wich Rolay Hunday Nay,
Dil Qaim Rakheen Ghabraveen Naa,
Jay Too Mangein Tay Mein Jind Daisaan,
Par Kisay Hor Noo Yaar Banaveen Naa,
Vairi Jag Sara Iss Pyar Da A,

8. Be Qadray Noon Dard Sunaveen Naa,
Aiy Dunya Barri E Zalim A,
Ainoo Kaddi V Dukh Sunaveen Naa,
Har Ik Nayi Hunda Pyar Day Qabal,
Aiy Gal Meri Too Bhulaveen Naa,
OR
Ki Mukk Jana Si Waris Shah Da,
Likhi Ranjhe Naam Je Heer Hundi.
Vakh Rooh Naalo Rooh Vi Ho Sakdi,
Nai Dil Cho Vakh Tasveer Hundi.
Nasha Akh Da Ik Vaari Chadh Jave,
Poori Ishq Di Fer Taseer Hundi.
Jhootha Rabb Nu Tussi Kehen Waleyo,
Nigah Meri Naal Je Dekh Lavo,
Jhooth Akh Kade Ni Keh Sakdi,
Nigah Yaar Di Nigahe-E-Peer Hundi.
Teri Akh To Ohle Manu Hunda Na,
Maadi Enni Je Na Taqdeer Hundi.