Mirza Sahiba
Encyclopedia
Mirza Sahiba is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab
. Heer Ranjha
and Mirza Sahiba, including Sohni Mahiwal
and Sassi Punnun
are the four tales from Punjab
, narrated in Punjabi
. The seven others are Momal Rano
, Umar Marvi
, Sohni Mahiwal
, LiLa Chanesar
, Sassi Punnun
, Noori Jam Tamachi
and Dhaj, Ror Kumar
from Sindh
and Baluchistan and are commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
. They include Sassi Punnun
and Sohni Mahiwal
again, as they are culturally included in both Punjab
i and Sindh
i traditions. These nine tragic romances from South Asia
.
, a town in what is now the Sial territory in the Jhang district Punjab. Shayer Peelu raves about her beauty and says:
Mirza Khan is the son of Wanjhal Khan, the leader of the Kharal
tribe in Danabad, a town in the Jaranwala area of what is now Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Mirza is sent to his relatives' house in Kheiwa
to study, where he meets Sahiban and they fall in love. When, later in life, Sahiban is to be wedded forcibly to Tahar Khan of the Chandhar
family by arrangement of her parents, she sends a message to Mirza, living in the village of Danabad, through a Brahmin called Karmu:
Mirza's sister asks him not to try to rescue Sahiban, as it is the day of her own wedding and she wants her brother to be there. His whole family warns him that the "Sials" (Sahiban's brothers) are aggressive and should be left alone, but Mirza pays no heed to this.
Mirza arrives on his Bakki (mare) during Sahiban's mehndi
ceremony and carries her away. Sahiban's brothers find out about this and decide to follow them. On the way, as Mirza lies under the shade of a tree to rest for a few moments, Sahiban's brothers and chanders caught up with them.
Sahiban knows Mirza is an accomplished archer
and would not miss a target, and that if he shot at them, her brothers would surely die. Before waking Mirza up, Sahiban broke his arrows so he can't use them, and hopes that, on seeing her, her brothers might change their minds and welcome Mirza into the family. She thought that they'd understand their love that they have for each other, but they are not to be swayed and a fight ensues. Though Mirza fights with all his might, he is unable to defeat such a large number of people and killed by the blow of a sword to his head from behind. As he lies dying, he asks Sahiban why she broke his arrows, and tells her that if she had not snapped them, he would have just fired them in the air as a warning, never wishing to kill her brothers.
Out of all the legendary stories originating from Punjab
, Mirza Sahiban's story is one of very few where the male's name comes first.
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. Heer Ranjha
Heer Ranjha
For 1970 Hindi movie of same name and characters, see Heer Raanjha.Heer Ranjha 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...
and Mirza Sahiba, including Sohni Mahiwal
Sohni Mahiwal
Sohni Mahiwal and is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Momal Rano, Umar Marvi, LiLa Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
and Sassi Punnun
Sassi Punnun
Sassi Punnun ; is one of the seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Umar Marui, Sohni Mehar, Lila Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Momal Rano and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
are the four tales from Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, narrated in Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. The seven others are Momal Rano
Momal Rano
Momal Rano is one of the historical romantic tale from Pakistan. It is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Umar Marvi, Sohni Mahiwal, LiLa Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul...
, Umar Marvi
Umar Marvi
Umar Marvi or Marui is a Sindh love story that appears in Shah Jo Risalo. It is a love story set in Sindh, Pakistan. Umar Marui is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan...
, Sohni Mahiwal
Sohni Mahiwal
Sohni Mahiwal and is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Momal Rano, Umar Marvi, LiLa Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
, LiLa Chanesar
LiLa Chanesar
-Introduction:Lilan Chanesar, is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Momal Rano, Umar Marvi, Sohni Mahiwal, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
, Sassi Punnun
Sassi Punnun
Sassi Punnun ; is one of the seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Umar Marui, Sohni Mehar, Lila Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Momal Rano and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
, Noori Jam Tamachi
Noori Jam Tamachi
Noori Jam Tamachi is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Momal Rano, Umar Marvi, Sohni Mahiwal, LiLa Chanesar, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
and Dhaj, Ror Kumar
Dhaj, Ror Kumar
Raja Dhaj or Rai Diyach, a name by which he is better known among Sindhi Rajputs when they listen to the ballad of Sorath, is an ancient figure made immortal by his abduction of Sorath, a woman of legendary beauty...
from Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and Baluchistan and are commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a Sindhi Sufi scholar, mystic, saint, poet, and musician. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets of the Sindhi language...
. They include Sassi Punnun
Sassi Punnun
Sassi Punnun ; is one of the seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Umar Marui, Sohni Mehar, Lila Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Momal Rano and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
and Sohni Mahiwal
Sohni Mahiwal
Sohni Mahiwal and is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Momal Rano, Umar Marvi, LiLa Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai...
again, as they are culturally included in both Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
i and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
i traditions. These nine tragic romances from South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
Synopsis
Mirza, a Muslim jatt, and Sahiban, a Muslim Jatti, were childhood classmates as well as playmates. Sahiban was the daughter of Mahni, the chief of KheiwaKheiwa
Kheiwa is a town of Jhang District located on Jhang Chiniot road.- External links :*...
, a town in what is now the Sial territory in the Jhang district Punjab. Shayer Peelu raves about her beauty and says:
Mirza Khan is the son of Wanjhal Khan, the leader of the Kharal
Kharal
-History:Kharal are Panwar Rajputs. Panwar is Sub division of Paramara Rajputs.The Paramara belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs....
tribe in Danabad, a town in the Jaranwala area of what is now Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Mirza is sent to his relatives' house in Kheiwa
Kheiwa
Kheiwa is a town of Jhang District located on Jhang Chiniot road.- External links :*...
to study, where he meets Sahiban and they fall in love. When, later in life, Sahiban is to be wedded forcibly to Tahar Khan of the Chandhar
Chadhar
Chadhar is a Punjabi tribe in India and Pakistan. They are both Rajputs and Jats, and are Aryan.This caste should not be confused with another Indian caste spelled similarly, which is found in Madhya Pardesh India and is amongst one of the Indian Scheduled Caste...
family by arrangement of her parents, she sends a message to Mirza, living in the village of Danabad, through a Brahmin called Karmu:
Mirza's sister asks him not to try to rescue Sahiban, as it is the day of her own wedding and she wants her brother to be there. His whole family warns him that the "Sials" (Sahiban's brothers) are aggressive and should be left alone, but Mirza pays no heed to this.
Mirza arrives on his Bakki (mare) during Sahiban's mehndi
Mehndi
Mehndi or menhdi is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration in India, as well as by expatriate communities from the country. The word mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā. The use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Vedic ritual books...
ceremony and carries her away. Sahiban's brothers find out about this and decide to follow them. On the way, as Mirza lies under the shade of a tree to rest for a few moments, Sahiban's brothers and chanders caught up with them.
Sahiban knows Mirza is an accomplished archer
Archer
An archer is a person who uses a bow and arrow; a practitioner of archery.- People with the surname Archer :* Jeffrey Archer, an English author and former politician.* Archer , the surname...
and would not miss a target, and that if he shot at them, her brothers would surely die. Before waking Mirza up, Sahiban broke his arrows so he can't use them, and hopes that, on seeing her, her brothers might change their minds and welcome Mirza into the family. She thought that they'd understand their love that they have for each other, but they are not to be swayed and a fight ensues. Though Mirza fights with all his might, he is unable to defeat such a large number of people and killed by the blow of a sword to his head from behind. As he lies dying, he asks Sahiban why she broke his arrows, and tells her that if she had not snapped them, he would have just fired them in the air as a warning, never wishing to kill her brothers.
Out of all the legendary stories originating from Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, Mirza Sahiban's story is one of very few where the male's name comes first.
External links
- Punjabi Literature and Poetry Punjabi Culture and Traditions