Punjabi Kisse
Encyclopedia
A Punjabi Qissa is a tradition of Punjabi language
oral story-telling that came to South Asia with migrants from the Arabian peninsula and contemporary Iran and Afghanistan.
Where Qisse reflect an Islamic and/or Persian heritage of transmitting popular tales of love, valour, honour and moral integrity amongst Muslims, they matured out of the bounds of religion into a more secular form when it reached India and added the existing pre-Islamic Punjabi culture
and folklore
to its entity.
word meaning ‘epic legend’ or a ‘folk tale’. It has influenced almost all the languages of South Asia and occurs as a regular common noun in north-western South Asian languages like Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi. If used informally, the world means an ‘interesting tale’.
is famous for its rich literature of qisse, most of the which are about love, passion, betrayal, sacrifice, social values and a common man’s revolt against a larger system. In the Punjabi tradition, friendship, loyalty, love and ‘qaul’ (verbal agreement or promise) are given utmost importance and most of the stories in the qisse hinge on these critical elements.
Qisse are attributed to have inspired folk music in Punjabi and have added depth and richness to its delivery. These traditions were passed down generations in oral or written forms and were often recited, told as bedtime stories
to children or performed musically as folk songs.
Each qissa, if performed, has its unique requirements. A person able to sing or recite one may not necessarily transmit another. The vocal range
s on the musical scale and accurate pauses, if not performed well leaves a performed breathless and unable to continue. Most of the beats used in modern Punjabi music (often misleadingly labelled Bhangra), originated from qissa tradition and recitations in old times. Qisse also boast to be among the best poetry every written in Punjabi. To date, places like the Qissa Khawani Bazaar
(Market of Story-tellers) in Peshawar
, Pakistan
are thronged by people who visit them to hear oral recitations of qisse sung by renowned performers.
's (1722–1798) qissa of ‘Heer Ranjha
’ (formally known as Qissa ‘Heer’) is among the most famous Qisse of all times. The effect of Qisse on Punjabi culture is so strong that even religious leaders and revolutionaries like Guru Gobind Singh
and Baba Farid, etc., quoted famous Qissas in their messages. It will not be wrong to say that popularity and nearly divine status of Qisse in Punjabi actually inspired many generations of spiritual leaders and social activists to combine the message of God with teenage love tales. This gave rise to what is known as the Sufi movement
in Punjab region.
The most popular writer/poet to have written Punjabi Sufi Qisse was Bulleh Shah
(c.1680-1758). So popular are his Kalams (poems) that he is frequently quoted by young and old alike with same respect and on matters of both love and God. In recent times, South Asia
n singer’s have sported these folklores on their albums, for instance, the most famous folklore duo like Kuldeep Manak and Dev Tharike Wala wrote and sang about almost every Qissa, and Recently, Rabbi by (Rabbi Shergill
) contained ‘Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun’, translated in English as ‘I know not who I am’, written by Bulleh Shah
. A few years back another singer, (Harbhajan Maan), a Canada-based Punjabi singer rejuvenated the story of ‘Mirza Sahiban’, a work by Peelu. Daim Iqbal Daim from Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan also wrote many qissas in punjabi language like Mirza Sahiban, Laila Majnu, Sohni Mahiwal, Bilal Biti etc. Daim got popularity in "Shah Nama Karbla" and "Kambal Posh".
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...
oral story-telling that came to South Asia with migrants from the Arabian peninsula and contemporary Iran and Afghanistan.
Where Qisse reflect an Islamic and/or Persian heritage of transmitting popular tales of love, valour, honour and moral integrity amongst Muslims, they matured out of the bounds of religion into a more secular form when it reached India and added the existing pre-Islamic Punjabi culture
Punjabi Culture
Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjab region. It is one of the oldest in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era. The Punjabi culture is the culture of the Punjabi people who are now distributed throughout the world. The scope, history, sophistication and complexity of...
and folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
to its entity.
Etymology
The word qissa is a PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
word meaning ‘epic legend’ or a ‘folk tale’. It has influenced almost all the languages of South Asia and occurs as a regular common noun in north-western South Asian languages like Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi. If used informally, the world means an ‘interesting tale’.
Qisse and the Punjabi culture
The Punjabi languagePunjabi 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...
is famous for its rich literature of qisse, most of the which are about love, passion, betrayal, sacrifice, social values and a common man’s revolt against a larger system. In the Punjabi tradition, friendship, loyalty, love and ‘qaul’ (verbal agreement or promise) are given utmost importance and most of the stories in the qisse hinge on these critical elements.
Qisse are attributed to have inspired folk music in Punjabi and have added depth and richness to its delivery. These traditions were passed down generations in oral or written forms and were often recited, told as bedtime stories
Bedtime story
A bedtime story is a traditional form of storytelling, where a story is told to a child at bedtime to prepare them for sleep.Bedtime stories have many advantages, for parents/adults and children alike. The fixed routine of a bedtime story before sleeping has a relaxing effect, and the soothing...
to children or performed musically as folk songs.
Each qissa, if performed, has its unique requirements. A person able to sing or recite one may not necessarily transmit another. The vocal range
Vocal range
Vocal range is the measure of the breadth of pitches that a human voice can phonate. Although the study of vocal range has little practical application in terms of speech, it is a topic of study within linguistics, phonetics, and speech and language pathology, particularly in relation to the study...
s on the musical scale and accurate pauses, if not performed well leaves a performed breathless and unable to continue. Most of the beats used in modern Punjabi music (often misleadingly labelled Bhangra), originated from qissa tradition and recitations in old times. Qisse also boast to be among the best poetry every written in Punjabi. To date, places like the Qissa Khawani Bazaar
Qissa Khawani Bazaar
The Kissa Khwani Bazaar is a bazaar of Peshawar, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan...
(Market of Story-tellers) in Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
are thronged by people who visit them to hear oral recitations of qisse sung by renowned performers.
Poetry based on Qisse
Waris ShahWaris Shah
Waris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, 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...
's (1722–1798) qissa of ‘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...
’ (formally known as Qissa ‘Heer’) is among the most famous Qisse of all times. The effect of Qisse on Punjabi culture is so strong that even religious leaders and revolutionaries like Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
and Baba Farid, etc., quoted famous Qissas in their messages. It will not be wrong to say that popularity and nearly divine status of Qisse in Punjabi actually inspired many generations of spiritual leaders and social activists to combine the message of God with teenage love tales. This gave rise to what is known as the Sufi movement
Universal Sufism
Universal Sufism is a universalist spiritual movement founded by Hazrat Inayat Khan while traveling throughout the West between 1910 and 1926, based on unity of all people and religions and the presence of spiritual guidance in all people, places and things. It is to some extent influenced by the ...
in Punjab region.
The most popular writer/poet to have written Punjabi Sufi Qisse was Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher.-Early life:Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur, Punjab, in present day Pakistan. His father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a teacher and preacher in a village mosque...
(c.1680-1758). So popular are his Kalams (poems) that he is frequently quoted by young and old alike with same respect and on matters of both love and God. In recent times, 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...
n singer’s have sported these folklores on their albums, for instance, the most famous folklore duo like Kuldeep Manak and Dev Tharike Wala wrote and sang about almost every Qissa, and Recently, Rabbi by (Rabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill in Jatt Sikh family is an Indian musician well known for his debut album Rabbi and the chart-topper song of 2005, "Bulla Ki Jaana"...
) contained ‘Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun’, translated in English as ‘I know not who I am’, written by Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher.-Early life:Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur, Punjab, in present day Pakistan. His father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a teacher and preacher in a village mosque...
. A few years back another singer, (Harbhajan Maan), a Canada-based Punjabi singer rejuvenated the story of ‘Mirza Sahiban’, a work by Peelu. Daim Iqbal Daim from Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan also wrote many qissas in punjabi language like Mirza Sahiban, Laila Majnu, Sohni Mahiwal, Bilal Biti etc. Daim got popularity in "Shah Nama Karbla" and "Kambal Posh".
Notable Qisse
Most of the Punjabi qisse were written by Muslim poets who wandered the land. The oldest were usually scripted in Urdu. Some of the most popular qisse are listed below.- ‘Mirza SahibaMirza SahibaMirza 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...
’ by Peelu - ‘Heer RanjhaHeer RanjhaFor 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...
’ by Waris ShahWaris ShahWaris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, 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... - ‘Sohni MahiwalSohni MahiwalSohni 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...
’ by Hashim Shah - ‘Sassi PunnunSassi PunnunSassi 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...
’ by Shah HussainShah HussainShah Hussain was a Punjabi Sufi poet who is regarded as a Sufi saint. He was the son of Sheikh Usman, a weaver, and belonged to the Dhudha clan of Rajputs. He was born in Lahore...
/ c.1539–1599 - ‘Sucha Singh SoormaSucha Singh SoormaSucha Singh is a folk legend in Punjab, perceived by some as having restored the "family honour" by killing his sister-in-law Balbiro and her alleged extramarital lover Ghukkar, who at one time was his own best friend...
’ - ‘Jeona Maur’
- ‘Shirin FarhadChosroes and Shirin"Khosrow and Shirin", also spelled Khosrau and Shirn,Chosroes and Shirin, Husraw and Shireen and Khosru and Shirin, is the title of a famous Persian tragic romance...
’ - ‘Pooran Bhagat’
- ‘Kehar Singh Ram Kaur’
- ‘Sham Kaur, Sham Singh, Sham Lal’
- ‘Dhol Sammi’
- ‘Yusuf ZulaikhaYusuf and ZulaikhaYusuf and Zulaikha is the Quranic verse of Yusuf and Zulaikha . It has been told and retold countless times in many languages spoken by Muslims, especially Persian. Its most famous version was written in Persian by Jami , in his Haft Awrang...
’ - ‘Laila MajnuLaila MajnuLaila Majnu is a 1976 Hindi movie based on the legendary story of Layla and Majnun. This film version is directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and stars Rishi Kapoor, Ranjeeta, Danny Denzongpa, Aruna Irani, Asrani, Iftekhar, Tom Alter and Ranjeet...
’ - ‘Kaulan’
- ‘Dulla BhattiDulla BhattiRai Abdullah Khan Bhatti Rajput, popularly known as Dulla Bhatti , was a famous legendary Rajput hero of the Punjab, who led a rebellion against the Mughal emperor Akbar...
’ - ‘Manu Guggu’
- ‘Ustaad Harman’
- ‘Jatt Parmz’
External links
- ApnaOrg offers one of the most reliable but largely incomplete list of Punjabi literature and music.
- Punjabi People & Old Stories Network of Punjabi People
- Punjabi Qisse by Hashim Shah, Qadir Yaar, Shah Mohammad, Matak Rai & Pro. Puran Singh at punjabi-kavita.com