Waris Shah | |
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.jpg) Depiction of Waris Shah,Lahore, ca.1859 | |
| Native name | وارث شاہ |
| Born | 1722 (1722)[1] |
| Died | 1799 (aged 76–77)[1] |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Genre | Sufi poetry |
| Notable works | Heer Ranjha- byWaris Shah - A Classic Book on their love story[1] |
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PirWaris Shah (Punjabi:وارث شاہ (Shahmukhi); 1722 – 1798) was an 18th-centuryPunjabi MuslimSufi poet of theChishti order, known popularly for his contribution toPunjabi literature.[2][1]
He is primarily known as the author of theHeer Ranjha love poem. It's about one of the most popular tragic romances ofPunjab. Traditionally, this love poem is recited inbhairaviraga and this continues to be done even today.[3][4]
Syed Mohammad Waris Shah was born inJandiala Sher Khan,Punjab, present-dayPakistan, into a reputedSayyid family and was a descendant ofSayyid Muhammad Al-Makki through his son Sayyid Badruddin.[5] His father's name was Gulsher Shah and mother's name was Kamal Banu. Waris's parents are said to have died when he was young. Waris spent years in search of the perfect spiritual guide. Waris Shah acknowledged himself to be a disciple of anustad fromKasur, namelyHafiz Ghulam Murtaza from whom he received his education. After completing his education, Waris moved toMalka Hans, a village twelve kilometres north ofPakpattan. Here he resided in a small room (or Hujra), adjacent to a historic mosque now called Masjid Waris Shah, until his death.[1]
Waris Shah was also an eyewitness to the first Invasion of India by the Afghan leaderAhmad Shah Abdali.[6] He witnessed theBattle of Lahore between the Afghan forces and the Mughal forces underShah Nawaz which resulted in Lahore coming under Afghan control during January 1748.[6] Waris Shah condemned Shah Nawaz's actions during the battle and even referred to him as a coward.[6] Other poets later added their own verses in Qissa Waris Shah throughout the history. It is estimated that there are 11069 forged[7] verses in the commonly available Qissa Waris Shah. One of the oldest and most accurate copy of Qissa Waris Shah published by Kripa Ram[8] in 1916 is available in the Punjab Public Library inLahore
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Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used inPunjab in a moral context, for instance:[9]
The tomb or mausoleum of Waris Shah is nearSheikhupura,Punjab, Pakistan inJandiala Sher Khan town. Hisurs (death anniversary) is held and celebrated there every year.[4]
The renownedPunjabi writer and poetAmrita Pritam is best remembered for her famous workAjj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu (lit: "Today I Invoke Waris Shah") about the horrors of the partition of thePunjab during thePartition of India.[10]
Waris Shah's life has been fictionalised in Punjabi-language films. A 1964Pakistani film titledWaris Shah featuredInayat Hussain Bhatti in the title role. Another film on the life of Shah,Sayyed Waris Shah, was released in India in 1980; followed byWaris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris in 2006 which hadGurdas Maan in the role of Waris Shah.[11]
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