Waris Shah (Punjabi: وارث شاہ (Shahmukhi); ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ (Gurmukhi); 1722–1798) was a Punjabi Sufi poet of the Chishti order, known for his contribution to Punjabi literature.[1] He is primarily known as the author of Heer Ranjha ہیر رانجھا.[2]
Waris Shah | |
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Native name | وارث شاہ |
Born | 1722 (1722)[1] Jandiala Sher Khan, Sheikhupura, Punjab, Mughal Empire[1] (present-day Punjab, Pakistan) |
Died | 1799 (aged 76–77)[1] Jandiala Sher Khan, Pakpattan, Punjab, Durrani Empire[1] (present-day Punjab, Pakistan) |
Genre | Sufi poetry |
Notable works | Heer Ranjha- by Waris Shah - A Classic Book on their love story[1] |
Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab, present-day Pakistan into a reputed Sayyid family and was a descendant of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki through his son Sayyid Badruddin.[3] 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 an ustad from Kasur, namely Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza from whom he received his education. After completing his education, Waris moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometres north of Pakpattan. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic mosque now called Masjid Waris Shah, until his death.[1] Other poets later added their own verses in Qissa Waris Shah throughout the history. It is estimated that there are 11069 forged [4] verses in the commonly available Qissa Waris Shah. One of the oldest and most accurate copy of Qissa Waris Shah published by Kripa Ram [5] in 1916 is available in the Punjab Public Library in Lahore.
Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used in Punjab in a moral context, for instance:[6]
The renowned Punjabi writer and poet Amrita Pritam is best remembered for her famous work Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu (lit: "Today I Invoke Waris Shah") about the horrors of the partition of the Punjab during the Partition of India.[7]
Waris Shah's life has been fictionalised in Punjabi-language films. A 1964 Pakistani film titled Waris Shah featured Inayat Hussain Bhatti in the title role. Another film on the life of Shah, Sayyed Waris Shah, was released in India in 1980; followed by Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris in 2006 which had Gurdas Mann in the role of Waris Shah.[8]
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