ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ | Waris Shah

ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮੁਹਾਵਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਕਹਾਵਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਖਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਹੈ। 18 ਵੀਂ ਸਦੀ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਜੀਵਨ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਿਕ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਦੇ ਹਰੇਕ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਦਾ ਛੋਟਾ ਅਤੇ ਯਥਾਰਥਕ ਚਿਤਰਣ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਬਹੁਤ  ਵਿਲੱਖਣ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ  ਹੈI

ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਰਚਿਤ ਹੀਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤੀ ਸਤਰਾਂ ਹਨ:

“ਅੱਵਲ ਹਮਦ ਖੁਦਾਏ ਦਾ ਵੀਰਦ ਕੀਚੈ, ਇਸ਼ਕ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੂ ਜੱਗ ਦਾ ਮੂਲ ਮੀਆਂ

ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆਪ ਹੈ ਰੱਬ ਨੇ ਇਸ਼ਕ ਕੀਤਾ,  ਮਾਸ਼ੂਕ ਹੈ ਨਬੀ ਰਸੂਲ ਮੀਆਂ।"

ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਦੀ ਹੀਰ ਵਿਚਲੀਆਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਉਕਤੀਆਂ ਨੈਤਿਕ ਸੰਦਰਭ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਆਪਕ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ ਵਰਤੀਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ, ਉਦਾਹਰਣ ਵਜੋਂ:

• ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਨਾ ਆਦਤਾਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ, ਭਾਵੇਂ ਕੱਟੀਏ ਪੋਰੀਆਂ-ਪੋਰੀਆਂ ਜੀ।
• ਵਾਰਿਸ ਰੰਨ , ਫਕੀਰ, ਤਲਵਾਰ, ਘੋੜਾ, ਚਾਰੇ ਏਹ ਕਿੱਸੇ ਦੇ ਯਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ।
• ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਫਕੀਰ ਦੀ ਅਕਲ ਕਿਥੇ, ਇਹ ਪੱਟੀਆਂ ਇਸ਼ਕ ਪੜਾਈਆਂ ਹੁਣ।
• ਵਾਰਿਸ਼ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਛੁਪਾਈਏ ਖਲਕ ਕੋਲੋਂ, ਭਾਵੇਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਹੀ ਗੁੜ ਖਾਈਏ ਜੀ।

Waris Shah (Punjabi: وارث شاہ, ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ), 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 outstanding works of classical Punjabi literature. The story of Heer was also told by several other writers—including notable versions by Damodar Das, Mumbai, and Ahmed Gujjar—but Waris Shah's performance is by far the most popular today.

Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, into a reputed Syed family who claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad. His father's name was Gulshar Shah. Waris Shah acknowledged himself as a disciple of Pir Makhdum of Kasur. Waris Shah's parents are said to have died when he was young, and he probably received his education at the shrine of his preceptor. After completing his education in Kasur, he moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometers north of Pakpattan. He resided in a small room adjacent to a historic masjid, now called Masjid Waris Shah. His mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage today, especially for those in love.

Waris Shah is also called Shakespeare of the Punjabi language because of his great poetic love story, Heer Ranjha. Some critics say that through this story of romantic love, he tried to portray the love of man for God (the quintessential subject of Sufi literature).

He was a consummate artist, deeply learned in Sufi and domestic cultural lore. His verse is a treasure-trove of Punjabi phrases, idioms, and sayings. His minute and realistic depiction of each detail of Punjabi life and the political situation in the 18th century remains unique. Waris Shah also sublimated his unrequited love for a girl (Bhag Bhari) in writing romance.

These are the opening lines from Waris Shah's rendering of Heer:

“Awwal hamad Khuda da vird kariye

Ishq kita su jag da mool mian

Pehlaan aap hi Rabb ne ishq kita

Te mashooq he nabi rasool mian."

Translation: "First of all let us acknowledge God, who has made love the worth of the world, Sir,

It was God Himself that first love, and the prophet (Muhammad) is His beloved, Sir."

Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used in Punjab in a moral context, for instance:

• Naa adataan jaandiyan ne, Bhavin katiye poriyan poriyan Ji(A man never abandons his habits, even if he is hacked to pieces)
• Waris rann, faqir, talwar, ghora; Chare thok eh kisse de yar Nahin(Waris says that woman, mendicant, sword and horse, these the four are never anyone's friends)
• Waris Shah faqir di aqal kithe; eh pattian Ishq padhiyan hun(It is beyond the wisdom of faqeer Waris Shah (to write this verse), (But) these lessons are taught by love)
• Eh rooh qalboot da zikr Sara nal aqal de mel bulaya ee(This entire reference is about Soul meeting with the Divine, Beloved which has been contrived with great wisdom)

(Source- poemhunter.com and peoplepill.com )