Heer and Ranjha

In Takht Hazara, a Village in Punjab near Sargodha there a lived a young man named Dheedo Ranjha. Ranjha ‘s father, Mauju  was a wealthy peasant who had eight sons to take care of his lands. Ranja was the youngest one and he was favourite in his village and his parents. Ranjha never had to do anything as he was youngest son and all work in the lands were taken care by his brother’s. He used to play flute all day long. He was like our Modern Krishna who enticed everyone with his flute music. Ranjha used to take his father’s cows and buffaloes for grazing and he would play the flute all day. His brothers resented that he did no work but was afraid to voice it in fear of their parents disapproval.

Mauju died and his eldest son decided to take incharge of family affairs. He said that everyone should get a piece of land where they could grow their own crops. Ranjha was given a stony patch of land as the brothers felt he was good for nothing fool who plays flute all day. Ranjha tried ploughing the land but his plough broke. Ranjha understood that it was waste his time on this piece of land. So he left his home following the Chenab river south in search of a new life. Some stories state that Ranjha left his people because his sister in law taunted him as an idle fool sleeping all day and playing flute instead of doing something fruitfull. Some stories even say Ranjha was refused food when he asked his sister in laws. Some stories further add that Ranjha  was taunted by his sister in laws that he should go to Jhang and get married to the prettiest maiden , Heer.

Heer was a doe eyed maiden with a face like that of a  full moon in Autumn.

There is two versions about Ranjha reaches Heer’s home. In one version Ranjha secedes to take shelter in a Masjid or Mosque and continued his journey in the morning. To pass time the time before sleep, he played his flute. The Maulwi of the Masjid heard the flute music and he met Ranjha and told him it was prohibited to play flute in Masjid. Ranja told Maulwi that flute produces innocent notes and it is not a sin compared to some acts that maulwis commit in the name of Islam. Maulwi was left speechless so he let Ranjha stay the night in the Masjid. In the morning Ranjha wandered on to the village of Jhang.

In another version of story, Ranjha crosses the Chenab and reached Jhang. He wandered for sometime and found himself on the edge of garden. He finds a bed in the middle of a garden with Silk bedsheets and pillow. Ranjha  who hasn’t slept in the bed lied down on the bed and fell asleep. Soon the Garden was filled with beautiful girls. They saw a strange man asleep. The gals woke up Ranjha and Heer came in time. Ranjha was mesmerized by Heer’s beauty. Heer was also taken by the dashing man. It was love at first sight. Ranjha told the entire incident of how he had reached Jhang. Heer feels pity for Ranjha and both of them are left by her friends alone understanding that the two need some private time to share their feelings. Heer and Ranjha sat side by side under the shade of the tree alongside river Chenab and talked till it was sunset. As it was nearing sunset Ranjha played a tune on his flute and Heer was entranced by his music. Heer told Ranjha that he plays his flute like Krishna. Ranjha claims that they are like Krishna and Radha. Heer introduces Ranjha to her father saying that there is a man who can tend their cows, buffaloes. Heer’s father was Chuchak was an affluent peasant. Heer was his darling child  so he appointed Ranjha as the incharge of cattle .

 Ranjha  saw a large field with cows and lush with crops. He approached the owner, Chuchack Sayyal, a chief of Sayyal clan. He asks for a job as in charge for looking after cows, buffaloes and cattles. Ranjha was hired as help in the stables.  Heer means ‘diamond’ not only she had good looks but also she was as sweet as honey. Heer saw the new hired hand, Ranjha. She fell in love with his rustic appearance and long hair and physique and his flute playing.

Heer and Ranja are mutually attracted to one another and as days passed by their attraction grew stronger and stronger. Heer would bring in food for Ranjha and spent time with him. The cows and buffaloes followed Ranjha and gave more milk, more butter and Chuchack was happy with the hired hand.

Kaido , Uncle of Heer caught on the love between the two.  He went to her Parents to report the matter and separate the lovers. Heer reached  her parent’s home  and as usual was in high spirits. Heer’s parents confronted her about her relationship with Ranjha. Heer accepted that she loves Ranjha and will only marry him. Heer’s parents reminded her that as their child she must respect and honor them and not get distracted by love. Heer was advised by Qazi about how Good muslim girls whould conduct themselves.

Heer did not heed to any of them. Heer looking at her scar where she had burnt herself with an iron while cherishing the moments spent with her Ranjha. She addressed that “ True love is like a mark left by a hot iron on skin or like a dark spot on a mango . They never go away.”

 Heer’s parents knew that she was very adamant and once she made up her mind she would not relent.  Kaido had told Chuchak that Khairra’s  of Rangpur are interested in Heer. Chuchak and Khairras exchanged gifts before marriage. The Whole village was bustling with news of Heer getting married to the rich Khairras and anticipated a grand wedding. Heer felt that all her hopes had died and her dreams were ruined. She met Ranjha secretly and asked him to take her away from this unwanted marriage. Ranjha loved Heer very much and he did not want to affect her image or her family image and wanted to take her away like a queen with her parents’ permission. The pre marriage function rituals took place in spite of Heer’s objection. Heer was just watching  like a puppet . She had Mehendi function where all gals applied Mehendi happily but she was repeating” I have not consented to the wedding”

The day of the wedding arrived and the Bride groom’s family arrived. Heer’s parent’s blackmailed her emotionally that she will ruin her family’s name but Heer did not change her stance.

Heer replied to her father, “In the eyes of God, and in my heart I only consider Ranjha as my husband.

The Qazi was a friend of Chuchak so he granted the marriages ceremony to commence in spite of Heer’s repeated denial to marriage. Heer was married to Saida Khairra. She was forcefully sent to Saida Khaira house in a palanquin to Rangpur. Heer was welcomed at Saida’s house all the ladies were surprised to see the beautiful face of Heer  was as pale as she was dying. Heer was accompanied by Sehti who saw that her sister in law had lots on her mind. Heer tells sehti about her love for Ranjha.

Ranjha was heartbroken and he wandered in to the forest and he met few mendicants who roamed from village to village begging for food. Ranjha joined their  group and adopted their ways as he wanted to forget his love Heer.  Heer gets news that Ranjha has become a mendicant  and she is worried for him. She confides in Sehti that even though he has become an Ascetic who wears holy ash I would want him to be only my husband.

On a fateful day, Ranjha went begging as usual and knocked upon a door asking for alms. The house belonged to Saida Khairra. The door was opened by Heer’s sister- in- law, Sehti. Sehti did not like the fact that her brother had married a girl against her wishes and she also knew about Heer’s love for Ranjha. She helped Heer escape with Ranjha. 

Ranjha and Heer escaped but were chasen by Khairra’s men but were caught and both of them requested an audience with Raja Adali.  Raja Adali hears about Heer’s confession he is impressed with her sincerity . Raja Adali gives the judgement that a women should not be married against her wishes. He freed her from the unwanted marriage with Saidoo Khairra and declared that Ranjha and Heer are made for each other. Raja Adali sent them both to Jhang to Heer’s home.Ranjha assures Heer that he will bring doli to take her to his home as his Queen. Heer expresses her concern about Kaido who may harm them as a revenge for his shame.

Heer was welcomed by her parents and Ranjha went to Takht Hazara to bring his barat. Kaido poisons chuchak mind how can he marry a girl who was married already and what will the villagers talk about him and his family. Heer was a curse for the family and tainted the family name by her actions. Heer must be killed to clean their family name. Chuchak who used to love his daughter was brainwashed to kill Kaido’s words. Chuchak went along with the plan of marrying Heer to Ranjha with an evil intention. Heer unknown of the evil intention was having a good time in her Mehendi ceremony with her friends. She was glowing in the love for Ranjha.  The day before the marriage, Heer was poisoned with Ladoo as per Kaido ‘s plan. Heer was in pain and she figured out the sinister plan but her only wish was that if only she could see her Ranjha one more time before her death.

Ranjha arrived with a doli for his Heer and as he entered Jhang. He came to know what had happened and rushed to the side of his beloved. Ranjha hugged his Heer and cried and he saw the half eaten Ladoo in her hand and he knew what happened and ate the other half bitterly. As he died he called out for his Heer. Death cannot part lovers.