Shah, Waris
(c. 1710–1780), Punjabi literary figure. Renowned for his contributions to Punjabi literature, Waris Shah created a version of the tale of Hir and Ranjha that is popular to this day and considered by many the Punjab's greatest literary epic. Little concrete evidence is available about Waris Shah's life. He was probably born in Jandiala Sher Khan, a village in Punjab's Sheikhupura district, today in Pakistan. Waris Shah belonged to a respected family that claimed descent from the prophet Muhammad. After early education at a local mosque, he went to Kasur, Pakistan, a contemporary center of learning near Lahore, and then to Pakpattan, Pakistan, an important site in Sufi Islam. Shah died in his natal village where his tomb is located and where an annual festival is held in his name.
Hir Waris Shah, completed in 1767, is Shah's only literary composition. It is a story of carnal love, which many interpret as an allegory of love for the divine. Shah's text also includes much description of customs and practices in the Punjab, leading some literary critics to call his Hir an encyclopedia of contemporary life in the Punjab.
Further Reading
Sekhon, Sant Singh. (1996) A History of Panjabi Literature. Vol. 2. Patiala, India: Punjabi University, 2: 56–73, 87–95.
Singh, Gurcharan. (1988) Warris Shah. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.
This is the complete article, containing 214 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
