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Pearls of the Orient The Mortal Moon These love stories (kissas) of the Orient by famous writers/poets have been translated into English by Chanda Atwal who is settled in Vancouver. Of the seven equally captivating, I am dwelling on some, Sassi-Poonu by Hashim is a famous traditional love story. Sassi is the daughter of Adam Jihon, the ruler of the Bambor state. Due to prophecy that her birth is a bad omen, she is set afloat on a casket in a river. Antha Ram, a poor dhobi, washing clothes on the bank of the river, sees the casket and brings Sassi home. He raises her with great love and care. Sassi grows up to be a very beautiful woman. One day, she hears about Poonu, a famous designer of palaces and gardens from Ghazni. She decides to visit one of the gardens designed by him. They are dazzeled upon seeing each other. Poonu stays back while his caravan go away. Poonu’ s parents get upset and send 70 Balochis to reclaim their son. The Balochis make him drink his favourite wine laced with a potent drug and carry him back to his country. Sassi, running out of her house in the blazing desert sand, is scorched to death. When Poonu regains consciousness, he rides a camel to her grave and where he drops dead. Thus are the two hearts united in heaven. Laila-Majnu by Hashmet Shah is one of the most famous love stories of all times. Majnu is the son of King Omar of Najid. At six, he is sent to a school where he falls in love with a girl in his class called Laila, who has narcissus eyes and black complexion. In school, Majnu tells their teacher, "Laila is my Kaaba", while Laila’ s mother calls her a "shameless temptress". After spending years with Laila, Majnu becomes mad with passion. When he approaches Laila’s house, her father Abdula gives him a good beating. Majnu roams around in jungle, famished and love-stricken. Meanwhile, Laila’ s parents marry her off to an Arabian Prince. She is unable to bear the pangs of separation from her love and starves herself to death. When Majnu hears the news, he runs to her grave and dies. Sohni-Mahival is written by modern poet Sada Ram. Its original writer is Fazal Shah (1828-1890). It is a beautiful story, which space constraints prevent me from narrating. Yusuf-Zulaikah by Hafiz Barkhurdar is another beautiful kissa. Prince Yusuf is a slave of Princess Zulaikah who is married off to another lord. Yusuf is imprisoned for 12 years for his love for his master’s wife, whom he scrupulously keeps at decent distance. His knowledge to interpret Pharaoh’s dream gets him not only his release from prison, but also a princely position, whereas Zulaikah is turned out of her palace by her husband for loving Yusuf and is reduced to a beggar. Yusuf’s father Yaqoob regains his lost vision. He turns Zulaikah into a charming young houri from a hag by magical powers. Zulaikah’s husband dies and she ultimately marries her love, Yusuf. After sometime, Yusuf also dies. In agony of separation, Zulaikah faithfully follows him 13 days later. Mirza-Sahiban, Hir-Ranja, Shirin-Farhad kissas are equally enchanting and absorbing. Except for a few typographical errors, it is excellent in printing and contents. I derive special thrill in writing these lines, as I was born and brought up in Jhang, Pakistan, where Hir Syal was born. Incidentally, Sahiba was a Syal girl. —The reviewer is a retired Major General |
