Waris Shah, the writer of great Punjabi epic poem “Heer” celebrates his 210th annual urs (death anniversary) on 23rd July, 2008. He is a Punjabi Sufi poet whose Heer is an imperishable legend of Divine love. Like all Sufis, Waris Shah depicts the quest of Divine love through the love story of Heer and Ranjha. Heer in fact represents the Divine beauty and Ranjha, the student on the path of finding God.

For this major contribution, Waris Shah is believed to be to Punjabi language what Chaucer and Shakespeare were to English. This folk tale is widely read and staged in Pakistan and India. However, some believe it to be merely a worldly love story, whereas there are multiple meanings of the tale.

“First chant the praise of God, who made Love the price of the world, Sir.
It was God Himself who first loved; the Prophet was His beloved, Sir.
Love is the station of the saints, the man of love is outwardly sad, Sir
Inside alone in their hearts are streams, gardens; those who have accepted Love, Sir.”

True love is divine in essence and has the power to take one the Ultimate Reality. This path is full of trails and sufferings as portrayed in Heer. The seeker of True Love has to undergo several trails till he unites with the Beloved. It is only through constant pain that one is purged and qualifies to meet the Lord.

Another interpretation is that Heer was Waris Shah’s own love story. He was in love with a girl whom he lost and as a consequence of this heartbreak, he became a yogi and began his journey towards the divine. Whichever version may be true, but this legend has inspired millions over the past centuries and is an eternal piece of Punjabi literature, replete with beauty and love.