[l;m""l@!

AI'

6 I~

$
#hese lH~J 1ases ;ha# [.he b;~8l and girl di#"1!en# 1as#es I( no! #he m7I57 !m o!#a3# $actor 6Ii ;AJ!lJUI )#lli;l~s - !l3- 1ommon 1)- m.-3 [ is #ha# !h1 &o3n( coupCC) Ld6 I#< love $-I-K5 want to man&. Sin!#- "e3dal sovi1#& has L Sl6;6ll#A 9$D"l'55'F o" ".3nilv hono3!$ #he !3na!& ob5e1#ive #his !.-iA59< i." #o l8Mamll-l8 #he $l!AldoDi1ai GUI3Uri3'C "ea#3!es o" P3n5ab DH%jth r-)%I5nll76 !oman#i!lov E.. -. The !om3n#A #ides o" 0i!N3 iln#l 9I%lhihIlIl o! Sohni and 0ahi+al a!e !1(3lil!l& evo)ed in son(s 5JllC (C$l$Ce( .md arc part o$ P3n5ab8s 13ll 3!al #!adi#ion. The love 57%I +een 6 lee! and Ran5ha has been #83lo(ised in #he $ ..... 8"i!in(s $<- %hai 43!das and %3ll1h Shah +ho have o!#!a&ed i# as nlJln)( love "o! (od a# a di""e!en# level.8 *one#heless$ P3n5abi so1ie!& 8has also been eD#!emel& in#ole!an# o" !oman#i1 love. Tho3(h 1ve!v 1o3 le in lo$e does no# end 3 se a!a#ed o! dead$ P3niabi so1ie#& !emains de1idedl& !ea1#iona!&. Thl8 be#+een "as1ina#ion "o! and a1#3al !ea1#ion #o !oman#i1 love ma% be 3nive!sal in Indian so1ie#& (ene!all& and !aises important B3es#ions. The s#a!#in( oin# o" #he inves#i(a#ion is [he !ela#ionshi be#+een 13l#3!al val3es and !oman#i1 love. Is i! ossible #o !e1ons#!31# I he ins#i#3#ional 1on#eD# o" so1ial and 13h3!al val3es #h!o3(h P3n5ahi li#e!a#3!eL To #!& and ans+e! ;he B3es#ion$ "o3! #eD#s - tW2 medieval and #+o 1on#em o!a!& li#e!a!& #eD#s - have been in#e! !e#ed and eDamined. The "o!me! a!e #+o ma5o! qisse ;ballads< o" P3n5ab$ viN$ 9a!is Shah8s Heer and Peel38s Mirza, and #he la##e! a!e novels - Kothe Kharhak Singh b& Ram Sa!3 An)hi and 'a!asal b& ?!ishan Lal 4a!(. Oo! #he 3! ose o" 3nde!s#andin( !he 1on1e !3alisa!ion o" love in P3n5ab$ I have 3sed 9a!is Shah8s Heer "o! eD li1a#ion.
IS FG8HIid;llil .. -.!Jill
i"<

Love as Rebellion and Shame

Honour Killings in the Punjabi Literary Imagination
--.--~.PARA!l.UIT S JUnGE

DWEDlIjglllg

o!

---

What is the relationship between cultural val lies an romantic love! "his paper e#amines $our te#ts in Punjabi literature% two me ieval an two contemporary% vi&' Waris (hah)s Heer an Pcelu)s Mirza, Kothe Kharhok Singh by *am (arup +n,hi an Darosa! by K L Garg in an attempt to answer this -uestion' Wloile love between a man an a woman can ac-uire ivine status% at the same time% sociocultural norms view it as rebellion an shame.loss o$ honour $or the woman)s $amily' /ot all cases o$ love marriages en up in honour ,illings but a love a$$air is perceive as rebellion by the $amily an community in which the latter e#pects the $ormerto save its honour' 0ailure to o 50 results in a state o$ permanent shame an persists $or generations'

3bli1- c '' on1e!n ove! hono3! )illinvs - 12Ullg 344)t)I5) In) de!ed 3s3all& by #he (i!l8s )in #o 3 hold "amil& hono3!. has (!o+n in !e1en# &ea!s. S31h )illin(s a!e )no+ll #o o113! in almos# all "e3dal 13l#3!es and 1on#in3e !o o113! in 1e!#ain a!#s o" #he +o!ld.8 In India$ in !e1en# &ea!s$ mos# o" #he hono3! )illin(s a!e seen as #he o3#1 !ne o" in#e!-1asle ma!!ia(es in +hi1h #he bo& belon(s #o a lo+e! 1as#e. 9e )no+ #his !ima!il& d3e 34 #he +ide 1ove!a(e o" s31h 1ases in #he media. :o+eve!$ one also "inds a n3mbe! o" 1ases +he!e #he 1o3 les +ho have "allen in love and ma!!ied belon( #o #he same 1as#e b3# s#ill be1ome vi1#ims o" hono3! )illin(s. I +ill b!ie"l& (o ove! #+o 1ases o" hono3! )illin(s in P3n5ab ;one a same-1as#e and #he o#he! an in#e!-1as#e ma!!ia(e< #ha# have been +ell do13men#ed.
o ~ $ Jr'

(a

The "i!s# 1ase is #he m3!de! o# -.# 6o(inde! Sin(h in -=5> in villa(e Pi lan+ala in :oshia! 3! dis#!i1#. ?hosla ;-=.@A 5.-/2<8 has !ovided 1om !ehensive de#ails o" #he 1as1o 6o(inde! Sin(h ;6o(i< and 43!ba)hash ?a3! ;%ash i6 helon(ed #o #he same villa(e in !e-Pa!#i#ion P3niab and +e!e 1hildhood "!iends. A"#e! -=7>$ 6o(inde!8s a!en#s ;ese##led in villa(e ?ala %a)a!a in 6alandha! dis#!i1# +hile %ashi8s a!en#s !elo1a#ed #o Pi lan+ala. The& me# a(ain +hen s#3d&in( in 1olle(e and "ell in love. %ashi8s "a#he!$ a libe!al< +as no# hos#ile #o #he ma#1h b3# one o" %ashi8s b!o#he!s$ 43!b)hash Sin(h$ o osed #he ma!!ia(e sin1e #he #+o "amilies hailed "!om #he same ; !e. Pa!#i#ion< villa(e$ A"#e! 6o(inde! +as 1ommissioned in#o #he a!m&$ #he #+o &o3n( eo le +e!e be#!o#hed +i#h bo#h a!en#s8 1onsen#. :o+eve!$ 43!ba)hash$ alon( +i#h his b!o#he!s and a "!iend$ ha#1hed a lan #o )ill 6o(inde!. 9hen 6o(inde! 1ame #o mee# his "ian1ee$ %ashi8s b!o#he!s !e#ended #o be "!iendl& and on #hei! insis#en1e he a(!eed #o s#a& a# #he "a!mho3se "o! #he ni(h#. 9hen he +as aslee $ he +as m3!de!ed and his bod& b3!n# a# a nea!b& la1e. 9hile some o" #he a113sed +e!e a1B3i##ed b& a lo+e! 1o3!!$ 43!ba)hash and his "!iend +e!e sen#en1ed #o8 li"e im !isonmen# b& #he hi(h 1o3!#. The mos# dis13ssed 1ase in !e1en# &ea!s is #ha# o" 6as+inde! ?a3! Sidh3 ;6assi< +hose mo#he! and 3n1le +e!e !e1en#l& a!!es#ed b& #he Ro&al ,anadian 0o3n#ed Poli1e 7*e8P6 in ,anada$ -- &ea!s a"#e! he! m3!de!.C 6assi8s s#o!& is sim le and moves alon( !edi1#able lines$ eD1e # #he bo& +as a dali# a3#o!i1)sha+ d!ive!. She me# him in -==7 in 6a(!aon in 0o(a dis#!i1# and ma!!ied him se1!e#l& in -===. :e! mo#he! hi!ed 1on#!a1# )ille!s #o elimina#e #he 1o3 le and #ho3(h 6assi +as )illed; he! h3sband s3!vived #he a##a1).

:ee! and 0i!Na

< *o#+i#hs#andin( 1e!#ain obvio3s di""e!en1es$ #he!e a!e #!e$ mendo3s simila!i#ies be#+een #hese #+o Bisse #ha# I +ish #o 3nde!line. Oi!s#$ bo#h 1o3 les$ i e$ :ee!-Ran5ha and 0i!NaSahiban$ belon(ed #o #he 6a# 1as#e and +e!e 03slims$ and bo#h s#o!ies a!e se# in !3!al P3n5ab. 'es i#e #he 1ommonali#& o" 1as#e and !eli(ion$ #he a!en#s o" bo#h "emale !o#a(onis#s !e"3se #o le# #hem ma!!& a11o!din( #o #hei! 1hoi1e$ and bo#h male 1ha!a1#e!s end 3 losin( #hei! lives "o! love. :o+eve!$ #he!e a!e di""e!en1es in #he #+o na!!a#ives. The :ee!-Ran5ha s#o!& be(ins +i#h #he de i1#ion o" #he (JPd-"o!~no#hill( son o" a 6a# landlo!d named 'hido ;Ran5ha<. A"#e! Ran5ha8s "a#he! dies$ his olde! b!o#he!s (ive him a ie1e 8aL oo! B3ali#& land as his sha!e o" #he inhe!i#an1e. Sin1e his b!o#be!s8 +ives mo1) him 1ons#an#l&$ he leaves his villa(e$ Ta)ha! :aNa!a$ #o ma!!& #he bea3#i"3l :ee! o" 6han(-0an(iana. :e +ins he! love +i#h #he blessin(s o" #he live i!s. The divine san1#ion (iven #o Ran5ha8s love "o! :ee! !ovides "o! #+in meanin(s o" love$ namel&$ "!eal love" (ishaq haqiqi) and "love "o! leas3!e" (isha& mizazi" In 1ommon a!lan1e$ !eal love is I(ene!all& 3nde!s#ood in #e!ms o" ;+o<man8s love "o! (od - #he ##adi#ion in +hi1h all s3"i sain#s 1o3ld be la1ed alon( +i#h 0ee!a and ,hai#an&a. The no#ion o" !eal love in 9a!is Shah is no# limi#ed #o 1om le#e s3!!ende! #o #he divine bein(; i# also im lies man8s love "o! +oman and vi1e ve!sa. 'ivinel& sane#ioned love o" Ran5ha "o! :ee! is also !eallove.
EoDJnnmicBPolir,=CWICEKL1

This a e! is a !evised ve!sion o" a !esen#a#ion made in a na#ional

semina! on "Tales o" Love$ %e#!a&al and 'ea#h in #he Indian Li#e!a!&

T!adi#ion"$ o!(nnised b& #he %ha!a!i&a Sahi!&a A)ademi$ *e+ 'elhi a#

,handi(a!h 0---.--/ 0a!1h 20-2. ,!i#i1al 1ommen#s o" #he a!#i1i an#s

a!e (!a#e"3ll& a1)no+led(ed. Than)s a!1 also d3e #o 43! !ee# %aland 0 Ra5ivlo1han and #o a !e"e!ee o" #his 5o3!nal "o! #hei! 1!i#i1al 1ommen#s Pa!am5i# S 63d(e (paramjieJudge@gmi:1il !om" #ea1hes a# #he 43!3 *ana) 'ev Unive!si#&$ Am!3sa!$ 77
on #he d!a"#.

5
/2:E8;<* =' 343> :2L ?I':ll 3@34 AA 5 &cencmte

9hen Ran5h;I- !eKl!hes.lh E. m($ he I9lAJllh8- . .- $--$ I"la.Il#i ill !l+ se!vi1e or CWI9 ";#!hl8G" "o! 3> &ea!s$ JlIrin5 +h3 II Ill)L I HH"#6 C'3I3 in love. H)H)333)4 I 6ee!8s p'lr9%)IlI)i ;"JI6ll8 III )no+ abo3# #lQA $#iLIII. )DH)1 h3!!iedl& an;lIl(1 he! mania(1 9I#h Saida$ #he SJli 0- ;- L.R! lo!d o" !hR KCw IE villa(R. "IH)$e i'H an in#e!es#in( enG2lII3DGI be#+een :eel" and he! !3o#h1!. 9hen l#11! n-:s he! mo#he! #ha# she +i II no# ma!!~ S;liK.ia$ ! he b3#8! M9I6ItFI7)I)I he! da3(h#e! [0 a(!ee ;;6 !ile ma#1h by i7)lIing l3- lhal l3-# brorher ~~3l#a6l +o3ld )ill eve!&one I" he 1ame #o HlJ9 0- #he a$$uir' I# is imo!#an# #o 3nde!s1o!e #he "a1# #ha# in #he mI3I3n involvin( J3 +oman8s -0H;;8$ he! b!o#he!Q be1ome )e& la&e!s be1a3se #he& a!e no# s+a&ed h& a!en#al love and e!3o#ions be1a3se #he& a!e [he 13s#odians o" #he "amil&8s hono3!. So des i#e sa&in( "no" d3!in( #he ni)ah$ :ee! is ma!!ied #o Saida$ sho+in( #he domina#ion o" so1ial hie!a!1h& and sense o" hono3! ove! !eli(io3s #!adi# ions. :el less and 1on"3sed$ Ran5h3 is e!s3aded b& :e1! #o be1ome a :ind3 jogi. l l1!e #o3$ i# seems$ #!ans(!ession o" !eli(io3s bo3nda!ies do#8S no# eme!(e as a #h!ea# #o #he eDis#in( so1ial and !eli(io3s o!de! and !ovides s#ill ano#he! dimension #o !he no#ion o" love. So +hen Ran5ha leads +i#h %al *a#h 6o(i - #he head o" #he dera ;se1#< - 34 le# him be1ome 5o(i$ no !eli(io3s 1!isis seems #o eme!(e ei#he! +i#h #he a3#ho! o! Ran5ha o! %al *a#h. A"#e! Ran5ha is ini#ia#ed in#o #he5o(i #!adi#ion$ %al *a#h eDho!#s him #n obse!ve 1eliba1& and #!ea# all +omen as mo#he!s and sis#e!s$ b3# Ran5ha 1lea!l& and 3nambi(3o3sl& in"o!ms his (3!3 #ha# he has be1ome a5o(i in o!de! #o !e1laim :ee! and #ha# he has had seD3al !ela#ions +i#h be!. 9a!is Shah8s Heel" 1onside!s love be#+een two individ3a Is oj #he o osi#e seD 1o3ld be divine as +ell as !o"ane; #he!e is no s1o e "o! la#oni1 !oman1e. In "a1#. love be#+een man ami Will is also eD !essed #h!o3(h seD3al s&mbols in P3n5abi s3" -888 e#!& #he !e !esen#a#ive eDam le o" +hi1h is Oa!id8s 1o3 )-# "Sin1e I did no# slee +i#h m& love!$ m& bod& is a1hin(".8 +I #his 53n1#3!e in #he s#o!&$ "a1ed +i#h a se!io3s 1!isis o$9 hi8. I C)II (io3s !o"ession$ %al *a#h (oes in#o a #!an1e onl& 34 diAAn I:I)I #ha# Ran5ha has !e1eived #he blessin(s o" "ive i!s "" 8." .!-. :ee! is 81on1e!ned< +hi1h aves #he +a& "o! his 797FII' N'N t)lll H'ru 5ha 5o(i mana(es #o mee# :ee! and "inall& #he I 9II 3)HrlI)I) ----a!e 1a #3!ed and #he ma##e! is b!o3(h# be"o!e I he8 ) i II$ I hI 53d(e (&azi" de1ides in "avo3! o" :ee!8s h3sband ;--I7- #l3- l)l$ir !3les #ha# :ee! 1an (o +i#h Ran5ha. A! #hi ..... poiltl% -I#-S"I HLi --8.#o a11om an& Ran5ha #o his villa(e and ill')Ii')II5I A;l+ will OI%3$ IHlh as his le(i#ima#el& +edded +i"e$ Ill)l)r)s PDCIC)3l3)I 3t)%l v ilrl') #o #he a!!an(emen#$ :o+eve!$ a"#e! :;ll#5il;$ ,DHWL' i NN % hi8. l)iI la(e #o !e a!e "o! #he ma!!ia(e$l ),I i')I I)tlj)IlIlw I E.. $ II)9 t% ?aidon$ 9hen Ran5ha hea!s !h E. 111'()(1 *+, :I Il#-n "$ d$ .---- -0. 1olla ses and dies. The s#o!& o" Mirza has all %iii --A8.- $II --"- 9lI,)IL333 )3D33%L%393)% -$even#s "!om #ha# o" ileer. III Ihi.8A 3'B33)% DD ' .----$.--- I)' 3H333 D'3L) .l3l$hood beloved. Pe1h# ;433nala --<-<A.<$ +i#" ---".- 9!! EEEE -.$ hili"8" has 1ons#!31#ed #he n.3!.3ivR l.v ;H8.---8 tIll6) -$.$"- ..E..E ; .-$ 9)$) #ive "o!1e$ I# is dea! 39IH3 Ilwl r ) I8. ---- $--H8----I $ "----I -I I" %Ip I$ $. de i1#ed in #ill8 n.3 !a#iv1 .$I$8.888-- -8I-$-.-8" %li7II9IH -$$00i!Na8s 1ommi!m1-3# i')I -8----0 tilH)cl)t)l I EE l9ill)'tU III" ."$$-."<+as $irsl' h#8l!o#l+d 34 h33 Iu@I9I9 I E..E -8--$"- .EEEE $. 3I ' 'j 0-$.

"!

B Poli#i1al .EEE. CEi2@y

9'

mm rIK:E8;EJH =% >43> :2L ?L:II /2 AA