Today I am taking you to the shrine of Pir Waris Shah, an 18th-century Punjabi Muslim Sufi poet.
Peer waris Shah is known as Shakespeare of Punjabi language because of his contribution in Punjabi literature. Poets, literary figures and authors in any language are considered as pillars of the building of nation, culture and language. Peer Waris Shah was born in 1722 when Mughal empire was declining and foreign forces were becoming dominant over the throne of the subcontinent India.
We were five friends together who visited Tomb of Peer Waris Shah. I went inside tomb where I saw many people but my eyes were scrolling around the architecture that was surely depicting the elements of "aina kari-Mirror Work".
I have visited this Tomb uncountable times with my friends. I remember, there used to be a museum in the premises of this Tomb but these days it's closed. I am hopeful that it will soon get open.
Peer Waris Shah is author of legendary love story of "Here Ranjha". This love story holds the higher most stage in the Punjabi Literature. His contributions in Punjabi Literature are very much famous on both sides of border either it's Punjab of Pakistan or of India. But,sadly on Pakistani side, the amount of appreciation is low in comparison to Indian side.
Surprisingly, the Punjabi culture on Pakistani side is fading away. Culture always come along with language. It means that Punjabi language is also being erased in Pakistani Punjab side because of influence of dominant Urdu culture and Western cultural influence. The influence of Western culture is deeply rooted with British language policies from 20th century and it revolves around relvots and separists movements against British design and government. To suppress these revolts, British tried best to remove and erase the Punjabi culture and language education system. That influence is visible till today.
Outside of Tomb, there are many stalls from where one can find the contributions of Peer Waris Shah in Punjabi language. I found Heer Ranjha. I tried to read it and somehow I read in broken way. I am happy that on local and governmental level, Punjabi Language is being promoted and it is having it's Renaissance time. People are now interested in celebrating forgotten festivals. Even I am studying Punjabi literature these days for upcoming exams. It will help me to learn about Punjabi history.
Walking outside, I found a street vendor who was selling "Jalebi".
Another one who was selling "Kulfi". We can translate it into ice cream but it's not actually Ice cream and something local and regional.
A little away, we found some diyas on the ground near to graveyard.
We searched a forgotten pond from old times. Now, this local pond is more like a barren area, and no one is interested in it. But, for the eyes of historians, it was way more than just an old pond.
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We snapped some pictures of falling and fragile pond that is detoriating with time, and then we headed back home with our mobile back in our pockets.
See you another time with another travel.