Indian Antiquary Vol 51

SR No.: 032543
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 374
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 349

FEBRUARY, 1922]
HIR AND RANJHA
a ruined village. Not a girl sings at her spinning wheel. No one plays Kilhari [a game something like 'Here we go round the mulberry bush'] or Samni [a similar game] and makes the earth dance. No one hunts for needles or plays "Welan". No one plays Maya or makes crows or peacocks fly. No one sings Choratori or plays Garidda in the street. Let us up and leave this dull village."
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And the boys replied to Ranjha: "We will show you the place where the girls sit and sing." And they took Rânjha to the place where the girls sat in their spinning parties and he saw them laughing and chaffing and breaking each other's threads for fun. And they sang sweet songs as they turned their spinning wheels, and one said mischievously to Ranjha : "The loves of one's childhood do not last longer than four days." And another said: "What do you want, Jogi ?" And Sehti, to cajole him, took off his necklace. And the Jogi turned and said: "Who is this hussy?" Somebody replied: "She is Ajju's daughter." The Jogi replied: "Who is Ajju and why is she making mischief? Ajju has got a bad bargain. She is very rude to Fakirs and does not kiss their beads. She is a good-for-nothing hussy who can neither card nor spin."
And Sehti replied: "Jogi your words are harsh. If you touch me I will throw you down and then you will know who I am. Your disguise is a trick. If you enter my courtyard, I will have your legs broken and pull out your hair. I will thrash you like a donkey and then you will remember God and learn wisdom."
And Ranjha exclaimed: "Why does this snake hiss at me and why does this tigress want to drink my blood? I suppose she is tired of her husband and is hunting for lovers. And the Jogi passed on into the courtyard of a Jat who was milking his cow. He blew his horn and played on his shell and roared like an intoxicated bull. The cow alarmed by this extraordinary noise kicked over the rope and spilt the milk. And the Jat in fury exclaimed: "Fancy giving alms to this poisonous snake."
And the Jogi's eyes became red with anger and he lifted his beggar's bowl to strike the Jat. Meanwhile the Jat's wife flew at him and abused him and all his kith and kin, his grandfathers and great-grandfathers for spoiling the milk. She pushed him away and tore his shirt and flung taunts at him. The Jogi in his wrath kicked her and knocked out all her teeth. She lay on the ground like a log. And the Jat seeing his wife on the ground raised a hue and cry and shouted. "The bear has killed the fairy. He has killed my wife. Friends, bring your sticks and come to my aid."
And the men cried: "We are coming, we are coming." And the Jogi in alarm took to his heels. And as he passed by one of the houses he saw a beautiful girl sitting all alone like a princess in a jewelled chamber of the king. The Jogi was hunting for his prey like a hawk. He was as bold as a dacoit robbing a banker. He was as handsome as the Subadar of Lahore. He knocked at the door and said: "Hir, bride of the Kheras are you well? Give me alms, give me alms." And as soon as Sehti saw him, she opposed him fiercely and said to Hir: "He is a wicked man and nobody curbs his evil ways. I will break his bones and teach him to cast love-eyes in my courtyard." What do you mean by saying: "Are you well, Hir? You are flaunting your beauty like an enamoured peacock. You are hunting for your beloved and yet you call on the name of Pirs and Fakirs. You sing Alakh, Alakh and beg with a strange mien in your eyes. You are like a camel without a nosestring and no one dares drive you away."
And the Jogi replied: "Do not try and cajole me with your charms. Its you with your clinking jewellery that look like a vain peacock. I said 'Pir' which you mistook for 'Hir' and nobody dares set you right. Why are you speaking harshly to wayfarers and strangers? You are oppressing poor Fakirs and causing trouble in the houses of fathers-in-law. You are like an amourous cow sparring with bulls "