Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 521

APRIL, 1923
HIR AND RANJKA
This battle of words goes on for a long time and a final sarcasm of Hir's so enrages Sehti that she and her maid rush out and violently assault Ranjha. "Even as Abu Samand fell on Nawab Hussain Khan at Chunian." Then Ranjha girded up his loins, remembered his Pir and fell upon Sehti, “Even as the Pathan of Kasur fell on the camp of the Bakshi."
Hir tries to intervene, but the women of the neighbourhood assemble like a flock of Kabul dogs and thrust the Jogi out of the courtyard. Ranjha retices crest-tallen to a garden at Kalabågh and plunges into religious ineditation.
"He kindled fire and meditated on God and sparks came from his body." He recites spells and incantations and a voice from the Five Pirs is heard bidding him be of good cheer..
After a day or two the girls of the village come down to the garden at Kalabagh and feeling in a sportive spirit they wreck the Jôgi's hut. Ranjha rushes out to attack them, exclaiming “Where is the caravan of these female devils ?" The attack on the Jõgi's hut is apparently a ruse. All the girls run away except one, who allows herself to be caught and asks the Jogi what message he has for her aunt Hir. Râmjha gives the girl an affectionate message to carry back to Hir. The girl goes back to Hir and rates Hir soundly for her heartless treatment of Ranjha. Hir then decides to try and win over Sehti, and she ultimately succeeds in so doing by promising her that if Sehti helps her in her love affair she will help Sehti to meet her lover Murad. Sehti then goes off to Kalabâgh to interview the Jôgi.
Ranjha, when he sees her coming, mutters "Why does a blast from Hell blow upon holy men ?" Wordy warfare then ensues between Ranjha and Sehti, Ranjha abusing women and Sehti defending them and making a counter-attack against men. Some of her remarks are quite good. “It is men who are shameless and black-faced. They come to their senses when they lose their wives and then they say it is Destiny'."
This bickering goes on for some time; but at last Rânjha miraculously changes some cream, which Sehti had brought as an offering, into rice, and Sehti at once becomes Ranjha's humble slave. Sehti agrees to take Rânjha's messages to Hir, if Ranjha will help her to meet Murad. The bargain is struck and Sehti goes off and gives Ranjha's message to Hir.
Hir then visits Ranjha in Kalabagh. Hir salaamed with folded hands and caught Ranjha's feet saying, "Embrace me, Ranjha, for the fire of separation is burning me. My heart has been burnt like kankar in a lime kiln. I return you your deposit untouched."
The lovers meet and embrace. When Hir returns from the garden flushed and radiant with happiness, the village girls chaff her. Hîr does her best to parry the chaff. "I have a touch of asthma, and that is why the colour comes into my cheeks. I ran after a runaway calf, and that is why the strings of my bodice have come undone. I was knocked down by a bullock in the way; he tore off all my bangles and earrings and chased me with a loud roar. Thanks to my good fortune I met a Fakir who took me safely back to the village."
To which the girls, who have guessed Hir's secret, reply: "Sister, this bull has been pursuing you for a very long time. It is ourious that he tramples in nobody's fields but yours and only steals your grapes. This bull has come from Hazara. At this moment he is lying disconsolate in the garden, crying Hir, Hîr." • Sehti and Hir then invent a strategem. Sehti goes to her mother and suggests that as Hir bas not been looking well for a long time it would do her good to go out into the fields. So Hir is taken out into the fields and there she pretends to be bitten by a snake. Doctors, magicians and hakims are brought from far and wide to cure the snake bite, but their skill is of no avail. At last a suggestion is made that the Jõgi at Kalabagh should be called. He is reputed to have great skill in such matters. "There is a very ounning Jogi in the Kalabagh garden," says Sehti,