Punjabi University Patiala marks 300th year of Waris Shah
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Punjabi University has started a series of events to mark 300 years of Waris Shah, a legendary poet known for the love legend of Heer Ranjha. Despite the fact that the love legend was part of oral culture before it got documented in written text. There are writers who wrote the love legend of Heer Ranjha before Waris Shah but his rendition is most celebrated for its lyrical value and the details it carries. More than hundred writers have written Heer Ranjha over a period of time.
Punjabi University has organised a series of events including painting exhibition, play especially written and produced for the occasion, an evening of singing Heer and special academic sessions alongside a book festival.
The series of events is culmination of an year long celebration of 300th year of Waris Shah (born in 1722). Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala Prof Arvind elaborates that Waris Shah’s Heer is a unique text which imagines Punjab as inclusive society which refuses to be divided in nation-states, religious boundaries and limitations of scripts. Prof Arvind said, “Waris Shah’s 300th year is an occasion to evaluate Punjabi culture and history with reference of Heer Ranjha, a text of love which makes borders and boundaries irrelevant.”
Punjabi University Patiala marks 300th year of Waris Shah. Students and faculty members of Sardar Sobha Singh Department of Fine Arts have created an exhibition of 170-180 exhibits displayed in the museum. These exhibits include miniatures, portraits, woodcut prints and life studies. There are multimedia exhibits created in water colours, oil colours and acrylics. There are realistic paintings depicting different scenes from the love legend, surrealistic expressions, abstract paintings which creates a comprehensive impression of fluidity, the legend of Heer Ranjha lives and survives in.
November 22,2022
