https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Punjabi_QissePunjabi Qisse - Revision history2026-08-20T10:20:51ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Punjabi_Qisse&diff=145471&oldid=previmported>Sutyarashi: /* Notable Qisse */2021-08-24T10:32:09Z<p><span class="autocomment">Notable Qisse</span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Punjabi_Qisse_18.jpg|thumb|A collection of Punjabi Qisse in Patiala, Punjab, India.]]<br />
A '''Punjabi Qissa''' ({{lang-pa|{{Nastaliq|پنجابی قصہ}}}} <small>([[Shahmukhi]])</small>, {{lang|pa|ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਕ਼ਿੱਸਾ}} <small>([[Gurmukhi]])</small>; Plural: Qisse) is a tradition of [[Punjabi language]] oral story-telling that came to [[South Asia]] with the fusion of local people and migrants from the [[Arabia|Arabian peninsula]] and contemporary [[Iran]].<ref name="CITEREFFarinaMir">{{cite web|url=http://www.unc.edu/depts/cdeisi/abstracts.html|title=Representations of Piety and Community in Late-nineteenth-century Punjabi Qisse|first=Farina|last=Mir|publisher=[[Columbia University]]|access-date=2008-07-04}}</ref><br />
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Where ''Qisse'' reflect an [[Islam]]ic and/or [[Persian people|Persian]] heritage of transmitting popular tales of love, valour, honour and moral integrity amongst [[Muslim]]s, they matured out of the bounds of religion into a more secular form when it reached India and added the existing pre-Islamic [[Punjabi culture]] and [[folklore]] to its entity.<ref name="CITEREFFarinaMir"/><br />
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==Etymology==<br />
The word ''Qissa'' (pronounced {{IPA-pa|kɪssɑː}}) is an [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word meaning "epic legend" or a "folk tale". It has influenced almost all the languages of South Asia and occurs as a regular [[Noun#Proper nouns and common nouns|common noun]] in Indo-Aryan languages like Punjabi, [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]] and [[Hindi language|Hindi]]. If used informally, the word means an ‘''interesting tale''’ or ‘''fable''’.<br />
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==Qisse and the Punjabi culture==<br />
The [[Punjabi language]] is has a rich literature of {{transl|pa|qisse}}, most of the which are about love, passion, betrayal, sacrifice, social values and a common man's revolt against a larger system. In the Punjabi tradition, friendship, loyalty, love and {{transl|pa|qaul}} (verbal agreement or promise) are given utmost importance and most of the stories in the {{transl|pa|qisse}} hinge on these critical elements.<br />
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''Qisse'' are attributed to have inspired folk music in Punjabi and have added depth and richness to its delivery. These traditions were passed down generations in oral or written forms and were often recited, told as [[bedtime story|bedtime stories]] to children or performed musically as [[folk song]]s.<br />
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Each qissa, if performed, has its unique requirements. A person able to sing or recite one may not necessarily transmit another. The [[vocal range]]s of the musical scale and accurate pauses, if not performed well, leave a performer breathless and unable to continue. Most of the beats used in modern Punjabi music (often misleadingly labelled [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]]), originated from ''qissa'' tradition and recitations in old times. ''Qisse'' also boast to be among the best poetry every written in Punjabi.<br />
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==Poetry based on Qisse==<br />
[[Waris Shah]]'s (1722–1798) ''qissa'' of ‘''[[Heer Ranjha]]''’ (formally known as ''Qissa'' ‘''Heer''’) is among the most famous Qisse of all times. The effect of ''Qisse'' on Punjabi culture is so strong that even religious leaders and revolutionaries like [[Guru Gobind Singh]] and [[Baba Farid]], etc., quoted famous ''Qissas'' in their messages. It will not be wrong to say that popularity and nearly divine status of ''Qisse'' in Punjabi actually inspired many generations of spiritual leaders and social activists to combine the message of God with teenage love tales. This gave rise to what is known as the [[Universal Sufism|Sufi movement]] in Punjab region.<br />
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The most popular writer/poet to have written Punjabi Sufi ''Qisse'' was [[Bulleh Shah]] (c.1680-1758). So popular are his ''Kalams'' (poems) that he is frequently quoted by young and old alike with same respect and on matters of both love and God. In recent times, [[South Asia]]n singer's have sported these folklores on their albums, for instance, the most famous folklore duo like [[Kuldeep Manak]] and [[Dev Tharike Wala]] wrote and sang about almost every Qissa, and recently, ''Rabbi'' by ([[Rabbi Shergill]]) contained ‘''Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun''’, translated in English as ‘''I know not who I am''’, written by [[Bulleh Shah]]. A few years back another singer, ([[Harbhajan Maan]]), a Canada-based Punjabi singer rejuvenated the story of ‘''[[Mirza Sahiban]]''’, a work by [[Peelu]]. Daim Iqbal Daim from [[Mandi Bahauddin District]], [[Pakistan]] also wrote many qissas in Punjabi language like Mirza Sahiban, Laila Majnu, Sohni Mahiwal, Bilal Biti etc. Daim got popularity by writing "Shah Nama Karbla" and "Kambal Posh".<br />
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==Notable Qisse==<br />
Most of the Punjabi ''qisse'' were written by Muslim poets who wandered the land. The oldest were usually scripted in the Perso-Arabic script. Some of the most popular ''qisse'' are listed below.<br />
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* ‘''[[Mirza Sahiba]]''’ by [[Peelu]]<br />
* ‘''[[Heer Ranjha]]''’ by [[Waris Shah]]<br />
* ‘''[[Sassi Punnun]]''’ by [[Hasham Shah]]<br />
* ‘''[[Pooran Bhagat]]''’ by [[Qadir Yar]]<br />
* ‘''[[Sohni Mahiwal]]''’ by [[Fazal Shah Sayyad]]<br />
* ‘''[[Chosroes and Shirin|Shirin Farhad]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Dhol Sammi]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Laila Majnu]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Kaulan]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Dulla Bhatti]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Yusuf and Zulaikha]]''’ by [[Hafiz Barkhurdar]]<br />
* ‘''[[Sucha Singh Soorma]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Sadia Sarmad]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Kehar Singh Ram Kaur]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Sham Kaur, Sham Singh, Sham Lal]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Manu Guggu]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Ustaad Harman]]''’<br />
* ‘''[[Jatt Parmz]]''’<br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Bengali Kissa]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
* {{cite journal|last=Mir|first=Farina|title=Genre and Devotion in Punjabi Popular Narratives: Rethinking Cultural and Religious Syncretism|journal=Comparative Studies in Society and History|volume=48|issue=3|pages=727–758|date=May 2006|publisher = Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/S0010417506000284}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [http://www.apnaorg.com ApnaOrg] offers one of the most reliable but largely incomplete list of Punjabi literature and music.<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070809191428/http://www.balle.in/ Punjabi People & Old Stories] Network of Punjabi People<br />
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{{Punjab, India}}<br />
{{Punjab, Pakistan}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Qisse}}<br />
[[Category:Punjabi culture]]<br />
[[Category:Punjabi literature]]<br />
[[Category:Punjabi folklore]]<br />
[[Category:Indian folklore]]<br />
[[Category:Pakistani folklore]]</div>imported>Sutyarashi