The Self less Love Story Inspired by Artists, Poets and People of Punjab and Sind

                Sassi, a beautiful girl was born to a Brahmin king of a tiny village in Punjab. At her birth it was found that she was fall in love with a Moslem and would die of grief separation. Her parents thought of their family honor and girls tragic fate, she kept in a wooden box and floated down the Indus river. The box was attracted the attention of a childless washer man, who brought her up as his own daughter at Bhambore village. She grown up very beautiful and attracted the attention of the youth of neighbourhood. But rejected them by Sassi.

                One day she saw a portrait of Punnun, the son of the king Kecham in Baluchistan from a rich merchant at a garden and fell in love with punnun. Few days later , some visiting Merchants from Kecham described the beauty of Punnun. She immediately imprisoned them and said they should arrange for Punnus arrival at Bahmbore and after this they get released. One of their leaders went all the way to kechem and begged for help for their release, but Punnus father HOT ALI would do nothing. Then the leader met Punnun and described Sassis beauty and love for him. Punnun rode directly to Bahambore and encamped in Sassis garden where he set his camel to gage. Sassis gardener complained of this trespass. Then she accompanied by her girl friends came and took the camel man to task. But she saw Punnun a sleep under a tree , she fell in love with him.

                Sassi and Punnun lived happily at Bahambore and Punnun refused to back home. His companions returned to kecham and reported to Hot Ali all that happened there. He got angered on Punnun and commanded his other sons to go straight to Bhambore and to fetch him back. The brothers reached Bhambore and played a mean trick with Punnun. They made him drunk and carried him off on a Camel.

                When Sassi awoke and found that Punnun had been taken away, she cried and set off in search of him. She travelled alone in the desert by facing hardships and could not found him. The horrorious and rigorous journey and pangs of separation exhausted her, but they could not shake her love and faith. She continued her search with determination. While travelling in desert a goat-herd tried to outrage her modesty. Finding herself in a hopeless situation and thoroughly exhausted Sassi at last laid her head on what she supposed to be a foot-print of her lovers Camel, and breathed her last.

                Seeing this tragedy the goat-head repented. He rushed to her side, and buried her in the very spot. Later on he became Faqir and installed himself as the guardian of her grave.

                Punnun saw Sassi in a dream, and she beckoned him to her grave. Punnun rushed back to be with his sweet heart, though his brothers resisting him. On reaching the place, he heard from the goat-head about the tragic happening and fell unconscious. The grave re open to receive him, and thus the lovers were united in Death.

 

Painting Description:

                The Artists of Guler have presented the tragedy of Sassi and Punnun in a painting which is unique for its simplicity and pathos. In this painting we see Punnun on the Camel held by his brother escorted by two soldiers, while Sassi, who is anxious to fallow him, and are being held back by her girl friends. This original painting drawn about 1750 and presently in National Museum, New Delhi.

    Guler was an independent Miniature art style have roots from Mogul Miniature paintings. Guler was a state in Punjab Hills, and its Capital was Haripur, a town, now in a state of decay

                Sassi's self less love inspired poets and people of Punjab and Sind. A fine tributr to her love was paid by Punjabi poet Hassim, who wrote a ballad which is still popular in Punjab on both sides of the Border.

UDAYA SANKAR CHALLA

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