The Unexplored Punjabi Poetry

There are gems in Punjabi poetry which I haven't found in any other language, such precious nuggets of knowledge. Hazrat Bulleh Shah, Guru Nanak and Shiv Kumar Batalvi all penned in this language, which was considered a common man's language until its development ~900 years ago.

Because of Urdu's rise and dominance across the last many decades, less poets and qawwals have spent time exploring Punjabi. It is true that in many areas where qawwali is sung, as is the case in Hyderabad or Rajasthan, almost no one understands Punjabi. Though, Persian (Farsi) poems are recited and appreciated in these same circles. We rarely see new pieces explored in Punjabi. Mera piya ghar aaya is a classic qawwali, but don't you want to know more of what this brilliant author penned down after hearing that poem? I sure do.

Punjab as Spiritual Hub

There is a long tradition of spiritual poetry in Punjab that dates back to Farid. If we look at the population of Punjab (India and Pakistan), today it is ~110 million strong. There is a significant pocket of Punjabis settled in Canada, USA and UK. Due to sheer numbers, Punjabi is an important language.

Geographically, Punjab is the birthplace of Sikhism. Amritsar encompasses important temples for Hindus and the most significant Gurdwara for Sikhs. There are many Sufi shrines in Punjab (both on the India and Pakistan sides). Cities like Amritsar and Lahore are centers of thought. Lahore was a hub of arts, culture and philosophy and is coming back to that same stuature today.

The area is home to many faiths, and not surprisingly to many poets that have written from their unique religious perspectives. The most famous of them are Guru Nanak and Bulleh Shah.

Important Punjabi Poets, Farid to Pritam

Let's take a look at some important poets that warrant further study.

•  Fariduddin Ganjeshakar - The oldest poet of Punjabi is Baba Farid, as referred to in the Guru Granth Sahib, and while muslims often refer to him as Sheikh Farid. He was the first to use the language to write poetry in. Until then Arabic, Sanskrit and Persian were more popular with the elites and intellectuals.
•  Guru Nanak - The founder of the Sikh religion is the most important poet of the language. I qualify that because my measuring stick is the number of people changed by his work and poetry. Guru Nanak acts so that he can right the wrongs within the Hindu and Muslim communities. His poems focus on service to fellow humans, and devotion to the Almighty.
•  Bulleh Shah - He is the second most important Sufi poet, only after Amir Khusrow and also the second most Punjabi poet after Guru Nanak. Other than Tere ishq nachaya, Mera piya ghar aaya, and Bulla ki jana mein kaun, he is also largely unexplored.
•  Shiv Kumar Batalvi - The most popular contemporary Punjabi poet. Like Khusrow, he authored a famous poem that addresses his mother in his poem. In a sea of poetry addressing a lover, this stands out.
•  Amrita Pritam - A woman in the mix, not only because gender representation matters (which it does), but also because she famously writes poems that touch the subcontinent and made her a national sensation. Her famous Aj akhan Waris Shah nu is still studied across India today.

Recurring Themes in Punjabi Poetry

Aside from these poets that I feel need to be explored, I also find that there are certain motifs in Punjabi poetry that are beautiful. They reoccur in poetry of different poets. Some of these motifs are specific to Punjabi, whereas others are also seen in Urdu or Hindi poetry.

•  Crow (Kaaga) - the crow is an important reference in Punjabi poetry. It is associated with the return of the beloved. Historically, crows were released in the air from ships to estimate how far from land the vessel was.
•  Love and The Beloved (Ishq, Piya) - Because love is the primary theme of Sufi poetry, it is found in the works of all major poets in Punjabi.
•  Intoxication and The Bartender (Peeni, Saaqi) - Drinking and being drunk is another important theme in Sufi poetry. This intoxication is not referring to liquor.
•  Sufi drum (ghaDyaal) - Sufi shrines hold a drum that is played on occasions of celebration. This comes up in many poets' poems.
•  Separation and Union (Hijr, Visaal) - A theme found and discussed often in Urdu poetry, is also found and written about in Punjabi. This refers to the separation from the Beloved, and the reuniting with him.

Much of the research done on Punjabi is in Punjabi, making it inaccessible to folks who do not understand Punjabi. This means that the nuggets of knowledge remain confined to those that are fluent in the language, and also who have access to the books. It would be wonderful for some of this work to be explored in English, despite the risk that some of it may get lost in translation.