Love Stories from Punjab

by Harish Dhillon

BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2014

Reviews

[Jasmin Kaur P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 4 of the most famous love stories from Punjab and almost all of them end in tragedy. I've always loved the painting on the cover, created by Sobha Singh but having read it now I am a little weirded out by the story. Mirza & Sahiban have my heart though. Beautifully written, it took me a while as I'm not used to reading digital copies but if someone knows how I could finally get a hardcopy with the "Sohni Mahiwal"-cover I'd be very very glad!

[Neha Wadhwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful read. amazing to know about the stories that I have been hearing in all the songs as a kid.

[Mani · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 | 6.5 ⭐️ I’ve been generous for this being one of the only English adaptations by a Punjabi author of the staple Punjabi folklore I grew up on and for the reiteration and spiritual significance of love being divine throughout. It is a good starting point for anyone who’s never heard of these classic tales and even for those of us who have, but I wanted some extra exploration into the narratives.

I’d have liked more romantic, poetic recountings as opposed to the pretty straight forward writing, but I also appreciated the relatability of the characters. It really showcased how the legendary lovers were all normal people with average desires and dispositions instead of the classic veneration they receive in many songs and films. I do hope in the future, more intricate tales are woven around these traditional love stories.

Furthermore, it reaffirmed Sassi-Punnu as my favorite epic. Sassi is so relatable and admirable. I will never stop simping for her.

Additional materials I recommend:
—SONGS—
Sassi-Punnu by Kuldeep Manak
Do Uthan Wale Ni by Surinder Shinda
Laggi-Wale by Harbhajan Mann
Sohni Da Ghara by Surinder Shinda
Paar Chanaa De by Shilpa Rao & Noori
Vanjhali by Nooran Sisters
Daachi Waaliya by Hadiqa Kiani
Jaana Jogi De Naal by Harshdeep Kaur
Ranjha Jogi Ho Gaya by Jaswinder Brar
Sahiban Bani Bharawan Di by Kuldeep Manak
Mirza by Miss Pooja
Mirza by Harbhajan Maan
Sahiba by Simran Kaur Dhadli
Mirza Bolda by Bob.B Randhawa

—MOVIES—
Heer Ranjha (1992)
Heer Ranjha (2009)
Sassi Punnu (1983)
Sohni Mahiwal (1984)
Mirza Sahiban (1947)

[Yuktha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always wanted to read these stories ever since i heard mentions of Heer Ranjha or Mirza Sahiba in songs or in the movies. What stunned me was not the resolve they had or the immense love they had for each other but the way they transformed each other’s lives. They were so filled with compassion and kindness towards the world and became so selfless that they always helped people and always performed their duties irrespective of the fact whether they were with their lover or not. Love brought a sense of calm to their souls in every story. It suppressed their pride and arrogance. Their love is much more that what can be written in books, sung in songs, or portrayed in the movies.

[Amina Ahsan · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories were different than the versions I had heard, but interesting never the less.

[Madhura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, the author narrates folklore from Punjab sharing a common theme: love. These love stories take place along the banks of the Chenab. We all would have heard them, but over here, the readers get to know the entire tale.

‘All that we can do is to make the most of what we have.’ - #SohniMahiwal 
This book begins with the tale of Sohni and Mirza Izzat Baig, who become mahiwal in her love. The story begins and ends with the river that kept them apart while they lived beside it and kept them apart even in death.

'When the flame of love has once been lit, the hardest thing of all is to hide its light from the world.' - #HeerRanjha 
Here comes the story of a love beyond the flesh, beyond mortality, and beyond death. Here comes the story of Heer and her Ranjha.

'You are possessed by a fine madness, a strange enchantment which has created a separate world for you.' - #SassiPunnu 
This story, this name I knew nothing before reading this chapter. This is a picture of a beautiful washerwoman and an arrogant Prince of Kach Makran. The story of these lovers begins as a whisper and ends as a devotion in the bed of the desert.

'Through me, Mirza has continued to live. Could a beloved have done more for her lover?' - #MirzaSahiban 
This last story is the tale of Sahiban, the niece of the famed and legendary beauty, Heer. Sahiban was in love with her cousin Mirza, and their love had come to fulfill her aunt Heer's prophecy. This is the only story in which she lived after the death of her lover at his command.

[Manpartap · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love Stories From Punjab" is a captivating celebration of romance, blending rich cultural details with deeply emotional storytelling. The author’s evocative prose brings to life each tale with breathtaking beauty and depth, making every story feel both intimate and universal. This collection is a mesmerizing tribute to love that will stay with you long after the final page.

[Raman Kaur :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story broke my heart 😢♥️

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and engrossing. Review not quite done..