- Momal Rano
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Momal Rano (Sindhiمومل راڻو)is one of the historical romantic tale from Pakistan. It is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan.[1][2] The other six are Umar Marvi, Sohni Mahiwal, LiLa Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassi Punnun and Dhaj, Ror Kumar commonly known as Seven Queens (Sindhi: ست مورميون) of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.[3] Heer Ranjha and Mirza Sahiba, including Sohni Mahiwal and Sassi Punnun are the four other tales from Punjab, narrated in Punjabi. These four include Sassi Punnun and Sohni Mahiwal again, as they are culturally included in both Punjabi and Sindhi traditions. These nine tragic romances from South Asia (all from now days Pakistan)have become part of the cultural identity of Pakistan.[4][5]
Momal was a gorgeous princess and living at Ghotki in a glamorous palace named Kak Mahal in Pakistan. The story begins with the description of the charms, clothes and perfume adorning Mumal and her sisters and attendants as they weave a web of magic in the Kak palace to attract rich suitors for the hand of Mumal, deprive them of their wealth and also finish them off in a maze of labyrinths, fake ponds and other illusions of the palace.
The reputation of this palace, and of Mumal’s dazzling beauty soon became legend. Hamir alias Umar, the last Soomro King of Umer Kot in Sindh, and his three ministers, all Sodhas by caste were attracted to the magical Kak.
One of the ministers was the young Rano alias Mendhro. Hamir attempted to reach the palace but failed. The other ministers, too, failed. Rano then ventured to try his luck. He was an extremely intelligent and courageous man which led him to succeed in reaching the palace, unharmed. Mumal was so impressed that she accepted her as her consort. He spent the night at the palace and returned to Umer Kot in the morning. He covered long distance from Umer Kot to Kak to spend time with Mumal.
One day, Rano reached Kak Mahal unusually late due to some business that he had to attend to. Mumal got so frustrated that she planned to play a trick on him. She dressed her Sumal in a man’s attire and made her sleep by her side. When Rano arrived, he mistook Sumal as a Mumal’s paramour.
Out of disgust he left his riding cane besides Mumal’s bed and returned to Umer Kot. Mumal pleaded Rano to forgive her but Rano ignored her requests.
Out of desperation, she set a fire and jumped in it. When Rano came to know of this, he rushed to the place where he saw that Mumal was already in flames, he joined her to be consumed by the fire along with Mumal.
See also
- LiLa Chanesar
- Umar Marvi
- Noori Jam Tamachi
- Sindhi literature
- Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
- Pakistani Folklore
References
- ^ http://www.thesindhuworld.com/lila_chanesar.html
- ^ http://balochistan.bestforum.ca/t16-sassui-punnun
- ^ http://balochistan.bestforum.ca/t16-sassui-punnun
- ^ http://punjabiworld.com/Creative-Punjab/Legends-of-Punjab/love-legends-of-punjab.html
- ^ http://fmurdu.blogspot.com/2009/05/mirza-sahib-popular-tragic-romances-of.html
External links
- Mumal and Rano by Shah Abdul Latif
- Mumal and Rano by Elsa Qazi
Categories:- Pakistani literature
- Pakistani folklore
- Sindhi people
- Fictional duos
- Sindhi folklore
- Pakistani literature stubs
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