The Seven Queens of Sindh

Lore & Background

The Seven Queens appear in the tragic romantic tales of Sindhi folklore as retold in Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai's Shah Jo Risalo. These tales include Umar Marvi, Momal Rano, Sohni Mehar, Lilan Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi, Sassui Punhun, and Sorath Rai Diyach. Each queen embodies a distinct virtue: Marvi portrays love for the land and commitment to traditions, standing before a tyrant king; Moomal is a passionate soul suffering separation and rejection without surrender; Sasui undertakes a debilitating journey over mountainous tracks to find her beloved; Noori, a fisher-woman, enchants a king and becomes a romantic character; Sohni braves the waves of the Indus River to meet her beloved and dies in the attempt; Lilan loses her king for an expensive necklace and undergoes separation to regain her status; and Sorath is a loving soul full of passion and care.

Reader's Guide

The significance of the Seven Queens lies in their dominant role within the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. In the texts of these folktales, especially in Latif's poetry, the women's roles overshadow those of their male counterparts. For example, in Umar-Marvi, less space is dedicated to King Umar, with most narration focusing on Marvi's difficulties after abduction. In Moomal-Rano, Moomal's role overwhelms Rano's character. Sasui-Punhoon is predominantly Sasui's struggle, with little attention to Punhoon. Noori-Jam Tamachi is told from Noori's perspective, with Tamachi serving as a source to substantiate her view. Suhni-Mehar centers on Suhni's anxiety and efforts, while Mehar is a mere image. In Lilan-Chanesar, Lilan is the supposed protagonist. Sorath-Rai Diyach differs in that Sorath dominates in spirit, not material. These stories relate to the cultural milieu and evolutionary process of the people of Sindh. The Seven Queens have been painted by Lubna Jehangir and displayed at the Ocean art gallery under guidance of Attiya Dawood.

Did You Know?

• The Seven Queens are also called the Seven Heroic Women in Sindhi.
• Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai chose these women from Sindhi folktales to highlight marginalized people, especially women.
• In the poetry, the role of these women dominates the role of men in their respective tales.
• Lubna Jehangir painted all seven queens and displayed them at the Ocean art gallery.