Umar Marvi

Umar Marvi (Sindhi: عمر ماروي) is a Sindh love story that appears in Shah Jo Risalo. It is a love story set in Sindh, Pakistan. Umar Marvi is included in seven popular tragic romances from Sindh and Baluchistan. The other six are Momal Rano, 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. 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.

Synopsis

Marvi (Sindhi: ماروي) was a Sindhi heroine famous for her chastity, patriotism, and simplicity. Phog (Sindhi: ڦوڳ), an orphan boy, lived with Marvi's family. As children, Marvi and Phog played together. Attracted by Marvi's beauty, he wanted to marry her, but Marvi had always treated him like a brother. She told him not to expect anything beyond that. Rebuffed, Phog sulked and withdrew. Marvi found her ideal in Khet, a cousin who lived in a neighbouring village. He was handsome and brave, and he was deeply in love with Marvi. She lived in a village called Malir in Tharparkar desert. She was a beautiful village girl and was engaged to her cousin Khet (Sindhi: کيت). One day while she was filling water in her pots from a well (now called "Marvi's Well" (Sindhi: ماروي جو کوھ) Marvi jo khooh) to provide water for her goats, was seen by Prince Umar Soomro (Sindhi: عمر سومرو). Umar (Sindhi: عمر) was immediately dazzled by her beauty. Umar proposed to marry her and tried to win her over with jewels and gifts, but Marvi refused, as she was deeply devoted to her cousin. Angered by her refusals, Umar abducted her and imprisoned her his palace in Umerkot for a whole year, but she remained faithful and longed for her native terrain. Finally, Umar was deeply touched by her dedication and piety and set Marvi free.

Umar knowing about Marvi

In those days Sindh was ruled by Umar Soomro, whose capital was Umarkot, now in Pakistan. He was known for his justice. He had only one weakness: he loved beautiful women. His palace was full of beautiful damsels from all parts of Sindh. Phog left Malir and went to Umarkot to seek his fortune. He managed to secure employment under Umar. He soon won Umar's confidence and was put to work managing matters relating to women. One day he told Umar about the most beautiful woman in Sindh. Curious, the Umar asked, "Who is she?" Phog replied, "Her name is Marvi."

Adaptations

Umar Marvi was recreated in Pakistan in the form of a television series recreating the story of Marvi in a more modern setting, where Marvi is depicted as a Sindhi village girl who is educated and wants to go to the city for further education. Marvi's best friend, with whom she dorms in the city, has a brother named Umar who falls in love with her and proposes to her. Upon Marvi's refusal to marry him he consults his friend, a rich land owner in Marvi's village. The two devise a plan to abduct Marvi and keep her at Umar Sommro's mansion. Marvi somehow manages to escape from Umar Summro's, but upon her return, the villagers demand where she has been and question her chastity. Marvi's friend, who is aware of her brother's acts, consults a journalist and a lawyer to have her brother arrested for kidnapping. During the trial, Marvi has to face all kinds of questions about her piety and chastity, but finally Umar stands up in the courtroom and admits he is guilty and that Marvi is indeed a woman of great character.

See also

• Sindhi literature
• Heer Ranjha
• Momal Rano
• Sassi Punnun
• LiLa Chanesar
• Sohni Mahiwal
• Noori Jam Tamachi
• Shah Jo Risalo

External links

• Umar Marvi(by , Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai).
• Umar Marvi(by , Elsa Qazi).