Loona (Punjabi epic)

Loona (Lūṇā) is a Punjabi epic verse play by Shiv Kumar Batalvi, based on the ancient legend of Puran Bhagat. In 1967 the author was given the Sahitya Akademi Award by Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters). Shiv became the award's youngest recipient.

Though Loona is portrayed as a villain in the legend, Shiv created the epic around her agony which caused her to become a villain.

Plot

The epic is based on the ancient legend of saint Puran Bhagat (Bhagat is the Punjabi word for a saint, devotee). Puran is a prince whose father marries a girl named Loona, much younger than him. Loona, the stepmother of Puran, is attracted to Puran and conveys her feelings to him. Puran, a devotee of God and having pure thoughts, refuses. Loona is hurt and seeks revenge by convincing his husband to exile Puran.

In the original legend, Loona is the villain. Shiv adopted a contrary viewpoint, creating the epic around the pain of a teenage girl forcefully married to a man much older than her, and renounced by the man she loves.

Importance in Punjabi Literature

The epic is considered a masterpiece in modern Punjabi literature, and which also created a new genre of modern Punjabi kissa. Amongst enthusiasts of modern Punjabi poetry, Shiv's poetry is considered equal to that of Mohan Singh (poet) and Amrita Pritam, who are popular on both sides of Indo-Pakistan border.

Awards

• Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967