Dohra – A Popular Genre of Punjabi Poetry

Introduction and Origin

Dohra is a popular and unique genre of Punjabi poetry that is immensely loved by the masses due to its simplicity, impact, and comprehensiveness. This genre is similar to the “Doha” of Hindi poetry and also has a deep connection with Shlok (Salok). According to renowned poet and researcher Riyaz Ahmed:

“It is a genre in which a subject, idea, or emotion is presented completely within two lines (verses).”

— Riyaz Ahmed

The greatest quality of Dohra is that it encapsulates a complete story, emotion, or philosophy in just a few words. It beautifully presents every subject including love, society, nature, homeland, humanity, and spirituality. The language of Dohra is common and simple, in which idioms and everyday words are used with great skill.

Structure and Artistic Qualities of Dohra

Dohra has a specific and fixed structure that must be adhered to. It is composed in a fixed meter (bahr). The renowned scholar Muhammad Asif Khan explains the metrical quantity of Dohra as follows:

“Dohra consists of two lines (verses), each line is divided into two parts (charns). The first part has 13 matras (metrical units) followed by a pause, while the next part has 11 matras. Thus, the total matras of both verses of a Dohra are 48.”

— Muhammad Asif Khan

Other artistic qualities of Dohra are as follows:

• Rhyming (Ham Qafia): Both verses of Dohra rhyme, which creates musicality in it.
• Complete Thought: A complete thought or emotion is presented in a single Dohra; there is no need to read multiple Dohras to understand the idea.
• Four-Line Dohra: There is another form of Dohra that consists of four lines (verses). All four lines rhyme, and the same subject is expressed in all four. Hasham Shah’s Dohras are the best example of this form.
• Technique: In terms of technique, Dohra is like a classical couplet (sher), but it does not have the complexity of a ghazal. It is straightforward and simple.

Prominent Dohra Poets

This genre of Punjabi poetry received immense promotion, and several great poets enriched it with their poetry.

• Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar: Baba Farid’s Dohras are the foundation of Punjabi Dohra. His poetry contains lessons of Sufism, ethics, and humanity. His Dohras are of high quality and are still used in everyday speech.
• Bulleh Shah: Bulleh Shah also wrote Dohras, but his main fame comes from his Kafis. Nevertheless, his Dohras are also of very high standard.
• Hasham Shah: Hasham Shah took the four-line form of Dohra to its peak. His Dohras are simple, fluent, and full of heartfelt emotions.
• Ali Haider Multani: He also elevated the Dohra to a high level and found a place in people’s hearts with his poetry.
• Sultan Bahu: Sultan Bahu’s Seh Harfi was rendered into Dohra form by Muhammad Bakhsh. These Dohras contain the teachings of divine love and faqr (spiritual poverty).
• Faqir Muhammad, Afzal Parvez: In the modern era, several poets have kept this genre alive. Faqir Muhammad and Afzal Parvez are notable among them.

Examples of Dohras

This Dohra presents the humility and detachment of a faqir. “Chhatar” refers to an awl, and the poet says that when a faqir’s tongue speaks, it pierces even more than an awl.

This Dohra of Baba Farid teaches the doctrine of Unity of Existence (Wahdat-ul-Wujud). The Creator resides in the creation, and the creation resides in the Lord, so whom can one call evil when there is no one besides the Lord?

This famous Dohra of Hasham Shah expresses the sadness of life without the beloved. The moonlight, miracles, and ascension are all useless without the company of the beloved.

Conclusion

Dohra is a valuable genre of Punjabi poetry that has maintained its significance for centuries. From Baba Farid to Hasham Shah, from Sultan Bahu to modern poets, Dohra has proven its mettle in every era. Its simplicity, brevity, and impact make it popular among the masses. Even today, in the villages and cities of Punjab, Dohras are sung in gatherings and touch people’s hearts. The unique quality of Dohra is that it can be read in one breath, but its effects remain in the heart for a lifetime.