‘Sundri’ came out in the year
1898 narrated and authored by Bhai Vir Singh who was himself known as a
colossus of modern Punjabi Literature to help in reiterating and restoring the
Sikh culture. Sundri was the first book authored by the man of principles,
Padam Bhushan Bhai Vir Singhji which is based on a popular folk song and set in
a time when the Sikhs were the witness and prey to the atrocities committed by
the Nawabs to fulfill their selfish ends. They practiced annihilation of Sikhs
and were lustful and tyrannical.
Sundri is more of a didactic approach
with a purpose to remind every person who belongs to the Sikh religion, the
fine points of Sikhism and its teachings and principles that are so rich
spiritually and vivid. It inculcates in the young minds of how a Sikh blood is
so aware of his rights and uses his sword to end any sort of tyranny and
barbarism of any system that tries to rule unfairly, suppresses the innocent,
go to all unacceptable measures prove his powers and strength.
Sundri taught that no individual of the
Sikh community will ever stand, losing his self respect in the hands of any
order which oppresses you and make you accept their terms. Any person of the
Sikh religion has an immense belief in the teachings of his Guru and does what
is told by his religious mentor. Even when he struggles and fights, a sense of
Charity prevails within him. This sense of charity is shown to fellow people
with similar beliefs, relatives of the oppressor and even to the oppressor.
This is what his religion has taught him.
Sundri symbolically represents an era
very difficult for the girls belonging to the Sikh community as they were
abducted by the Nawabs and forced to persecution in the hands of the tyrannical
rulers. Sundri was earlier addressed by the name Surasti and was subject to the
atrocities committed by a Mughal official and was abducted. She later earned
great respect from the Sikh community members, also known as ‘Jatha’ in Punjabi
when she was baptized.
Authored by Bhai Vir Singhji it was an
effort to awaken the masses with the story of Sundri and her transformation
into a fighter for her rights and religion. Bhai Vir Singh, surcharged with the
spirit to redeem the long forgotten glory, denied and not known by many, made
use of his knowledge to write voluminous literature of didactic nature. He
imbibed in minds, the practical aspect of Sikh religion. Sundri is about the
struggle and awakening of a girl to fight for her rights and inculcate
universal brotherhood in the minds of other people of common faith.
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