Sohni and Mahiwal, Maharajah Ranjit Singh and other Punjabi stories | Curator's Corner S7 Ep9

Usually we use objects in the British Museum to tell you about people from the past. But in this episode of Curator's Corner, Imran Javed is going autobiographical. By pairing objects from the British Museum with his own personal items, Imran has built a display that speaks not just to historic India and Pakistan, but also to his own, present day identity as a British-Punjabi.
Imran's display, 'A Confluence of Stories', is open until November 14. You can read more about the display here: www.britishmuseum.org/blog/co...
0:20 The Story of Sohni and Mahiwal and the Chenab River
2:57 Who was Baba Nau Ghaz Naugaja Peer ਨੌਂਗਜਾ ਪੀਰ
4:51 Shah Jahan and his sons visit Hazrat Mian Mir
6:00 Who was Maharajah Ranjit Singh? The Sher-e-Punjab, 'the Lion of the Pubjab'
9:40 The Partition of India
12:37 Tu kithey challaya? A poem by Imran Javid
#CuratorsCorner #Punjabi

[@thecaveofthedead]

I felt very moved by that poem. Partition was one of the supreme tragedies of the 20th Century that's not thought about much outside of South Asian culture - but it should be.

[@madaug4389]

What wonderful stories. I hope we can hear more. This was fascinating. Thank you.

[@classicambo9781]

Apparently not likely with the video being buried by YT analytics. Hopefully it experiences a surge in popularity!

[@nothinglikesurrender]

I'm going to have "tu kithey challaya" echoing round my head for a while now. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

[@wesleygalvin9983]

Thank you for the heart warming stories and explaining the beautiful art. I'm an Australian, so many miles from the Punjab. But there was one story that stood out for me, from all the rest. The story of Ranjit Singh who believed he should view all religions with the one eye. I think this is a lesson we could all learn. Thank you again.

[@classicambo9781]

Was a good allegory, wasn't it? Reminds me of the same sort of calm kindness that the Sikh community display so wonderfully in Australia any time they can feed everyone in a disaster.

[@wesleygalvin9983]

@@classicambo9781 They do indeed. The Sikh community do that very Australian thing during a crisis, they help their mates.

[@thaliasmusings]

I’m sorry to hear the analytics have been low for this episode because it was fantastic! ❤

[@classicambo9781]

Agree it was great. Commenting for our internet overlords.

[@kenc2257]

I agree. I subscribe, but this episode hasn't made it to my feed yet.

[@THEfamouspolka]

This Curator's Corner segment was beautiful! I would say it is one of your most profound. Mr. Javed deftly shared his passion for his family's history and traditions.

[@chris8612]

The personal story makes the history come alive. Thank you.

[@helenamcginty4920]

Such a gentle corner. Thank you.

[@tribblefluffer]

What a wonderful story! I love how you weave it with your own experiences and feelings. It would be great to hear more about Maharajah Ranjit Singh.

[@Jericho67777]

Smashing job imran

[@britishmuseum]

He's bloody good isn't he?

[@fionag5159]

Your poem, Imran! 💚 I have so much more to learn (and probably unlearn) about the terrible partition of India. Thank you so much for sharing your personal relationship with these items too. You breathed even more life into them for us! The story of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Quran was new to me too. "Look upon all religions with one eye". I'll be coming back to you corner again. Thank you.

[@Fairyfink]

A very different curator's corner which I found fascinating.

[@song4568]

What a fateful and graceful presentation. I look forward to seeing more of this Mr. Javed.

[@spmoran4703]

It is similar to Romeo and Juliet. And the illustrations are gorgeous . And as for Nusrat . He was one of the best singers in the world.

[@ashTame]

This has now become a personal favourite in this series. The video does what all successful visits to a museum can do: make the people - those glorious lives - live again in the stories that are revealed. Thank you.

[@spiralpython1989]

What a wonderful presentation. Thank you.

[@kenc2257]

How very interesting to hear your very personal link/connection to these amazing paintings and the coin, bracelet, and poem. I enjoyed the unexpected (for me) 'animations' in the first story of Sohni. Your poem is tragically lovely. Thank you for this.

[@Just_Sara]

I'm sad I didn't get the notification for this, and I'm so glad I saw the post by British Museum that mentioned we should come watch this. Thank you so much for your story, and for sharing what you've learned.

[@chitwansingh]

Beautiful Video! Love from Punjab.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Thankyou for posting. It is the 2nd time I've watched it

[@pradeepkandari2451]

Love the way you speak and convey about the history of the prepartition punjab...well done imran. Like you said people would often refer themselves from the place of their birth like hoshiarpur, I have come across many families in Delhi who would quote themselves from Lahore and other preparitioned India. Their heart must ache unable to see the place of their birth. I hope people from Indian subcontinent could travel to each other countries without any restrictions one day. God bless all with peace and prosperity 🙏

[@krice66]

Beautiful stories, thank you.

[@keithdrew5428]

Simply beautiful you, your humanity and your stories

[@mariag3605]

Thank you for this fabulous video.❤️from NZ

[@ellenwood719]

Lovely and touching!

[@screetchycello]

Thanks for highlighting this, because it definitely skipped my feed!

[@kilomillensimus9379]

When something says it's not to be used as a flotation device, you take that warning seriously!

[@timothycivis8757]

very cool video. Thanks for the introduction to a new culture for me.

[@KlausBeckEwerhardy]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@monicacallesarenales5865]

More wonderful videos like this, please! I learn a lot with this section:)

[@karlahovde]

A beautiful presentation of story and history.

[@nbrandon6377]

This was really interesting, and you did a great job presenting all these details and ideas. 👍

[@gertrudegump]

(Toba) Tek Singh 😭 your poem!💯

[@georgina3358]

Great presentation and wonderful stories

[@claudiabeltrao]

Lovely! Thank you.

[@Abberjabs]

5:46 It’s interesting how the king and his princes are on carpets with little to no color, whereas the Sufi Master is seated on the only colorful carpet in the room- presumably the best seat in the house. Details like this just show that the artist has taken every opportunity to demonstrate just how highly the saint is revered. This was a great CC, and I loved the history of the stories as well as the photo cameo by Imran’s dad 😂 (My dad was the same way with his CD’s, but I don’t think I got quite as much benefit from all that Air Supply and Kenny Rogers, lol)

[@ellieban]

You had me at “buried by the algorithm” and, yeah, I have some theories as to why it sank too. If an AI is trained on prejudice, it will show prejudice.

[@gwyndolinds-en8yt]

Why to write History, why to keep History, why to learn History. Is to understand the others around us, as people with an origin, with their own symbols and their own heritage We are influenced by History, even when we don’t know

[@cmur078]

Surprisingly similar to a Maori story. At least the swimming with the buoys and the man playing the flute on the other bank. That story has a happy ending though.

[@joshhton1035]

But can they scan his remains to see how tall he actually was?

[@joearnold6881]

Baller sandals

[@thomaszaccone3960]

What a sad story.

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

Yeah, they cold bloodedly murdered a ruler, then kidnapped his son and heir, held him prisoner until they gas-lighted him enough that he thought he was one of them, and then held his family for random when he finally objected. Possibly the most fucked up thing the English ever did, and I for one say it's unforgivable.

[@abnormallyfunny]

@@Exiled.New.Yorker Further research the history of the stone. It's not so simple.

[@user-kl1on3nw7y]

Wat quwalli is that ?

[@britishmuseum]

O Disdi Kulli Sohne Yaar Di

[@ttaibe]

There are so many of these kind of love stories in as many cultures it seems. I have never understood why. Or the appeal. So a culture stops two ppl being together and as a result they die (oversimplified). Why treasure the story of it? If it's that important to you, why uphold the cultural aspects that caused it. It seems cold and cruel to me. Even selfish. I know it's complicated. And this is an oversimplified view. Even a superficial one perhaps. But even when I think about it and try and consider that. I still feel the same.

[@yesfinallygot1]

probably to discourage adultery and going against your family's wishes implying that it will always end in tragedy.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

Humans can be horrible but we DON'T have to be. Religion is to blame for much of the horrible, every bit of superstitious belief is utterly false . . . but paradoxically out of the falseness sometimes goodness can be found. Probably that is nothing at all to do with the evil that is superstitious belief, but more to do with inherent goodness in Humanity that the religions can't entirely poison.

[@classicambo9781]

What a horrible sister! Can't say I'd drown mine for infidelity.

[@tomholroyd7519]

Teach your children to SWIM! This will be more important due to climate change, the sea level is rising

[@b_em0]

😂😂😂😂

[@gindakulwinder]

Fun Fact:These Were Stolen.

[@noone1722]

میرا خیال تھا کہ سوہنی کا گھڑا دیکھے کو ملے گا۔ کمہاروں کی لڑکی کجا گھڑا نہ پہچان سکے؟ ممکن نہیں ، اصل کہانی اور ہے

[@noone1722]

کئی نوگزی قبریں موجود ہیں، اصلیت شائد کچھ نہیں۔ قبر کے اندر کیا ہے کسے معلوم ہے دو نو گزی قبریں تو اسلام آباد کے مضافات میں دیگھی جا سکتی ہیں

[@iopohable]

very interesting, so.. are you returning that to the people you stole it from? or just showing off your stolen goods on youtube?

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

Yall got nerve to even say the name Punjab after what you did there. Return the sacred stone to the Sikh nation, and while you're at it you can return all other stolen goods you're sitting on, from all over the world.

[@Zveebo]

Hi New Yorker - why don’t you start with all the stolen goods and land you still hold? Almost of America is stolen land. Sort out your own problems before moaning at others.

[@shadowguard3578]

@Boco Corwin the OP is referring to British museums and organisations holding all sorts of art and artifacts which were stolen and or taken from their country of origin.

[@abnormallyfunny]

It's easy to paint history with goodies and baddies. But it is childishly simplistic and serves little purpose. If you would first watch and listen to the video, he begins to explain the complexity that faces people of Punjabi heritage. There is no simple resolution.

[@Cheeseatingjunlista]

Shah Jahan was the only Mughal who slaughtered fewer Hindus and Sikhs. Yes, lets celebrate and give thanks{sic}. Punjab gave us Guru Nanak, but you place a King above him? You are obsessed with power and greed, this is the core of your beliefs then, sad you look human but are a goul it seems