Exploring the Power of Poetry

Exploring the power of poetry using Amrita Pritam’s poem “Ajj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu”

 

Exploring the Power of Poetry: Ajj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu by Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam wrote extensively about the Partition of India in 1947, which resulted in the mass migration of millions of people and widespread violence and trauma. One of her most famous works on this subject is the poem "Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu" (Today I Invoke Waris Shah), which was mentioned in a previous question. In this poem, she addresses the famous Punjabi poet Waris Shah, who wrote the epic poem "Heer Ranjha," and asks him to rise from the dead and witness the violence and devastation that has been wrought upon their lands

Overall, Amrita Pritam's poetry about Partition captures the pain, loss, and longing that many people experienced during this tumultuous period in Indian history. Her writing is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of art to bear witness to the most profound experiences of our lives.

Focus Questions/ Key Understandings

  • Students will analyze the themes and literary devices used in Amrita Pritam's poem "Ajj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu.

  • Students will understand the historical and cultural context of the poem and its significance in Punjabi literature.

  • Students will explore the power of poetry to inspire social change and advocate for equality.

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Ajj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu
(Lesson Plan)

Courses + Big Ideas

English 10-12

  • Big Idea

    • Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed.

  • Curricular Competencies

    • Recognize personal, social, and cultural contexts, as well as values and perspectives in texts

    • Explore how language constructs personal and

      cultural identities

First People’s Principles of Learning

  • Learning requires exploration of one‘s identity.

 
 

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Lesson Resources

 
 

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