Sorath Rai Diyach


Sorath Rai Diyach is one of the historical romantic tales from Sindh, Pakistan. The story also appears in Shah Jo Risalo and forms part of seven popular tragic romances from Sindh, Pakistan. The other six tales are Umar Marvi, Sassui Punnhun, Sohni Mehar, Lilan Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi and Momal Rano commonly known as the Seven Queens of Sindh, or the Seven heroines of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

Story

Sorath was the queen of King Rai Diyach of Girnar, Junagadh now in Gujarat who sacrificed herself for the sake of her love for husband. Diyach gave his head to wandering minstrel and followed him to the world of dead. Highly pleased with the songs of minstrel, Bijal, Diyach offered him to ask for anything he liked to have. As the intrigues of fate would have it, his son asked for his head. The kind and generous king gave it.
Now the song resounded in Sorath's head. She bid farewell to life and to the pain of separation from him.
Sur Sorath is one of 30 Surs of Shah Jo Risalo in that touching points of the well-known tale of Rai Diyach and Sorath are given. The contents of this Sur, section by section, are described below:
  1. Bijal comes to Rai Diyach and asks for his head-he is offered different kinds of precious gifts but he is obstinate in his demand.
  2. Bijal sings for six nights successively-he is offered more gifts.
  3. The effects of Bijal's music.
  4. Rai Diyach cuts off his head and gives it to Bijal-mourning of members of his house-death of Sorath.