Queen of Shah Abdul Latif - SUHINI- MEHAR

During the Moghul rule in India in Gujrat city of Punjab a famous potter used to stay .His
name was Tula Kumbhar. The vessels made in his kiln were used by Kings and
aristocrats. As a result he was quite a prosperous man. He had only a daughter as a
child. She was clever as well as very beautiful. Therefore she was called Sohini i.e.
Beautiful.
During that period in the city of Bukhara situated in Turkistan, lived a business man
named Mirza Ali. Though he was very rich and renowned person but he had one
unfulfilled desire to have an offspring. Once a holy man visited his city. He confided his
desire to him and requested him to grant a boon of a child. The holy man granted him
his wish but told him that he will beget a son but at 16 years of age he will be separated
from him. Business man was naturally saddened to hear this but accepted it as God’s
will. After ten months he was blessed with a son. He was named Izzat beg. He was
brought up with all the love and affection in the midst of luxuries. When he grew to be a
big boy he learnt about the riches and wisdom of India and many exquisite things
related to India. He naturally wanted to satisfy his curiosity and visit India. Mirza Ali tried
his best to restrain him but to no avail. The boy remained adamant. He took
merchandise and set out to India. His mother and father bid him tearful farewell and
showered him with all the blessings for his welfare and safety.
When he reached Delhi, then capital of India he indulged himself with all sorts of
luxuries. He thought of going to Lahore from where he wanted to purchase delicate
merchandise to sell in his city of Bukhara. On the way, on seeing the beautiful city of
Gujrat on the confluence of Ravi and Chenab, he decided to spend some time in that
beautiful city. There he befriended many people of nobility and aristocrats and he was
told about the beautiful pottery work of Tula Kumbhar (potter). He sent his servant to go
to his home to purchase some souvenir for his family. There servant saw Sohini and he
related to his master about the beautiful girl in Tula Kumbhar’s house. Hearing of her
beauty Izzat Beg fell in love with her without having even set his sight on her. Next day
he himself went to Tula Kumbhar’s house on the pretext of making some purchases.
When he saw Sohini he was entranced and the same was the case with Sohini.
This seed of love in the heart of Izzat Beg continue to grow and bloomed as strong as a
tree. He forsook the idea of returning back to Bukhara instead he opened a shop in the
Gujrat city itself where he would purchase earthen ware from Tula Kumbhar and sell it
to others. Often he would sale the vessels at loss. He was quite oblivious to everything
except the fact that he was deeply in love with Sohini. Seeing him in this state his
servants also took away all his money and went to their country. He started taking
earthen ware on credit from Tula Kumbhar. At last a stage came when he could not
repay the debts, he requested him to employ him as a servant. Tula Kumbhar employed
him as a servant and assigned to him the work of bringing clay from the river bank and
do sundry domestic chores. Izzat Beg was not used to such a rigorous life and fell sick.
Tula Kumbhar out of pity relived him of heavy work and instead gave him the work of
looking after his herd of Buffalos. Thus he came to be known as ‘Mehar’.