Bhagwan Singh (1850 - 1902) born in the village of Marajh, now in district Bhatinda in 1850,has given the story of Heer a popular rural colour characteristic of the Malwa or the southern region of Punjab. It is written in the classical Kabit form in the Hindu tradition. Sohni Mahival and Mirza Sahiban are two of his other issas besides which he has written many popular stories in verse-form.
Dard, Hira Singh, an eminent story writer, wrote with a reformatory attitude. He indirectly preached certain reforms keeping in view the realistic side of life. His story \'Rakhri\'1 is of this nature. The character, of the quarrelsome, rude and unlettered Rukmani—the heroine—making her home a hell and over hen-pecked nature of Daroga Prem Nath—the hero—are god realistic i portrayals but at the same time there is a implied suggestion of needed reform in both of them. His famous story \'Pir Gahlur Shah\' is a fine satire on the religious but blind faith of those people who, being uneducated, repose full faith in the hypocritical preachers.
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