How Lost Heer Project Is Highlighting Forgotten Legacies Of Colonial Punjab

The history of Punjab is filled with stories of resilience, bravery and remarkable achievements by women whose names were often eclipsed by the patriarchal society. Mukhtar Begum, Noor Jahan, Kumari Lajjawati, Maharani Jind Kaur and Sarla Thakral are just a few among many whose identities were overshadowed, yet their contributions etched indelible marks on history.

The Partition of 1947, one of India's most defining events, divided Punjab into two parts and bore the brunt of displacement, violence and loss. Amidst the rubble of lives torn apart, much of the region's rich history; especially that of women, was also buried. 

Aiming to unfold these forgotten legacies of women 'The Lost Heer Project', an Instagram collective, shares the glimpses of colonial-era Punjab from these women’s lens. 

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Harleen Singh, a Delhi-born, Toronto-based engineer and historian, has been documenting the stories of Partition survivors since 2014 and brought this project to light in 2018. 

When we asked how he clicks with the word Heer, Harleen said, “Heer is the quintessential Punjaban that everyone knows about, and since this journey is an attempt to find some of her lost sisters, I called it The Lost Heer Project.” 

Growing up amidst the stories of displacement and resilience from all four of his grandparents sparked his curiosity about life before Partition. "Along with my grandparents, my school was also filled with partition survivors. This only added to my interest in pre-partition Punjab's social and cultural history." 

When women were always breaking the preset societal norms in myriad ways, Harleen’s project highlights the trailblazers from 1849 to 1947 time period. Through his digital archives, Harloon not only floored how these Heers fought to change their inhouse environment but also how they broke societal boundaries. 

"They challenged the purdah system, fought for their right to education and even entered the legislative assembly. Yet, during their lifetimes, they were often identified only as Mrs (husband's name) or as someone's mother or daughter,” Harleen mentioned.

Through this project he seeks to peel away these labels, presenting these women as they truly were. 

The Lost Heers: Pioneers Across Fields 

While scrolling through this virtual archive, you will find yourself back in the era when women used to live behind Paradahs, used to dress with unique jewellery and trying to create their way out of the league from the male-dominated society. You will also get a chance to go through how their daily lives used to look, how they used to celebrate festivals, their art, culture and how talented they were.

In one of Harleen's findings, Bibi Hardevi is revealed as the first Punjabi woman to establish her own magazine Bharat Bhagini. Her writing, often read aloud by literate women, delved into themes of domestic education, morality, religion, and even politics. Born in the 1860s in Lahore, she was widowed at a young age but never allowed for her widowhood to hinder her in any way. When visiting public places alone was a rare trait for women, she travelled to Britain in the 1880s and wrote a travelogue detailing Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee. 

In a feed full of Punjab's lost tales, you will also witness the trailblazers of Indian cinema. One of them is Mukhtar Begum from Amritsar, who transitioned from silent films to the talkies of the 1930s. Another remarkable archive showcases how Noor Jahan from Kasur carved her name in both singing and acting on Calcutta's grand stage. Calcutta also known as Kolkata used to be the centre of Indian cinema at that time. 

Another fascinating discovery highlights Kumari Lajjawati, the principal of Arya Kanya Mahavidyalaya in Jalandhar, who played a key role in India's freedom struggle. As secretary of the Bhagat Singh Defence Committee, Kumari Lajjawati was instrumental in smuggling papers from Lahore Jail, defying colonial authorities. 

When men dominated the narrative and history of the British-era struggle, this collection allows you to understand how women were pivotal in the fight for freedom. 

This collection also describes the evolution of Lahore's famous Kinnaird College for Women, established by the American Presbyterian Mission in 1864. 

One detailed post features an 1880 masterpiece by Horace Van Ruith, depicting a lady from Amritsar decked in the traditional gold jewellery of the era. 

These stories remind us that the contributions of women, though often overlooked, created a legacy for the next generation women and are integral to our collective history. 

Harleen's journey with The Lost Heer Project is now evolving into a book, slated for release next year. "It will preserve these findings and shine a light on the brilliance of these Heers," Harleen shared. 

As the project takes the shape of a book, it promises to immortalise these women and their remarkable tales, ensuring that their contributions should not go unnoticed and celebrated for generations to come.