Dohra: Why Cling to the Spinning Wheel?

Born on 4th October 1856, Dhani Ram Chatrik is often called the father of modern Panjabi poetry.In this episode, we step into Chatrik’s Dohra — a deceptively simple folk-style poem that opens into a tender meditation on life, death, and what we truly take with us when we leave:ਦੋਹੜਾ - ਧਨੀ ਰਾਮ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕ (1876 -1954) ਛਡ ਤ੍ਰਿੰਞਣ, ਕਰ ਸੁੰਞਾ ਵਿਹੜਾ ਤੁਰ ਤੁਰ ਜਾਵਣ ਸਈਆਂ, ਇਕ ਗਈਆਂ, ਇਕ ਡੋਲੇ ਚੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ, ਇਕ ਦਾਜ ਸਮੇਟਣ ਪਈਆਂ, ਅਸਾਂ ਭਿ ਜਾਣਾ, ਢੋਲਣ ਆਇਆਂ, ਪਰ ਚਰਖਾ ਕਿਉਂ ਚਾਈਏ ? ਓਨੀਆਂ ਤੰਦਾਂ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਨੇ, ਜਿੰਨੀਆਂ ਕੱਤੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ । Translation by Enter Poem: Leaving the spinning circle, my friends all exit the courtyard. One has already gone, one climbs into the bridal palanquin, one gathers her dowry. I too must go, as my betrothed arrives. So why cling to the spinning wheel? Only as many threads are mine, as many I have already spun.Amy Singh reads the poem in Panjabi and English, exploring its cultural and spiritual resonances, and shares how it connects to her own memories of home, loss, and love.Content note/Trigger Warning: This episode discusses themes of death and mortality. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amysingh.substack.com

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