Chud Vijogan

Lore & Background

According to the folklore, a Sindhi girl was in love with Amiyal, the son of a townchief or minister. She was married to a different prince but lived out of town alone under the pretext of a vow, continuing her affair with Amiyal. When the prince discovered the affair, he killed her. She was reborn as a Chudail and continued her relationship with Amiyal, who was unaware of her true nature. When Amiyal learned the truth, he left her and went to Girnar hill. The Chudail found him and hated him for leaving her.

Reader's Guide

Chud Vijogan holds significance as a folkloric narrative from Gujarat that blends themes of love, betrayal, and supernatural transformation. The verses associated with this tale, numbering about a hundred, include Sindhi words and are primarily directed to a lover, covering subjects such as arrival, departure, dream, and bereavement. They also offer advice on love and describe materials from folk life. The folklore is noted by Jhaverchand Meghani in his Gujarati book Parkamma, specifically in the 'Sajna' chapter, and also serves as the origin of his Gujarati story 'Olipo'. The verses are suggested to have been possibly written by Sindhi Muslim verse writer Tamachi Sumra, though this remains an opinion. The folklore preserves uncertainty about the names of the characters, with some believing Amiyal is the name of the Sindhi girl and others that her name is Chud, derived from Chudail.

Did You Know?

• The folklore originates from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India.
• The verses include Sindhi words and most have six stanzas, though some have fewer.
• Jhaverchand Meghani notes these verses in the 'Sajna' chapter of his Gujarati book Parkamma.
• The folklore is the origin of Meghani's Gujarati story 'Olipo'.