Damodar Das Arora

He lived during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar.

• Name — Damodar Gulati • Born — 16th century • Birthplace — Sultanpur, Jhang, Punjab (now in Punjab, Pakistan) • Occupation — Punjabi poet • Language — Punjabi • Period — 16th century • Genre — Tragedy • Notable Works — Heer Ranjha

He wrote the Qissa Heer and Ranjha and was the first to put the story to paper, adapted from a preexisting and circulating legend. He claims to be the eye witness of this tale. His Qissa (story) is deemed the oldest and the first Heer Ranjha in Punjabi literature. He states in the poem that he is from Jhang—the home of Heer, one of the poem's two main characters. He wrote his rendition and the original tale of Heer Ranjha in the dialect of Sandal Bar, though even after the lapse of five hundred years the language used in the story is nearer to the modern Majhi dialect. An analysis by Najam Hussain Syed led him to believe that Damodar Gulati was not actually an eyewitness to the tale but rather he was using a storytelling technique that was misinterpreted as meaning he was simply an eyewitness. In reality, Gulati's position to the characters in the tale is similar to that of Sanjaya of the Mahabharata epic, who used paranormal powers to see what was happening at the Kurukshetra War.

On the matter of his religious identity, the majority of scholars describe him as a Punjabi Hindu. The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature, mentioned that Gulati was influenced by Sufi and Sikh thought.

He does have also a peculiar style, at the end of a quaternary he repeats Aakkh Damodar means "Say Damodar": Ahmad Shah Gujjar and Waris Shah later adapted Heer and Ranjha. Particular importance is placed on finer details in the storytelling of Gulati's works.

Damodar Das Arora is recorded with the occupation writer. Recorded as a citizen of India.