The wandering musicians of Bengal

jyotirmoy

The Bauls of Bengal are primarily wandering musicians, known for their
nonconformist lifestyle and unconventional approach to religion. Baul is one of the widely known and much appreciated types of folk music in Bengal. They are usually sung by a solo performer, accompanied on a one-stringed instrument called “Ektara” Apart from Ektara the instruments, extensively used by the Bauls are, khamak, dotara, ghungur, nupur and duggi. Ghungur & nupurs are anklets with bells that ring melodiously while the wearer dances. Duggi is a percussion instruments. Often the “Ektara” is played using one hand & the “Duggi” is played by the other. There are some controversies about the origin of the word “Baul”, the most probable may be from Sanskrit word "Vyakula" means "restless, disordered". The constant wandering of these musicians, their dress & and the nonconformist life style including living together & approach to religion a contrast to the Brahmanic ideologies fits the description.
The Baul costume consists of a short dhoti and a brightly coloured “Alkhalla” (robes with a patchwork of coloured fabrics). They don't cut their hair, but coil it neatly atop the head in a bun & do not believe in physical expressions of divinity such as statues, temples or mosques.
The lyrics of their songs are deeply seeped in mysticism. Baul songs often express an inspired longing for union with the divine. “Deha tatta” meaning thoughts related to body instead of the classical spirituality of the mind is an important part of their philosophy. It is the seeking of divinity in human beings that is found in their songs. Several metaphysical topics are described in a down to earth narration. The doctrine of remaining unattached and unconsumed by life's pleasures even while enjoying all of them had been preached by them & followed in real life. As an example I translate a stanza from a very popular Baul song; it goes like:
“ I shall not coil my tussled hair,
I shall let it hang free as it is,
I shall get in to the water
I shall not get my hair wet
I shall splash water around,
I shall not get wet though”…
To explain love in the most down to earth manner & the way a villager would naturally understand & relate the Baul poet writes “ Love is like the resin of the jackfruit skin, once stuck it wouldn’t go off”
To explain the life consumed by love & passion the Baul writes, “ It is like the ants stuck eternally in the sweet molasses so much so that they can never move”
Every winter fairs (Baul Melas) are held where Bauls from all over congregate & there is music & discourses through out the night. It is an amazing experience to be in these fairs.
Lalan Fakir is the most famous Baul of all ages. In the last decade or so serious musicians, music lovers, poets & philosophers have shown great interest for Baul music & lyrics. Most probably it was Purana Das Baul who had cut discs & went on become immensely popular. As usual there had been a lot of criticism regarding this. I have been told that Purna Das and his son have started the Purna Das Baul Academy in San Diego, California. From the western society poet & singer Bob Dylan & poet Allen Ginsberg were highly impressed by their music & philosophy. Pictures of Bauls can be seen on the cover of Dylan’s "John Wesley Harding" album.
Now lot of new bands have formed who use modern electric equipments to play & sing Baul songs & they are really good.