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Baul

The Baul (Bengali: বাউল) are a group of mystic minstrels of mixed elements of Vaishnavism and Tantra from Bangladesh and the neighboring Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Barak Valley and Meghalaya. Bauls constitute both a syncretic religious sect of troubadours and a musical tradition. Bauls are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims.[1][2] They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Lalon Shah is regarded as the most celebrated Baul saint in history.[3][4][5]

Baul songs
Ektara, a common musical instrument of Bauls
CountryBangladesh, India
DomainsSocial practices, rituals and festive events
Reference00107
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2008 (3rd session)
ListRepresentative
A Baul from Lalon Shah's shrine in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Although Bauls constitute only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable. In 2005, the Baul tradition of Bangladesh was included in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.[6]

Baul Followers Sadhika Srijoni Tania singing with playing Dugi and Ektara.

Etymology edit

The origin of the word Baul is debated. Popular believe is that the term "Baul" comes from the Arabic word "Baur," which means arbitrary, chaotic, or insane.[7]

Shashibhusan Dasgupta have suggested that it may be derived either from Sanskrit word vātula, which means "enlightened, lashed by the wind to the point of losing one's sanity, god's madcap, detached from the world, and seeker of truth", or from vyākula, which means "restless, agitated" and both of these derivations are consistent with the modern sense of the word, which denotes the inspired people with an ecstatic eagerness for a spiritual life, where a person can realise his union with the eternal beloved – the Moner Manush, who lives in the heart).[8]

History edit

The origin of Bauls is not known exactly, but the word "Baul" has appeared in Bengali texts as old as the 15th century. The word is found in the Chaitanya Bhagavata of Vrindavana Dasa Thakura as well as in the Chaitanya Charitamrita of Krishnadasa Kaviraja.[9] Some scholars maintain that it is not clear when the word took its sectarian significance, as opposed to being a synonym for the word madcap, agitated. Bauls are a part of the culture of rural Bengal. Many attempts have been made to ascertain the origin of Bauls but there is wide disagreement among scholars.[10] But they agree that no founders have been acknowledged either by Bauls themselves or others.[11] Bauls are divided into several named groups, each following a named Hindu or Muslim guru. Besides, there are other communities who later identified or affiliated themselves with Bauls, like Darbesi, Nera and two sub-sects of KartabhajasAul and Sai. The Bauls themselves attribute their lack of historical records to their reluctance to leave traces behind. Dr. Jeanne Openshaw writes that the music of the Bauls appears to have been passed down entirely in oral form until the end of the 19th century, when it was first transcribed by outside observers.[11]

There are two classes of Bauls: ascetic Bauls who reject family life and Bauls who live with their families. Ascetic Bauls renounce family life and society and survive on alms. They have no fixed dwelling place, but move from one akhda to another. Bangladeshi men wear white lungis and long, white tunics; women wear white saris. They carry jholas, shoulder bags for alms. They do not beget or rear children. They are treated as jyante mara. Women dedicated to the service of ascetics, are known as sevadasis "service slaves". A male Baul can have one sevadasi, who is associated with him in the act of devotion. Until 1976 the district of Kushtia had 252 ascetic Bauls. In 1982-83 the number rose to 905; in 2000, they numbered about 5000.[citation needed]

Those who choose family life, live with their spouse, children and relations in a secluded part of a village. They do not mix freely with other members of the community. Unlike ascetic Bauls, their rituals are less strict. In order to become Bauls, they recite some mystic verses and observe certain rituals.[12]

The bauls of eastern India dress colourfully in orange and red and have a somewhat different way of getting together. There is a big yearly gathering called Jaydeb Mela, taking place in Januari in Kenduli, near Bolpur, which attract bauls and followers in large numbers.

Concepts and practices edit

 
Lalon, the most celebrated Baul saint in history, by Jyotirindranath Tagore, 1889

Baul music celebrates celestial love, but does this in very earthy terms, as in declarations of love by the Baul for his bosh-tomi or lifemate. With such a liberal interpretation of love, it is only natural that Baul devotional music transcends religion and some of the most famous baul composers, such as Lalon, criticised the superficiality of religious divisions:

Everyone asks: "Lalan, what's your religion in this world?"

Lalan answers: "How does religion look?
I've never laid eyes on it.
Some wear malas [Hindu rosaries] around their necks,
some tasbis [Muslim rosaries], and so people say
they've got different religions.

But do you bear the sign of your religion when you come or when you go?"[13]

Their religion is based on an expression of the body (deho sādhana), and an expression of the mind (mana sādhana). Some of their rituals are kept hidden from outsiders,[14] as they might be thought to be repulsive or hedonistic. Bauls concentrate much of their mystic energies on the four body fluids, on the nine-doors (openings of the body), on prakṛiti as "energy of nature" or "primal motive force", and on breath sādhana.

Music edit

 
Musical notes for Bangladesh's national anthem, Amar Sonar Bangla, which is based on Baul song Ami Kothay Pabo Tare

The music of the Bauls, Baul Sangeet, is a particular type of folk song. Their music represents a long heritage of preaching mysticism through songs in Bengal.

Bauls pour out their feelings in their songs but never bother to write them down. Theirs is essentially an oral tradition. It is said that Lalon Fakir (1774 -1890), the greatest of all Bauls, continued to compose and sing songs for decades without ever stopping to correct them or put them on paper. It was only after his death that people thought of collecting and compiling his repertoire.

Their lyrics intertwine a deep sense of mysticism, a longing for oneness with the divine. An important part of their philosophy is "Deha tatta", a spirituality related to the body rather than the mind. They seek the divinity in human beings. Metaphysical topics are dwelt upon humbly and in simple words. They stress remaining unattached and unconsumed by the pleasures of life even while enjoying them. To them we are all a gift of divine power and the body is a temple, music being the path to connect to that power.[15][16] A consistent part of Bauls' lyrics deals with body-centered practices that aim at controlling sexual desire. The esoteric knowledge of conception and contraception is revealed in the lyrics of the songs through an enigmatic language that needs to be decoded by the guru in order to be understood and experienced.[17]

Gacher pata taka keno hoy na, Baul song performance at the Saturday haat, Sonajhuri, Birbhum.

Besides traditional motifs drawn from the rural everyday life, Baul songs have always been inclined to incorporate change and keep pace with social and economic innovations. For instance, modern Baul compositions discuss esoteric matters by using the terminology of modern, urban and technological lexicons, and it is not unusual to hear Baul refrains containing mobile phones, radio channels, football matches and television.[18]

Bauls use a number of musical instruments: the most common is the ektara, a one-stringed "plucked drum" drone instrument, carved from the epicarp of a gourd, and made of bamboo and goatskin. Others include the dotara, a long-necked fretless lute (while the name literally means "two stringed" it usually has four metal strings) made of the wood of a jackfruit or neem tree; besides khamak, one-headed drum with a string attached to it which is plucked. The only difference from ektara is that no bamboo is used to stretch the string, which is held by one hand, while being plucked by another.[19] Drums like the duggi, a small hand-held earthen drum, and dhol and khol; small cymbals called khartal and manjira, and the bamboo flute are also used. Ghungur and nupur are anklets with bells that ring while the person wearing them dances.

A Baul family played on stage in London for The Rolling Stones' Hyde Park concerts in 1971, '72 and '78 in front of thousands.[16]

Influence on Rabindranath Tagore edit

 
Baul singers performing Santiniketan, West Bengal, India

The songs of the Bauls and their lifestyle influenced a large part of Bengali culture, but nowhere did it leave its imprint more powerfully than on the work of Rabindranath Tagore, who talked of Bauls in a number of speeches in Europe in the 1930s. An essay based on these was compiled into his English book The Religion of Man:

The Bauls are an ancient group of wandering minstrels from Bengal, who believe in simplicity in life and love. They are similar to the Buddhists in their belief in a fulfillment which is reached by love's emancipating us from the dominance of self.

The below quotations are from Tagore's book "Creative Unity".[20]

The following is a translation of the famous Baul song by Gagan Harkara: Ami kothai pabo tare, amar moner manush je re.

Where shall I meet him, the Man of my Heart?
He is lost to me and I seek him wandering from land to land.
I am listless for that moonrise of beauty,
which is to light my life,
which I long to see in the fullness of vision
in gladness of heart. [p.524]

The below extract is a translation of another song:

My longing is to meet you in play of love, my Lover;
But this longing is not only mine, but also yours.
For your lips can have their smile, and your flute
its music, only in your delight in my love;
and therefore you importunate, even as I am.

The poet proudly says: 'Your flute could not have its music of beauty if your delight were not in my love. Your power is great—and there I am not equal to you—but it lies even in me to make you smile and if you and I never meet, then this play of love remains incomplete.'

The great distinguished people of the world do not know that these beggars—deprived of education, honour and wealth—can, in the pride of their souls, look down upon them as the unfortunate ones who are left on the shore for their worldly uses but whose life ever misses the touch of the Lover's arms.

This feeling that man is not a mere casual visitor at the palace-gate of the world, but the invited guest whose presence is needed to give the royal banquet its sole meaning, is not confined to any particular sect in India.[citation needed]

A large tradition in medieval devotional poetry from Rajasthan and other parts of India also bear the same message of unity in celestial and romantic love and that divine love can be fulfilled only through its human beloved.

Tagore's own compositions were powerfully influenced by Baul ideology. His music also bears the stamp of many Baul tunes. Other Bengali poets, such as Kazi Nazrul Islam, have also been influenced by Baul music and its message of non-sectarian devotion through love.

The following well-known Rabindra Sangeet is heavily influenced by Baul theme:

amar praner manush achhe prane

tai here taye shokol khane
Achhe she noyōn-taray, alōk-dharay, tai na haraye--
ogo tai dekhi taye Jethay shethay
taka-i ami je dik-pane

The man of my heart dwells inside me.
Everywhere I look, it is he.
In my every sight, in the sparkle of light
Oh, I can never lose him--
Here, there and everywhere,

Wherever I turn, he is right there![citation needed]

All bāuls shared only one belief in common—that God is hidden within the heart of man and neither priest, prophet, nor the ritual of any organized religion will help one to find Him there. They felt that both temple and mosque block the path to truth; the search for God must be carried out individually and independently.[21]

Present status edit

Bauls are found in the country of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal and the eastern parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Baul movement was at its peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but even today one comes across the occasional Baul with his ektara (one-stringed musical instrument) and begging bowl, singing across the far-flung villages of rural Bengal. Travelling in local trains and attending village fairs are good ways to encounter Bauls.

Bangladesh edit

 
Tuntun Baul singing in Bangladesh National Museum in 2018

Every year, in the month of Falgun (February to March), "Lalon Smaran Utshab" (Lalon memorial festival) is held in the shrine of Lalon in Kushtia, Bangladesh, where bauls and devotees of Lalon from Bangladesh and overseas come to perform and highlight the mysticism of Lalon.[22]

Palli Baul Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (PBSUS), a Bangladeshi organisation, has been working to uphold and preserve the 'baul' traditions and philosophy since 2000. The organisation often arranges programmes featuring folk songs for urban audiences.[23]

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy often organises national and international festivals and seminars, featuring the Baul music and the importance of preservation of Baul tradition.

India edit

In the village of Jaydev Kenduli in Birbhum district of West Bengal, a Mela (fair) is organised in memory of the poet Jayadeva on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in the month of Poush. So many Bauls assemble for the mela that it is also referred to as "Baul Fair".

In the village of Shantiniketan in West Bengal during Poush Mela, numerous Bauls also come together to enthral people with their music.

Since 2006, an annual music show has been organised in Kolkata called "Baul Fakir Utsav". Bauls from several districts of Bengal as well as Bangladesh come to perform over a two-day period.[24]

There are also the Western Bauls in America and Europe under the spiritual direction of Lee Lozowick, a student of Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Their music is quite different (rock /gospel/ blues) but the essence of the spiritual practices of the East is well maintained.[25]

In Bangalore near Electronic City Dr. Shivshankar Bhattacharjee has started Boul Sammelon (Gathering of Bauls) on 7–9 April-2017 on the occasion of the inauguration of Sri Sri Kali Bari (Goodness Kali's Temple). First time it held in Bangalore to embrace the Boul culture. More than 50 Bouls participated and sang soulful songs.

Currently another version of Baul called the folk fusion also called baul rock is also greatly accepted by the audience, especially in West Bengal. Kartik das baul being a traditional folk singer, who has taken baul to different heights is being associated with folk fusion. This type of baul was brought into the world of music by Bolepur bluez.

Another popular Baul from West Bengal is Rina Das Baul from Bolpur. She, along with her troupe named Rangamatir Baul, had performed in several international functions like Urkult Festival in Sweden in 2017, Armor India festival in France in 2018 and Womex in at Porto, Portugal in 2021. Her music was reviewed by Simon Broughton in Songlines and, in 2019, American Grammy-nominated bluegrass Fiddler Casey Driessen collaborated with her on an album.[26]

Notable singers edit

 
A picture of the saint-composer Bhaba Pagla, followed by his disciples in West Bengal and Bangladesh

Lalon also known as Fakir Lalon Shah, Lalon Shah, Lalon Fakir (Bengali: লালন; 17 October 1774 – 17 October 1890; Bengali: 1 Kartik 1179) was a prominent Bengali philosopher, Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, social reformer and thinker. Regarded as an icon of Bengali culture, he inspired and influenced many poets, social and religious thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Allen Ginsberg although he "rejected all distinctions of caste and creed". Widely celebrated as an epitome of religious tolerance, he was also accused of heresy during his lifetime and after his death. In his songs, Lalon envisioned a society where all religions and beliefs would stay in harmony. He founded the institute known as Lalon Akhrah in Cheuriya, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Kushtia railway station. His disciples dwell mostly in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Every year on the occasion of his death anniversary, thousands of his disciples and followers assemble at Lalon Akhrah, and pay homage to him through celebration and discussion of his songs and philosophy for three days. Shah Abdul Karim (15 February 1916 – 12 September 2009) was a Bangladeshi Baul musician. Dubbed "Baul Samrat", he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2001 by the Government of Bangladesh. Some of his notable songs include Keno Piriti Baraila Re Bondhu, Murshid Dhono He Kemone Chinibo Tomare, Nao Banailo Banailo Re Kon Mestori, Ashi Bole Gelo Bondhu and Mon Mojale Ore Bawla Gaan. He referred to his compositions as Baul Gaan.[27]

Bhaba Pagla (1902-1984) was a famous Indian saint-composer and an important guru from East Bengal. He has been a spiritual preceptor for many Bauls and his songs are very popular among Baul performers.[28]

Gosto Gopal Das is the Uncrowned Emperor of Baul Song of Undivided Bengal(East & West) is Gosto Gopal Das until date was born on 8 January 1948 in Hoogly District in West Bengal, India.[29]

Purna Das Baul or Puran Das Baul,[30] popularly known as Purna Das Baul Samrat, (born 18 March 1933) is an Indian musician and singer, in Baul tradition.[31] Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first President of the modern state of India, acknowledged Purna Das as Baul Samrat in 1967. Purna Das has also appeared in numerous films, and was personally fêted by Mick Jagger in England, and by Bob Dylan who told Purna Das that he himself would be 'the Baul of America'. He appeared in the same concert with Dylan once, and is appearing on the cover of Dylan's album John Wesley Harding.

Lalon Band are Bengali folk, rock and fusion music band formed in Khulna, Bangladesh. They draw heavy influence from Fakir Lalon Shah. They are led by Nigar Sultana Sumi, one of the most renowned Baul singers in Bangladesh and West Bengal.[32]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Baul (Indian music)". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 18 June 2015.
  2. ^ . The Times of India. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. ^ World and its People: Eastern and Southern Asia. New York: Marshal Cavendish Corporation. 2007. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-7614-7631-3.
  4. ^ Paul, Harendra Chandra (1987). "Origin of the Bauls and their Philosophy". In Khan, Shamsuzzaman (ed.). Folklore of Bangladesh. Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bangla Academy. p. 257. Faquir Lalan-Shah (1775–1891 A.D.), its greatest exponent
  5. ^ Chowdhury, Kabir (1985). Folk Poems From Bangladesh. Dhaka: Bangla Academy. pp. ii.
  6. ^ Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO. 25 September 2005.
  7. ^ "Baul philosophy and humanism - CineBuzz Times". 2 July 2023.
  8. ^ Das Gupta, Shashibhusan (1946, reprint 1995). Obscure Religious Cults, Calcutta: Firma KLM, ISBN 81-7102-020-8, pp.160-1
  9. ^ Das Gupta, Shashibhusan (1946, reprint 1995). Obscure Religious Cults, Calcutta: Firma KLM, ISBN 81-7102-020-8, p.160ff
  10. ^ Openshaw, Jeanne (2002). Seeking Bauls of Bengal. Cambridge University Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-521-81125-5.
  11. ^ a b Openshaw, Jeanne (2002). Seeking Bauls of Bengal. Cambridge University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-521-81125-5.
  12. ^ Karim, Anwarul (2012). "Baul". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  13. ^ Lopez, Donald (1995). Religions in India in Practice - "Baul Songs". Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. pp. 187–208. ISBN 0-691-04324-8.
  14. ^ Lorea, Carola Erika (25 May 2018). ""I Am Afraid of Telling You This, Lest You'd Be Scared Shitless!": The Myth of Secrecy and the Study of the Esoteric Traditions of Bengal". Religions. 9 (6): 172. doi:10.3390/rel9060172. Moreover, according to most of my informants, while practices are fit to be covered by secrecy and a secret jargon, theories are not.
  15. ^ . Hinduism.about.com. 10 April 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  16. ^ a b Music (26 July 2011). "Bauls of Bengal – The Liberation Seekers". Emaho Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  17. ^ Lorea, Carola (2014). "Why do you go swimming in the river full of algae? Conception and contraception in Baul songs and oral teachings". Journal of Folklore and Folkloristics. 7 (1): 9–45.
  18. ^ Lorea, Carola Erika (January 2014). "Searching for the Divine, Handling Mobile Phones". History and Sociology of South Asia. 8 (1): 59–88. doi:10.1177/2230807513506629. ISSN 2230-8075. S2CID 146915924.
  19. ^ Dilip Ranjan Barthakur (2003). The Music And Musical Instruments of North Eastern India. Mittal Publications. pp. 130–. ISBN 978-81-7099-881-5. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  20. ^ Tagore, Rabindranath. Creative Unity (1922 lectures) at Project Gutenberg
  21. ^ Edward C. Dimock, Jr., "Rabindranath Tagore—'The Greatest of the Bāuls of Bengal,'" The Journal of Asian Studies (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Association for Asian Studies), vol. 19, no. 1 (Nov. 1959), 36–37.
  22. ^ Aman, Amanur (13 March 2012). "Lalon Smaran Utshab ends". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  23. ^ info@banglamusic.com (20 January 2012). . Banglamusic.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  24. ^ "Baul Fakir Utsav gears up for 15th year festival | Kolkata News". The Times of India. 9 January 2020.
  25. ^ Helen Crovetto, "Embodied Knowledge and Divinity: The Hohm Community as Western-style Bāuls," Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 10, no. 1 (August 2006): pp. 69-95.
  26. ^ "Bengal baul's troupe to perform in Portugal | Kolkata News". The Times of India.
  27. ^ "'Baul king' Shah Abdul Karim buried". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  28. ^ Lorea, Carola Erika (2016). Folklore, religion and the songs of a Bengali madman: a journey between performance and the politics of cultural representation. Leiden. ISBN 9789004324701. OCLC 950430793.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  29. ^ "'Gosto Gopal Das Is One Of Great Saint Of Bengal and Uncrowned Emperor of Baul Song". bollywoodevergreen10. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  30. ^ "Padma Awards Announced" (Press release). Ministry of Home Affairs. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  31. ^ Hunt, Ken. "Purna Chandra Das Baul". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  32. ^ "আমার লালন | কালের কণ্ঠ". Kalerkantho (in Bengali). 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2022.

Bibliography edit

  • Bhattacharya, Baskar The Path of the Mystic Lover: Baul Songs of Passion and Ecstasy Inner Traditions, 1983
  • Enamul Haq, Muhammad (1975), A history of Sufism in Bengal, Asiatic Society, Dhaka.
  • Qureshi, Mahmud Shah (1977), Poems Mystiques Bengalis. Chants Bauls Unesco. Paris.
  • Siddiqi, Ashraf (1977), Our Folklore Our Heritage, Dhaka.
  • Karim, Anwarul (1980), The Bauls of Bangladesh. Lalon Academy, Kushtia.
  • Mukherjee, Prithwindra (1981), Chants Caryâ du bengali ancien (édition bilingue), Le Calligraphe, Paris.
  • Mukherjee, Prithwindra (1985), Bâul, les Fous de l'Absolu (édition trilingue), Ministère de la Culture/ Findakly, Paris
  • Capwell, Charles (1986), The Music of the Bauls of Bengal. Kent State University Press, USA 1986. ISBN 0-87338-317-6.
  • Dimock, Edward C. (1989), The Place of the Hidden Moon: Erotic Mysticism in the Vaisnava-Sahajiya Cult of Bengal, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN 0-226-15237-5, ISBN 978-0-226-15237-0
  • Bandyopadhyay, Pranab (1989), Bauls of Bengal. Firma KLM Pvt, Ltd., Calcutta.
  • Mcdaniel, June (1989), The Madness of the Saints. Chicago.
  • Sarkar, R. M. (1990), Bauls of Bengal. New Delhi.
  • Brahma, Tripti (1990), Lalon : His Melodies. Calcutta.
  • Gupta, Samir Das (2000), Songs of Lalon. Sahitya Prakash, Dhaka.
  • Karim, Anwarul (2001), Rabindranath O Banglar Baul (in Bengali), Dhaka.
  • Openshaw, Jeanne (2002). Seeking Bauls of Bengal. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81125-5.
  • Baul, Parvathy (2005). Song of the Great Soul: An Introduction to the Baul Path. Ekatara Baul Sangeetha Kalari.
  • Capwell, Charles (2011), Sailing on the Sea of Love THE MUSIC OF THE BAULS OF BENGAL, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN 978-0-85742-004-6
  • Sen, Mimlu (2009), Baulsphere, Random House, ISBN 978-81-8400-055-9
  • Sen, Mimlu (2010), The Honey Gatherers, Rider Books, ISBN 978-1-84604-189-1
  • Knight, Lisa I. (2011). Contradictory Lives: Baul Women in India and Bangladesh. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-977354-1.
  • Mukherjee, Prithwindra (2014), Le Spontané: chants Caryâ et Bâul, Editions Almora, Paris.

References edit

External links edit

  • (archived). Dedicated to the memory of Professor Edward C. Dimock, Jr. who inspired generations of American and Bengali scholars with the poetry and philosophy of Baul songs. It is the culmination of Sally Grossman's forty-plus year long interest in the Bauls and has been conceived, inspired, and generously supported by her with the advice and cooperation of Charles Capwell.
  • Lalon Song's Archive Lalon Song's Archive

baul, bengali, উল, group, mystic, minstrels, mixed, elements, vaishnavism, tantra, from, bangladesh, neighboring, indian, states, west, bengal, tripura, assam, barak, valley, meghalaya, constitute, both, syncretic, religious, sect, troubadours, musical, tradit. The Baul Bengali ব উল are a group of mystic minstrels of mixed elements of Vaishnavism and Tantra from Bangladesh and the neighboring Indian states of West Bengal Tripura and Assam s Barak Valley and Meghalaya Bauls constitute both a syncretic religious sect of troubadours and a musical tradition Bauls are a very heterogeneous group with many sects but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims 1 2 They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments Lalon Shah is regarded as the most celebrated Baul saint in history 3 4 5 Baul songsUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageEktara a common musical instrument of BaulsCountryBangladesh IndiaDomainsSocial practices rituals and festive eventsReference00107RegionAsia and the PacificInscription historyInscription2008 3rd session ListRepresentativeA Baul from Lalon Shah s shrine in Kushtia BangladeshAlthough Bauls constitute only a small fraction of the Bengali population their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable In 2005 the Baul tradition of Bangladesh was included in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO 6 Baul Followers Sadhika Srijoni Tania singing with playing Dugi and Ektara Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Concepts and practices 4 Music 5 Influence on Rabindranath Tagore 6 Present status 6 1 Bangladesh 6 2 India 7 Notable singers 8 See also 9 Notes 10 Bibliography 11 References 12 External linksEtymology editThe origin of the word Baul is debated Popular believe is that the term Baul comes from the Arabic word Baur which means arbitrary chaotic or insane 7 Shashibhusan Dasgupta have suggested that it may be derived either from Sanskrit word vatula which means enlightened lashed by the wind to the point of losing one s sanity god s madcap detached from the world and seeker of truth or from vyakula which means restless agitated and both of these derivations are consistent with the modern sense of the word which denotes the inspired people with an ecstatic eagerness for a spiritual life where a person can realise his union with the eternal beloved the Moner Manush who lives in the heart 8 History editThe origin of Bauls is not known exactly but the word Baul has appeared in Bengali texts as old as the 15th century The word is found in the Chaitanya Bhagavata of Vrindavana Dasa Thakura as well as in the Chaitanya Charitamrita of Krishnadasa Kaviraja 9 Some scholars maintain that it is not clear when the word took its sectarian significance as opposed to being a synonym for the word madcap agitated Bauls are a part of the culture of rural Bengal Many attempts have been made to ascertain the origin of Bauls but there is wide disagreement among scholars 10 But they agree that no founders have been acknowledged either by Bauls themselves or others 11 Bauls are divided into several named groups each following a named Hindu or Muslim guru Besides there are other communities who later identified or affiliated themselves with Bauls like Darbesi Nera and two sub sects of Kartabhajas Aul and Sai The Bauls themselves attribute their lack of historical records to their reluctance to leave traces behind Dr Jeanne Openshaw writes that the music of the Bauls appears to have been passed down entirely in oral form until the end of the 19th century when it was first transcribed by outside observers 11 There are two classes of Bauls ascetic Bauls who reject family life and Bauls who live with their families Ascetic Bauls renounce family life and society and survive on alms They have no fixed dwelling place but move from one akhda to another Bangladeshi men wear white lungis and long white tunics women wear white saris They carry jholas shoulder bags for alms They do not beget or rear children They are treated as jyante mara Women dedicated to the service of ascetics are known as sevadasis service slaves A male Baul can have one sevadasi who is associated with him in the act of devotion Until 1976 the district of Kushtia had 252 ascetic Bauls In 1982 83 the number rose to 905 in 2000 they numbered about 5000 citation needed Those who choose family life live with their spouse children and relations in a secluded part of a village They do not mix freely with other members of the community Unlike ascetic Bauls their rituals are less strict In order to become Bauls they recite some mystic verses and observe certain rituals 12 The bauls of eastern India dress colourfully in orange and red and have a somewhat different way of getting together There is a big yearly gathering called Jaydeb Mela taking place in Januari in Kenduli near Bolpur which attract bauls and followers in large numbers Concepts and practices edit nbsp Lalon the most celebrated Baul saint in history by Jyotirindranath Tagore 1889Baul music celebrates celestial love but does this in very earthy terms as in declarations of love by the Baul for his bosh tomi or lifemate With such a liberal interpretation of love it is only natural that Baul devotional music transcends religion and some of the most famous baul composers such as Lalon criticised the superficiality of religious divisions Everyone asks Lalan what s your religion in this world Lalan answers How does religion look I ve never laid eyes on it Some wear malas Hindu rosaries around their necks some tasbis Muslim rosaries and so people say they ve got different religions But do you bear the sign of your religion when you come or when you go 13 Their religion is based on an expression of the body deho sadhana and an expression of the mind mana sadhana Some of their rituals are kept hidden from outsiders 14 as they might be thought to be repulsive or hedonistic Bauls concentrate much of their mystic energies on the four body fluids on the nine doors openings of the body on prakṛiti as energy of nature or primal motive force and on breath sadhana Music edit nbsp Musical notes for Bangladesh s national anthem Amar Sonar Bangla which is based on Baul song Ami Kothay Pabo TareThe music of the Bauls Baul Sangeet is a particular type of folk song Their music represents a long heritage of preaching mysticism through songs in Bengal Bauls pour out their feelings in their songs but never bother to write them down Theirs is essentially an oral tradition It is said that Lalon Fakir 1774 1890 the greatest of all Bauls continued to compose and sing songs for decades without ever stopping to correct them or put them on paper It was only after his death that people thought of collecting and compiling his repertoire Their lyrics intertwine a deep sense of mysticism a longing for oneness with the divine An important part of their philosophy is Deha tatta a spirituality related to the body rather than the mind They seek the divinity in human beings Metaphysical topics are dwelt upon humbly and in simple words They stress remaining unattached and unconsumed by the pleasures of life even while enjoying them To them we are all a gift of divine power and the body is a temple music being the path to connect to that power 15 16 A consistent part of Bauls lyrics deals with body centered practices that aim at controlling sexual desire The esoteric knowledge of conception and contraception is revealed in the lyrics of the songs through an enigmatic language that needs to be decoded by the guru in order to be understood and experienced 17 source source source source source source source Gacher pata taka keno hoy na Baul song performance at the Saturday haat Sonajhuri Birbhum Besides traditional motifs drawn from the rural everyday life Baul songs have always been inclined to incorporate change and keep pace with social and economic innovations For instance modern Baul compositions discuss esoteric matters by using the terminology of modern urban and technological lexicons and it is not unusual to hear Baul refrains containing mobile phones radio channels football matches and television 18 Bauls use a number of musical instruments the most common is the ektara a one stringed plucked drum drone instrument carved from the epicarp of a gourd and made of bamboo and goatskin Others include the dotara a long necked fretless lute while the name literally means two stringed it usually has four metal strings made of the wood of a jackfruit or neem tree besides khamak one headed drum with a string attached to it which is plucked The only difference from ektara is that no bamboo is used to stretch the string which is held by one hand while being plucked by another 19 Drums like the duggi a small hand held earthen drum and dhol and khol small cymbals called khartal and manjira and the bamboo flute are also used Ghungur and nupur are anklets with bells that ring while the person wearing them dances A Baul family played on stage in London for The Rolling Stones Hyde Park concerts in 1971 72 and 78 in front of thousands 16 Influence on Rabindranath Tagore edit nbsp Baul singers performing Santiniketan West Bengal IndiaThe songs of the Bauls and their lifestyle influenced a large part of Bengali culture but nowhere did it leave its imprint more powerfully than on the work of Rabindranath Tagore who talked of Bauls in a number of speeches in Europe in the 1930s An essay based on these was compiled into his English book The Religion of Man The Bauls are an ancient group of wandering minstrels from Bengal who believe in simplicity in life and love They are similar to the Buddhists in their belief in a fulfillment which is reached by love s emancipating us from the dominance of self The below quotations are from Tagore s book Creative Unity 20 The following is a translation of the famous Baul song by Gagan Harkara Ami kothai pabo tare amar moner manush je re Where shall I meet him the Man of my Heart He is lost to me and I seek him wandering from land to land I am listless for that moonrise of beauty which is to light my life which I long to see in the fullness of vision in gladness of heart p 524 The below extract is a translation of another song My longing is to meet you in play of love my Lover But this longing is not only mine but also yours For your lips can have their smile and your flute its music only in your delight in my love and therefore you importunate even as I am The poet proudly says Your flute could not have its music of beauty if your delight were not in my love Your power is great and there I am not equal to you but it lies even in me to make you smile and if you and I never meet then this play of love remains incomplete The great distinguished people of the world do not know that these beggars deprived of education honour and wealth can in the pride of their souls look down upon them as the unfortunate ones who are left on the shore for their worldly uses but whose life ever misses the touch of the Lover s arms This feeling that man is not a mere casual visitor at the palace gate of the world but the invited guest whose presence is needed to give the royal banquet its sole meaning is not confined to any particular sect in India citation needed A large tradition in medieval devotional poetry from Rajasthan and other parts of India also bear the same message of unity in celestial and romantic love and that divine love can be fulfilled only through its human beloved Tagore s own compositions were powerfully influenced by Baul ideology His music also bears the stamp of many Baul tunes Other Bengali poets such as Kazi Nazrul Islam have also been influenced by Baul music and its message of non sectarian devotion through love The following well known Rabindra Sangeet is heavily influenced by Baul theme amar praner manush achhe pranetai here taye shokol khaneAchhe she noyōn taray alōk dharay tai na haraye ogo tai dekhi taye Jethay shethaytaka i ami je dik paneThe man of my heart dwells inside me Everywhere I look it is he In my every sight in the sparkle of light Oh I can never lose him Here there and everywhere Wherever I turn he is right there citation needed All bauls shared only one belief in common that God is hidden within the heart of man and neither priest prophet nor the ritual of any organized religion will help one to find Him there They felt that both temple and mosque block the path to truth the search for God must be carried out individually and independently 21 Present status editBauls are found in the country of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal and the eastern parts of Bihar and Jharkhand The Baul movement was at its peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries but even today one comes across the occasional Baul with his ektara one stringed musical instrument and begging bowl singing across the far flung villages of rural Bengal Travelling in local trains and attending village fairs are good ways to encounter Bauls Bangladesh edit nbsp Tuntun Baul singing in Bangladesh National Museum in 2018Every year in the month of Falgun February to March Lalon Smaran Utshab Lalon memorial festival is held in the shrine of Lalon in Kushtia Bangladesh where bauls and devotees of Lalon from Bangladesh and overseas come to perform and highlight the mysticism of Lalon 22 Palli Baul Samaj Unnayan Sangstha PBSUS a Bangladeshi organisation has been working to uphold and preserve the baul traditions and philosophy since 2000 The organisation often arranges programmes featuring folk songs for urban audiences 23 Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy often organises national and international festivals and seminars featuring the Baul music and the importance of preservation of Baul tradition India edit In the village of Jaydev Kenduli in Birbhum district of West Bengal a Mela fair is organised in memory of the poet Jayadeva on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in the month of Poush So many Bauls assemble for the mela that it is also referred to as Baul Fair In the village of Shantiniketan in West Bengal during Poush Mela numerous Bauls also come together to enthral people with their music Since 2006 an annual music show has been organised in Kolkata called Baul Fakir Utsav Bauls from several districts of Bengal as well as Bangladesh come to perform over a two day period 24 There are also the Western Bauls in America and Europe under the spiritual direction of Lee Lozowick a student of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Their music is quite different rock gospel blues but the essence of the spiritual practices of the East is well maintained 25 In Bangalore near Electronic City Dr Shivshankar Bhattacharjee has started Boul Sammelon Gathering of Bauls on 7 9 April 2017 on the occasion of the inauguration of Sri Sri Kali Bari Goodness Kali s Temple First time it held in Bangalore to embrace the Boul culture More than 50 Bouls participated and sang soulful songs Currently another version of Baul called the folk fusion also called baul rock is also greatly accepted by the audience especially in West Bengal Kartik das baul being a traditional folk singer who has taken baul to different heights is being associated with folk fusion This type of baul was brought into the world of music by Bolepur bluez Another popular Baul from West Bengal is Rina Das Baul from Bolpur She along with her troupe named Rangamatir Baul had performed in several international functions like Urkult Festival in Sweden in 2017 Armor India festival in France in 2018 and Womex in at Porto Portugal in 2021 Her music was reviewed by Simon Broughton in Songlines and in 2019 American Grammy nominated bluegrass Fiddler Casey Driessen collaborated with her on an album 26 Notable singers edit nbsp A picture of the saint composer Bhaba Pagla followed by his disciples in West Bengal and BangladeshLalon also known as Fakir Lalon Shah Lalon Shah Lalon Fakir Bengali ল লন 17 October 1774 17 October 1890 Bengali 1 Kartik 1179 was a prominent Bengali philosopher Baul saint mystic songwriter social reformer and thinker Regarded as an icon of Bengali culture he inspired and influenced many poets social and religious thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore Kazi Nazrul Islam and Allen Ginsberg although he rejected all distinctions of caste and creed Widely celebrated as an epitome of religious tolerance he was also accused of heresy during his lifetime and after his death In his songs Lalon envisioned a society where all religions and beliefs would stay in harmony He founded the institute known as Lalon Akhrah in Cheuriya about 2 kilometres 1 2 mi from Kushtia railway station His disciples dwell mostly in Bangladesh and West Bengal Every year on the occasion of his death anniversary thousands of his disciples and followers assemble at Lalon Akhrah and pay homage to him through celebration and discussion of his songs and philosophy for three days Shah Abdul Karim 15 February 1916 12 September 2009 was a Bangladeshi Baul musician Dubbed Baul Samrat he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2001 by the Government of Bangladesh Some of his notable songs include Keno Piriti Baraila Re Bondhu Murshid Dhono He Kemone Chinibo Tomare Nao Banailo Banailo Re Kon Mestori Ashi Bole Gelo Bondhu and Mon Mojale Ore Bawla Gaan He referred to his compositions as Baul Gaan 27 Bhaba Pagla 1902 1984 was a famous Indian saint composer and an important guru from East Bengal He has been a spiritual preceptor for many Bauls and his songs are very popular among Baul performers 28 Gosto Gopal Das is the Uncrowned Emperor of Baul Song of Undivided Bengal East amp West is Gosto Gopal Das until date was born on 8 January 1948 in Hoogly District in West Bengal India 29 Purna Das Baul or Puran Das Baul 30 popularly known as Purna Das Baul Samrat born 18 March 1933 is an Indian musician and singer in Baul tradition 31 Dr Rajendra Prasad first President of the modern state of India acknowledged Purna Das as Baul Samrat in 1967 Purna Das has also appeared in numerous films and was personally feted by Mick Jagger in England and by Bob Dylan who told Purna Das that he himself would be the Baul of America He appeared in the same concert with Dylan once and is appearing on the cover of Dylan s album John Wesley Harding Lalon Band are Bengali folk rock and fusion music band formed in Khulna Bangladesh They draw heavy influence from Fakir Lalon Shah They are led by Nigar Sultana Sumi one of the most renowned Baul singers in Bangladesh and West Bengal 32 See also editLalon Music of Bangladesh Parvathy Baul Bangla band Notes edit Baul Indian music Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 18 June 2015 Bauled over The Times of India 6 February 2010 Archived from the original on 4 November 2012 Retrieved 4 July 2013 World and its People Eastern and Southern Asia New York Marshal Cavendish Corporation 2007 p 480 ISBN 978 0 7614 7631 3 Paul Harendra Chandra 1987 Origin of the Bauls and their Philosophy In Khan Shamsuzzaman ed Folklore of Bangladesh Vol 1 Dhaka Bangla Academy p 257 Faquir Lalan Shah 1775 1891 A D its greatest exponent Chowdhury Kabir 1985 Folk Poems From Bangladesh Dhaka Bangla Academy pp ii Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity UNESCO 25 September 2005 Baul philosophy and humanism CineBuzz Times 2 July 2023 Das Gupta Shashibhusan 1946 reprint 1995 Obscure Religious Cults Calcutta Firma KLM ISBN 81 7102 020 8 pp 160 1 Das Gupta Shashibhusan 1946 reprint 1995 Obscure Religious Cults Calcutta Firma KLM ISBN 81 7102 020 8 p 160ff Openshaw Jeanne 2002 Seeking Bauls of Bengal Cambridge University Press p 58 ISBN 978 0 521 81125 5 a b Openshaw Jeanne 2002 Seeking Bauls of Bengal Cambridge University Press p 56 ISBN 978 0 521 81125 5 Karim Anwarul 2012 Baul In Islam Sirajul Jamal Ahmed A eds Banglapedia National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Second ed Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Lopez Donald 1995 Religions in India in Practice Baul Songs Princeton NJ Princeton University Press pp 187 208 ISBN 0 691 04324 8 Lorea Carola Erika 25 May 2018 I Am Afraid of Telling You This Lest You d Be Scared Shitless The Myth of Secrecy and the Study of the Esoteric Traditions of Bengal Religions 9 6 172 doi 10 3390 rel9060172 Moreover according to most of my informants while practices are fit to be covered by secrecy and a secret jargon theories are not Bauls of Bengal Hinduism about com 10 April 2012 Archived from the original on 11 January 2017 Retrieved 10 October 2012 a b Music 26 July 2011 Bauls of Bengal The Liberation Seekers Emaho Magazine Archived from the original on 29 July 2012 Retrieved 10 October 2012 Lorea Carola 2014 Why do you go swimming in the river full of algae Conception and contraception in Baul songs and oral teachings Journal of Folklore and Folkloristics 7 1 9 45 Lorea Carola Erika January 2014 Searching for the Divine Handling Mobile Phones History and Sociology of South Asia 8 1 59 88 doi 10 1177 2230807513506629 ISSN 2230 8075 S2CID 146915924 Dilip Ranjan Barthakur 2003 The Music And Musical Instruments of North Eastern India Mittal Publications pp 130 ISBN 978 81 7099 881 5 Retrieved 14 July 2013 Tagore Rabindranath Creative Unity 1922 lectures at Project Gutenberg Edward C Dimock Jr Rabindranath Tagore The Greatest of the Bauls of Bengal The Journal of Asian Studies Ann Arbor Mich Association for Asian Studies vol 19 no 1 Nov 1959 36 37 Aman Amanur 13 March 2012 Lalon Smaran Utshab ends The Daily Star Retrieved 10 October 2012 info banglamusic com 20 January 2012 Baul Mela 2009 Bangla Music Bangla Song Bangla Video Bengali Music Mp3 News Banglamusic com Archived from the original on 18 October 2014 Retrieved 10 October 2012 Baul Fakir Utsav gears up for 15th year festival Kolkata News The Times of India 9 January 2020 Helen Crovetto Embodied Knowledge and Divinity The Hohm Community as Western style Bauls Nova Religio The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 10 no 1 August 2006 pp 69 95 Bengal baul s troupe to perform in Portugal Kolkata News The Times of India Baul king Shah Abdul Karim buried bdnews24 com Retrieved 13 September 2019 Lorea Carola Erika 2016 Folklore religion and the songs of a Bengali madman a journey between performance and the politics of cultural representation Leiden ISBN 9789004324701 OCLC 950430793 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Gosto Gopal Das Is One Of Great Saint Of Bengal and Uncrowned Emperor of Baul Song bollywoodevergreen10 20 December 2011 Retrieved 13 September 2013 Padma Awards Announced Press release Ministry of Home Affairs 25 January 2013 Retrieved 27 January 2013 Hunt Ken Purna Chandra Das Baul AllMusic Retrieved 15 October 2011 আম র ল লন ক ল র কণ ঠ Kalerkantho in Bengali 13 April 2016 Retrieved 13 December 2022 Bibliography editBhattacharya Baskar The Path of the Mystic Lover Baul Songs of Passion and Ecstasy Inner Traditions 1983 Enamul Haq Muhammad 1975 A history of Sufism in Bengal Asiatic Society Dhaka Qureshi Mahmud Shah 1977 Poems Mystiques Bengalis Chants Bauls Unesco Paris Siddiqi Ashraf 1977 Our Folklore Our Heritage Dhaka Karim Anwarul 1980 The Bauls of Bangladesh Lalon Academy Kushtia Mukherjee Prithwindra 1981 Chants Carya du bengali ancien edition bilingue Le Calligraphe Paris Mukherjee Prithwindra 1985 Baul les Fous de l Absolu edition trilingue Ministere de la Culture Findakly Paris Capwell Charles 1986 The Music of the Bauls of Bengal Kent State University Press USA 1986 ISBN 0 87338 317 6 Dimock Edward C 1989 The Place of the Hidden Moon Erotic Mysticism in the Vaisnava Sahajiya Cult of Bengal The University of Chicago Press Chicago ISBN 0 226 15237 5 ISBN 978 0 226 15237 0 Bandyopadhyay Pranab 1989 Bauls of Bengal Firma KLM Pvt Ltd Calcutta Mcdaniel June 1989 The Madness of the Saints Chicago Sarkar R M 1990 Bauls of Bengal New Delhi Brahma Tripti 1990 Lalon His Melodies Calcutta Gupta Samir Das 2000 Songs of Lalon Sahitya Prakash Dhaka Karim Anwarul 2001 Rabindranath O Banglar Baul in Bengali Dhaka Openshaw Jeanne 2002 Seeking Bauls of Bengal Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 81125 5 Baul Parvathy 2005 Song of the Great Soul An Introduction to the Baul Path Ekatara Baul Sangeetha Kalari Capwell Charles 2011 Sailing on the Sea of Love THE MUSIC OF THE BAULS OF BENGAL The University of Chicago Press Chicago ISBN 978 0 85742 004 6 Sen Mimlu 2009 Baulsphere Random House ISBN 978 81 8400 055 9 Sen Mimlu 2010 The Honey Gatherers Rider Books ISBN 978 1 84604 189 1 Knight Lisa I 2011 Contradictory Lives Baul Women in India and Bangladesh Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 977354 1 Mukherjee Prithwindra 2014 Le Spontane chants Carya et Baul Editions Almora Paris References editKuckertz Josef in German 1975 Origin and Construction of the Melodies in Baul Songs of Bengal Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council 7 85 91 doi 10 2307 767591 JSTOR 767591 Openshaw J 2002 Seeking Bauls of Bengal Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 81125 2 Capwell C February 1974 The Esoteric Belief of the Bauls of Bengal Journal of Asian Studies 33 2 255 264 doi 10 2307 2052187 JSTOR 2052187 S2CID 162678852 Mukherjee Prithwindra 2013 Tantot diese tantot bemol trilingual anthology with 108 poems and songs by Rabindranath Tagore Dhaka Shahitya Prakash ISBN 9782729121853 Datta R 1978 The Religious Aspect of the Baul Songs of Bengal The Journal of Asian Studies 37 3 445 455 doi 10 1017 s0021911800144031 Dimock Edward C November 1959 Rabindranath Tagore The Greatest of the Bauls of Bengal The Journal of Asian Studies 19 1 33 51 doi 10 2307 2943448 JSTOR 2943448 S2CID 161746122 Openshaw J 1997 The Web of Deceit Challenges to Hindu and Muslim Orthodoxies by Bauls of Bengal Religion 27 4 297 309 doi 10 1006 reli 1997 0093 Roy BK 1977 Rabindranath Tagore The Man and His Poetry Folcroft Library Editions ISBN 0 8414 7330 7 Dalrymple W 7 February 2004 The song of the holy fools The Guardian London retrieved 5 December 2006 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baul Baul Archive archived Dedicated to the memory of Professor Edward C Dimock Jr who inspired generations of American and Bengali scholars with the poetry and philosophy of Baul songs It is the culmination of Sally Grossman s forty plus year long interest in the Bauls and has been conceived inspired and generously supported by her with the advice and cooperation of Charles Capwell Lalon Song s Archive Lalon Song s Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baul amp oldid 1204209670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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