On finding an article on the Bauls of Bangladesh I was moved to recall my own encounters with these musical mystics during my travels on that countries extensive waterways, going from the capital Dhaka down to near Bagerhat where our humanist group held their various activities. A Baul or a troupe travelling together would entertain the passengers as we steamed the Lower Ganges in the humid heat.
I wrote of them at the time, “A thousand years ago the Bengali’s sang mystical poems that remain intriguing to scholars of Buddhism, these formed the Caryapada, still sung by the Bauls of today, itinerants who maintain the oral traditions by stint of their own interest and strength of custom.”
Also, “…Wandering minstrels, known as the Bauls, continue the poetic-melodic tradition even today despite their degenerative appearance and Rabindranath Tagore has been the most well known modern illuminati revelling in the Caryagita’s profound content. He was also inspired by the god-love intoxicated Bauls.”
Continuing, I have: “We were soon on the road again, progressing to the nearby Mazhir Khan Jahan Ali, the great saint’s tomb. We passed many dusty shops selling goods for pilgrims, and were blessed by a fortuitous musical moment as a band of Bauls were singing their songs to a small crowd for a few Taka.
“My pals were surprised I knew of the Baul people. These travel between religious sites on their festival days, like gypsies, but were descendants of a rather special breed with a lot of mysterious history, carrying the past into the present. Great tale tellers, reciters of poetry and of course their famous songs of love and lament with its mystical message.”
Thus the feeling of gladness when I read the AFP reporter’s article that had appeared on Dawn.com, a well known news source on the Indian sub-continent. It stated: “More and more people are drawn to Baul philosophy and its humanism despite the attacks and daily humiliation,” said Mohammad Aynuddin, 35, an English teacher at a state school who describes himself as a Baul enthusiast.
The Bauls are said to have originated in Bengal in the 17th century, where the sect was popularised by musician and social reformer Lalon Shah whose moving songs displaying religious tolerance inspired poets and the more sensible thinkers of the time.
“Many ascetic Bauls renounce the modern world and travel on foot from town to town singing and begging alms, staying at ashrams, but have no fixed address. Others choose to remain in their homes, but live a quiet, secluded life of music and worship.”
The reporter also tells us: “Strongest in west Bangladesh and across the border in India’s West Bengal, the sect’s philosophy is a mix of Hinduism and Sufism rather than one specific religion — angering some Islamic hardliners.
It was most intriguing to read of a 70-year-old husband and wife couple, who use only one name, that have handed over their prosperous restaurant in Dhaka to their children, to spend the rest of their lives roaming the country singing.
“Today I’ll become a beggar. I’ll live by begging and won’t care about worldly affairs,” the article has them saying, recorded with the duo dressed in the shrouds to symbolise their “last journey as free souls” as they circumabulated the shrine in the town of Chheuria seven times in an initiation ceremony.
Apparently, thousands of Bauls took part in five days of singing and other celebrations for Lalon (late October) in Chheuria where there is an ashram for followers of Lalon Shah.
“From now on their religion will be humanism. They’ll be neither Muslim, nor Hindu or Christian,” reports Dawn, quoting Banat Ali Fakir, who became a Baul seven years ago, as he too watched the initiation.
Whereas in the past Bauls were seen in relatively small gatherings, not these days. “Now there are days we see 2,000-5,000 people. More and more people are becoming Bauls as its core message is humanism. It does not differentiate between people or castes,” a shrine keeper said.
Quotes taken from source article at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1149764/bangladeshs-mystic-minstrels-more-popular-despite-attacks
