Baul or Bard

The bauls are wandering minstrels of Bengal. Their contribution to the music of the region is well known. Although dying under the pressure of bollywood music, the Baul singing fights back in West Bengal as well as Bangladesh. Fareeda Parween of Bangladesh is a much loved artiste and her music touches a chord with no matter you know the language or not. Doesn't matter the slightest if you understand the nuances whatsoever. It is bound to make you wonder. In West Bengal too Purna Das Baul and now his son Pawan Das Baul has taken the music to Europe time and again. In fact Pawan Das Baul runs a store in Paris of Indian musical instruments called "Antar Jantro". So next time you are in Paris and are a music affciando go check it out.

There are various schools of Baul music. The Wiki defines it as "Baul music celebrates celestial love, but does this in very earthy terms, as in declarations of love by the Baul for his boshtomi 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 Fakir, have been of Muslim faith."

Travelling in local trains and attending village fairs are a good way to encounter Bauls, as I often do on my way to Santiniketan. One of the biggest festivals for this cult of wandering minstrels is held in the month of January at Kenduli in the Birbhum district, a four-day fest organised in memory of the poet Jayadeva. And this time I just might get lucky and catch it! Don't despair I shall write a detailed post in case I get the lifetime opportunity. So keep watching this space for more on Baul music.