- Shameek Ganguly (07010315). Introduction Wandering ‘minstrels’ of Bengal Wandering ‘minstrels’ of Bengal Narrated stories and sang songs of high spirituality
Introduction Wandering minstrels of Bengal Wandering minstrels
of Bengal Narrated stories and sang songs of high spirituality and
carried social messages to the masses Narrated stories and sang
songs of high spirituality and carried social messages to the
masses Mostly illiterate in nature but educated via their own oral
tradition Mostly illiterate in nature but educated via their own
oral tradition
Slide 3
Whats so special of them?? Rational outlook at a time when most
of the world lingers in the dark ages Rational outlook at a time
when most of the world lingers in the dark ages Modernist
compositions Modernist compositions Critics to anti-social
practices Critics to anti-social practices Rich oral tradition Rich
oral tradition Influenced Bengal unto some sort of a Renaissance in
the 19 th and 20 th centuries Influenced Bengal unto some sort of a
Renaissance in the 19 th and 20 th centuries
Slide 4
Structure of presentation Origin Nature of songs Social Message
Impact on society A Western eye Modern Scenario Conclusion
Slide 5
Origin of Baul tradition Word " Baul " refers to three terms:
betul, " mad ", " out of rhythm "; vayu, " air ", or the inner flow
of energy which gives life and harmony to all sentient beings; and
uliy, a term of Arabic origin, which means " holy man ". Word "
Baul " refers to three terms: betul, " mad ", " out of rhythm ";
vayu, " air ", or the inner flow of energy which gives life and
harmony to all sentient beings; and uliy, a term of Arabic origin,
which means " holy man ".
Slide 6
Origin of Baul tradition(contd) Cultural analysts have traced
back the baul tradition back as far as 7 th century AD Cultural
analysts have traced back the baul tradition back as far as 7 th
century AD Exact origin unknown since modern Baul compositions show
influence of Sufism, Buddhist Tantrism, Vaishnav ideology, and more
recently, even Christianiaty Exact origin unknown since modern Baul
compositions show influence of Sufism, Buddhist Tantrism, Vaishnav
ideology, and more recently, even Christianiaty Mostly in and
around modern day Bengal and Bangladesh Mostly in and around modern
day Bengal and Bangladesh
Slide 7
Social background and general get-up Can come from a Hindu or a
Muslim background ; in both cases, they are usually rebels against
orthodox practices and social institutions. Can come from a Hindu
or a Muslim background ; in both cases, they are usually rebels
against orthodox practices and social institutions. Usually hail
from backward classes Usually hail from backward classes Are mostly
abandoned children brought up by other Baul gurus. Are mostly
abandoned children brought up by other Baul gurus. Live together
without marriage or wander from village to village or are married
people Live together without marriage or wander from village to
village or are married people
Slide 8
Techniques used in Baul oratory *Highly modernist in nature *
Use of imagism very distinct * Use of imagism very distinct *
Images mostly refer to everyday lifes * Images mostly refer to
everyday lifes concrete images concrete images *Witty and sometimes
rhetorical in nature *Witty and sometimes rhetorical in nature
*Metaphysical in nature in some parts *Metaphysical in nature in
some parts *Revolve around the main spiritual or *Revolve around
the main spiritual or social message it intends to deliver social
message it intends to deliver
Slide 9
Message of the bauls The God Within MONER MANUSH No religion No
need for temples No idol worship or sacrifices Devotion lies in a
commonplace life Brotherhood Harmony outside and within Importance
of free thought Service to needy ushers mental peace Easy
acceptance of other cultures
Slide 10
Janomo morono (Practice of Dying) O my heart! Do the practice
of dying, shall bring freedom From the bondage of birth and death
Born to die, die to be born again. Death, birth, nothing but
endless suffering. Aa, O, Am, three Vedas situated in muladhara,
Swadhishtana and manipura This fact, the master practitioner knows;
He craves not after mundane mortal delights. - Paravathy Baul
Slide 11
Amar Sonar Moina Pakhi
Slide 12
Slide 13
Influence upon the society Mocked and dismissed by society
until early 20 th century Mocked and dismissed by society until
early 20 th century Slowly led to social uprising in the Bengali
society Slowly led to social uprising in the Bengali society
Aroused people like Raja Ramohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda Aroused
people like Raja Ramohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda Thus invoked the
Bengali social revolution in the rising middle classes of Bengal
Thus invoked the Bengali social revolution in the rising middle
classes of Bengal Influenced many poets such as Rabindranath Tagore
and Kazi Nazrul Islam Influenced many poets such as Rabindranath
Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam
Slide 14
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ISKON An ascetic Vaishnava monk and
social reformer in 16th century Bengal An ascetic Vaishnava monk
and social reformer in 16th century Bengal One of the earliest
known Bauls who attacked untouchability and castism One of the
earliest known Bauls who attacked untouchability and castism His
legacy lives on in the form of the world renowned organisation,
ISKON founded by his followers His legacy lives on in the form of
the world renowned organisation, ISKON founded by his
followers
Slide 15
Rabindranath Tagore : Baul-der- Samrat Tagore greatly
influenced by Baul songs in his middle ages Tagore greatly
influenced by Baul songs in his middle ages Several compositions
dedicated to the Baul school of thoughts Several compositions
dedicated to the Baul school of thoughts Geetanjali illustrates
several such songs written in the form of Baul songs Geetanjali
illustrates several such songs written in the form of Baul
songs
Slide 16
AmAr prANer mAnuSh Achh prAN tAi heri tAye sakol khAne Achhe sh
nayntArAy, Alk- dhArAy, tAi nA hArAye-- ogo tAi dekhi tAye JethAy
sethAy tAkA-i Ami J dik-pAn The man of my heart dwells inside me.
Everywhere I behold, it's Him! In my every sight, in the sparkle of
light Oh I can never lose Him -- Here, there and everywhere,
Wherever I turn, right in front is He! - Rabindranath Tagore
Slide 17
The Baul religion is completely based on ones experience in the
realization of the divine. It is the disciples feeling of longing
for the Supreme and the resulting madness that demonstrates that he
feels reunited with the Divine The Baul religion is completely
based on ones experience in the realization of the divine. It is
the disciples feeling of longing for the Supreme and the resulting
madness that demonstrates that he feels reunited with the Divine
Robert Menger Robert Menger (Renowned American cultural historian)
(Renowned American cultural historian)
Slide 18
Baul tradition and Occident literature Some Western literature
on Bauls of Bengal: The Bauls of Bengal, Robert Menger The Bauls of
Bengal, Robert Menger The Music of the Bauls of Bengal, Charles
Capwell (English musicologist) The Music of the Bauls of Bengal,
Charles Capwell (English musicologist) Seeking Bauls of Bengal,
Jeanne Openshaw, Professor of Literature, Edinburgh University
Seeking Bauls of Bengal, Jeanne Openshaw, Professor of Literature,
Edinburgh University The Path of the Mystic Lover: Baul Songs of
Passion and Ecstasy, Bhaskar Bhattacharyya, Nik Douglas, Penny
Slinger The Path of the Mystic Lover: Baul Songs of Passion and
Ecstasy, Bhaskar Bhattacharyya, Nik Douglas, Penny Slinger .. And
so on. .. And so on.
Slide 19
Place of the Bauls today Baul tradition continues to live on in
the hearts of Bengal and Bangladesh Baul tradition continues to
live on in the hearts of Bengal and Bangladesh Some contemporary
Bauls are Purnadas Baul, Kheparam Baul, Some contemporary Bauls are
Purnadas Baul, Kheparam Baul, Parvathy Baul and many others
Parvathy Baul and many others In 2005, the Baul tradition was
included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO In 2005, the Baul tradition was
included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO International concerts organized by
NGOs around the globe including UK, Europe and America
International concerts organized by NGOs around the globe including
UK, Europe and America
Slide 20
Personal Views The Order Of Madness!!
Slide 21
Bibliography Wikipedia Wikipedia South Asian Cultural society
(SAC webpage) South Asian Cultural society (SAC webpage) Youtube
Youtube Purnadas Bauls Webpage* Purnadas Bauls Webpage* Khepa Das
Bauls Webpage* Khepa Das Bauls Webpage* Google Images Google Images
World Culture Encyclopaedia World Culture Encyclopaedia Bauls of
Bengal website Bauls of Bengal website * These websites are
maintained by an NGO Lokesh