P.M. Serajul Islam :
Fakir Lalon Shah was a mystical poet, composer of baul songs, baul singer, saint and reformer. People do not know his real birth date, place, religion, even his parent’s name. The research finding says, Lalon Fakir was born in 1774. He died at the age of 116 years. The details of Lalon’s early life are debatable and difficult to verify. Lalon also recorded very little information about himself, as he considered his spiritual activities to be a private matter. According to tradition, he was born into a Kayastha family in the village of Bharora in Kushtia. As a young boy, Lalon caught smallpox and was abandoned in the Kaliganga river, a branch of Ganga, in a critical condition. Siraj saint (Malam Shah), a Muslim fakir and his wife Matijan picked up the child and nursed him back to health. Lalon was later inducted as a baul fakir. He set up an akhra at Chheuriya in Kushtia, where he lived with his wife and a few disciples. Matijan was the first devotee of Lalon.
Lalon was devoted to love, freedom and peace expressed in his songs. He taught the way of everlasting peace. Lalon Shah left no written copies of his songs, which were transmitted orally and only later transcribed by his followers. Kangal Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) was his direct disciple. Rabindranath Tagore was also inspired by his songs and published some of them in the monthly Prabasi of Kolkata.
Lalon died at Chheuriya, at the age of 116 on 17 October 1890 as known.
Thousands of bauls and their followers together with the members of huge public come to the shrine (akkra bari) on the occasion of his death anniversary to pay homage to their great spiritual leader and stay there five continuous days and nights singing, praying which the bauls term as ‘sadhu sheba’ or service to saints. But the image it gives is far from the traditional baul mela or festival although the presence of the bauls is not insignificant.
The festival spread over four acres of land and it covers areas outside shrine premises and over the dead Kaliganga river beside the historic Mohini Mills.
The bauls are accommodated in the ground floor of a big two-storied building to avoid rain thundershower or the sun. A limited number of bauls stay around the shrine under the open sky. In addition, a part of Lalon mela is organised in the open space on the western side of the Lalon shrine. The government constructed a huge Cultural Complex at Lalon Academy for preservation of baul and Lalon culture.
It has included a four-storied building which is being utilized as library, archives, museum and office room, the other two-storied building is used as resort for bauls and auditorium.
Lalon Shah, the great baul spiritual leader spoke of humanism and unity of all human beings setting aside cast and class distinctions. It is learnt that Rabindranath Tagore was drawn towards him for such ideals. His Gitanjali bears plenty evidence of such influence.
Assistant Khadem of shirne, Karamot Ali says, “Malam Sha regularly read the holy Quran. During Namaj when he committed mistake, Lalon Shah made sound. As asking the meaning of sound, one night Lalon said to bring the Quran, and showed the correct way of reading with excellent explanation. Malam Sha was astonished to see formally illiterate Lalon’s wisdom. Most of time he spent with Lalon. Malam sha did not have any child. One day neighbour said, Malam Sha now spent time only with others son. After hearing it Lalan said, “I will not live hear anymore.” Mother Motizan encountered Lalon by her affection, “We don’t have child. You came as our son, but now you are going!” After that Lalon changed his decision with the condition to live in separate house. Malam made a round shaped new house with straw where Lalon lived and did meditation. Once Lalon tripped to west of the district and returned back with Beshaka fakir. In the gathering, the followers asked who is she? Lalon said,’ Consider she is your ‘Guru Maa.’
After that Beshaka Fakir lived there forever. In the mean time, Lalon Sha’s father Malam Sha died. Lalon Shah said, when I would die, please bury me beside my mother (Motizan). They are now together. A land which we belong was given by Malam sha. Before he died he registered this16 units land to Lalon Sha. Government has extended the space to the bank of river. Now here annually two ceremonies are been held. Once at Dul Purnima (full moon night). Another is at fixed Pohela Kartik. In the light of full moon Dul Purnima’s event is marvelous.
Lalon composed numerous songs and poems, which describe his philosophy. Among his most popular songs are: 1. Khanchar bhitor ochin pakhi, 2. jat gelo jat gelo bole, 3. dekhna mon jhokmariei duniyadari, 4. paare loye jao amay , 5. milon hobe koto dine, 6. aar amare marishne maa, 7. tin pagoler holo mela etc.
Hindu and Muslim both communities want to make him their own. Hindus say he was a Kayastha and adopted by a Muslim Moulovi. However, the Muslims say he was a Muslim by birth. Philosophically Lalon was none, as he always strove to go beyond all politics of identities.
Lalon composed about two thousands songs, which provide spiritual inspiration and awareness. By songs he guided peoples to be ‘moner manush’ (perfect man), ‘shohoj manush’ (simple man). He was against to all forms of oppression, and discrimination and caste system. He celebrates the freedom of mind and body. Lalon represents the ‘Baul’.
The ‘baul’s are generally illiterate and traveling singers but have extraordinary wisdom. They deny all worldly affairs in search for a mystical joy of the soul with song by using ektara (a one string musical instrument) and a dugdugi (a hand drum).
Fakir Babu Sha, a devoted Baul singer says, I have been singing last 30 years. I love Lalon’s songs very much. I found God’s word and human spirit in song-scripts. I have invested my life to this way”.
The great Lalon was not famous in lifetime. But, his philosophy was introduced by Rabindranath and modern scholars. He was the greatest mystic-singer of the subcontinent. Lalon believed, the ‘body’ is the universe and the universe is the body. He challenged modern life style, practices with simple word of songs.
Rabindranath Tagore’s compositions were influenced by baul philosophy. 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.
However, Lalon did not search contact with the middle and upper class. He did not even want to come near Rabindranath Tagore, because Tagore came from a zamindar family. Another famous man of that time was Ramakrishna. But Lalon could never become like Ramkrishna, charming the elites. All his life he lived with the mass people at the bounds of Kushtia.
Lalon was against all forms of socio-economic discrimination – caste, class, and gender and any forms of politics of identity based on race, nationality, etc. He did not believe in divisions according to jat (caste), path (hierarchies by which who can accept food and water from whom), class, patriarchy, religion and nation.
Modern signers are also following the folk approach and word of Lalon songs. People of Bangladesh appreciate Lalon songs for its deep spiritual meanings and inspiration. n
Fakir Lalon Shah was a mystical poet, composer of baul songs, baul singer, saint and reformer. People do not know his real birth date, place, religion, even his parent’s name. The research finding says, Lalon Fakir was born in 1774. He died at the age of 116 years. The details of Lalon’s early life are debatable and difficult to verify. Lalon also recorded very little information about himself, as he considered his spiritual activities to be a private matter. According to tradition, he was born into a Kayastha family in the village of Bharora in Kushtia. As a young boy, Lalon caught smallpox and was abandoned in the Kaliganga river, a branch of Ganga, in a critical condition. Siraj saint (Malam Shah), a Muslim fakir and his wife Matijan picked up the child and nursed him back to health. Lalon was later inducted as a baul fakir. He set up an akhra at Chheuriya in Kushtia, where he lived with his wife and a few disciples. Matijan was the first devotee of Lalon.
Lalon was devoted to love, freedom and peace expressed in his songs. He taught the way of everlasting peace. Lalon Shah left no written copies of his songs, which were transmitted orally and only later transcribed by his followers. Kangal Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) was his direct disciple. Rabindranath Tagore was also inspired by his songs and published some of them in the monthly Prabasi of Kolkata.
Lalon died at Chheuriya, at the age of 116 on 17 October 1890 as known.
Thousands of bauls and their followers together with the members of huge public come to the shrine (akkra bari) on the occasion of his death anniversary to pay homage to their great spiritual leader and stay there five continuous days and nights singing, praying which the bauls term as ‘sadhu sheba’ or service to saints. But the image it gives is far from the traditional baul mela or festival although the presence of the bauls is not insignificant.
The festival spread over four acres of land and it covers areas outside shrine premises and over the dead Kaliganga river beside the historic Mohini Mills.
The bauls are accommodated in the ground floor of a big two-storied building to avoid rain thundershower or the sun. A limited number of bauls stay around the shrine under the open sky. In addition, a part of Lalon mela is organised in the open space on the western side of the Lalon shrine. The government constructed a huge Cultural Complex at Lalon Academy for preservation of baul and Lalon culture.
It has included a four-storied building which is being utilized as library, archives, museum and office room, the other two-storied building is used as resort for bauls and auditorium.
Lalon Shah, the great baul spiritual leader spoke of humanism and unity of all human beings setting aside cast and class distinctions. It is learnt that Rabindranath Tagore was drawn towards him for such ideals. His Gitanjali bears plenty evidence of such influence.
Assistant Khadem of shirne, Karamot Ali says, “Malam Sha regularly read the holy Quran. During Namaj when he committed mistake, Lalon Shah made sound. As asking the meaning of sound, one night Lalon said to bring the Quran, and showed the correct way of reading with excellent explanation. Malam Sha was astonished to see formally illiterate Lalon’s wisdom. Most of time he spent with Lalon. Malam sha did not have any child. One day neighbour said, Malam Sha now spent time only with others son. After hearing it Lalan said, “I will not live hear anymore.” Mother Motizan encountered Lalon by her affection, “We don’t have child. You came as our son, but now you are going!” After that Lalon changed his decision with the condition to live in separate house. Malam made a round shaped new house with straw where Lalon lived and did meditation. Once Lalon tripped to west of the district and returned back with Beshaka fakir. In the gathering, the followers asked who is she? Lalon said,’ Consider she is your ‘Guru Maa.’
After that Beshaka Fakir lived there forever. In the mean time, Lalon Sha’s father Malam Sha died. Lalon Shah said, when I would die, please bury me beside my mother (Motizan). They are now together. A land which we belong was given by Malam sha. Before he died he registered this16 units land to Lalon Sha. Government has extended the space to the bank of river. Now here annually two ceremonies are been held. Once at Dul Purnima (full moon night). Another is at fixed Pohela Kartik. In the light of full moon Dul Purnima’s event is marvelous.
Lalon composed numerous songs and poems, which describe his philosophy. Among his most popular songs are: 1. Khanchar bhitor ochin pakhi, 2. jat gelo jat gelo bole, 3. dekhna mon jhokmariei duniyadari, 4. paare loye jao amay , 5. milon hobe koto dine, 6. aar amare marishne maa, 7. tin pagoler holo mela etc.
Hindu and Muslim both communities want to make him their own. Hindus say he was a Kayastha and adopted by a Muslim Moulovi. However, the Muslims say he was a Muslim by birth. Philosophically Lalon was none, as he always strove to go beyond all politics of identities.
Lalon composed about two thousands songs, which provide spiritual inspiration and awareness. By songs he guided peoples to be ‘moner manush’ (perfect man), ‘shohoj manush’ (simple man). He was against to all forms of oppression, and discrimination and caste system. He celebrates the freedom of mind and body. Lalon represents the ‘Baul’.
The ‘baul’s are generally illiterate and traveling singers but have extraordinary wisdom. They deny all worldly affairs in search for a mystical joy of the soul with song by using ektara (a one string musical instrument) and a dugdugi (a hand drum).
Fakir Babu Sha, a devoted Baul singer says, I have been singing last 30 years. I love Lalon’s songs very much. I found God’s word and human spirit in song-scripts. I have invested my life to this way”.
The great Lalon was not famous in lifetime. But, his philosophy was introduced by Rabindranath and modern scholars. He was the greatest mystic-singer of the subcontinent. Lalon believed, the ‘body’ is the universe and the universe is the body. He challenged modern life style, practices with simple word of songs.
Rabindranath Tagore’s compositions were influenced by baul philosophy. 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.
However, Lalon did not search contact with the middle and upper class. He did not even want to come near Rabindranath Tagore, because Tagore came from a zamindar family. Another famous man of that time was Ramakrishna. But Lalon could never become like Ramkrishna, charming the elites. All his life he lived with the mass people at the bounds of Kushtia.
Lalon was against all forms of socio-economic discrimination – caste, class, and gender and any forms of politics of identity based on race, nationality, etc. He did not believe in divisions according to jat (caste), path (hierarchies by which who can accept food and water from whom), class, patriarchy, religion and nation.
Modern signers are also following the folk approach and word of Lalon songs. People of Bangladesh appreciate Lalon songs for its deep spiritual meanings and inspiration. n
