Professor Dr Anwarul Karim :
This year on October 17, 2019, Lalon Shah, the leading Sufi Baul Fakir completes his 129th death anniversary. He lived and died at Seuria Village in Kumerkhali Upozila of Kushtia district on October 17 1890, Bangla 1st of Kartik, 1297.
Mystery, however, shrouds over Lalon’s date of birth as Lalon never disclosed it and there is no record of it anywhere. His death is however, recorded and there are no misgivings of it. On this occasion Lalon Academy, Kushtia with the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the district administration celebrates his death anniversary in a befitting manner for three days.
Lalon Shah is taken as the Rumi or the Hafiz of Bangladesh for his wonderful mystic songs. He is no more a regional poet of Bangladesh.The world has recognised the Baul cult as the world Heritage and Lalon as the great Baul Poet.
Lalon was a humanist and an iconoclast who rejected all distinctions of caste and creed. He became an icon of religious tolerance and secularism and his songs inspired and influenced many poets and social and religious thinkers, including Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Lalon influenced Rabindranath deeply for his composition of Gitanjali, Song offerings that earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He borrowed themes and also tune for his songs from Lalon. He was a Boyati, composer and performer of songs. During his life, Lalon used to organize a three day program on a full moon night on the occasion of Dol-Purnima, (birth date of Krishna) in the month of Falgun (March-April). The same practice has been on-going till date after his death by his followers. Tens of thousands of people from different parts of the country and also from outside the country attend the festival each year twice, one on the occasion of Dol-Purnima (March-April) and the other on the occasion of his death anniversary in October and pay tribute to him. Each time, the festival continues for three days and it was done as a convention from the time of Lalon. During this time, the followers of Lalon bring food for themselves and they also feed others who come there. Such practices were performed by Lalon during his time also. However, the Management of the Academy also makes arrangement for food for Lalon followers.
The main theme of the songs of Lalon Shah is the concept that ‘the body is the seat of all truths’ and the Baul asceticism is based on supremacy of the guru or preceptor. Lalon’s songs are unique not only in religious and social value, but also in literary and musical qualities. In highlighting the doctrine that ‘the body is the seat of all truths’ though he occasionally used metaphor and allegory in his songs, his language is spontaneous and easily intelligible. For his extraordinary poetical talent and lucid style of expression, his songs emerged artistic with poetical fervor. Though structured within the purview of Bhatiyali and Kirtan music, Lalon’s songs represent a distinctive tune which have asserted their standing position in the trend of Bangla folk-song as ‘Baul music.’
Lalon was the best of all Bauls. Rabindranath borrowed themes from Lalon and other Bauls. He composed not less than five thousand devotional songs related to Sufi and Baul songs. His songs are rich in Sufi and baul philosophy. Lalon Shah denounced caste distinction. His songs are metaphysical in nature. He takes human body as the microcosm and the best of all creations. The main theme of the songs of Lalon Shah-the concept that ‘the body is the seat of all truths’ and the Baul asceticism is based on supremacy of the guru or preceptor. The main objective of Baul practice is to trace and get company of the inherent and formless Supreme Being who can only be achieved by divine love, devotion and meditation. The guru devises the way of devotional success and salvation. This metaphysics have allegorically been expressed in the songs of Lalon. Lalon had the materials of his songs from the Hindu and Buddhist religious behests, the Vaishnava Sahajiya doctrine and from Sufism.
His thoughts on humanism and secular approach have been added to his liberal religious idealism. In his songs like Sab loke koi Lalon ki jat samsare, Jat gelo jat gelo bale, Sabe bale Lalon Fakir Hindu ki Javan, Emon samaj kobe-go srijan hobe. Lalon Shah has indicated a guideline for the emergence of a religious, racial and caste discrimination free society.
For his extraordinary poetical talent and lucid style of expression, his songs emerged artistic with poetical fervor.
Though structured within the purview of Bhatiyali and Kirtan music, Lalon’s songs represent a distinctive tune which have asserted their standing position in the trend of Bangla folk-song as ‘Baul music.’
Lalon’s songs were at a time so popular that they were extensively practiced by the common people including the boatmen in the river. Even today these songs are getting popularity in all quarters and have been included in the regular program of the Radio and Television.
Sob loke Koy Lalon Ki jat Songsare
Every-body says what religion does Lalon belong to
Lalon says, I have never experienced the exact nature of either religion or birth
If one is circumcised, he is Muslim but what is the rule for women?
A Brahmin is known by his sacred thread, but how does one recognize a Brahman? Someone uses a string and others a bead or Tasbi around one’s neck.
Do these change the birth or religion?
When one is born or he meets his death
What identity does he carry with him to the other world?
The water when it is found in a ditch, it is called ditch water
And when it is found in the Ganges, it is called the Ganges water
But what is true, all water is same
The difference that we notice is how one keeps it.
Everywhere in the world people feel proud of their birth.
Lalon says I have sold out my birth to the market of my fancy.
This year on October 17, 2019, Lalon Shah, the leading Sufi Baul Fakir completes his 129th death anniversary. He lived and died at Seuria Village in Kumerkhali Upozila of Kushtia district on October 17 1890, Bangla 1st of Kartik, 1297.
Mystery, however, shrouds over Lalon’s date of birth as Lalon never disclosed it and there is no record of it anywhere. His death is however, recorded and there are no misgivings of it. On this occasion Lalon Academy, Kushtia with the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the district administration celebrates his death anniversary in a befitting manner for three days.
Lalon Shah is taken as the Rumi or the Hafiz of Bangladesh for his wonderful mystic songs. He is no more a regional poet of Bangladesh.The world has recognised the Baul cult as the world Heritage and Lalon as the great Baul Poet.
Lalon was a humanist and an iconoclast who rejected all distinctions of caste and creed. He became an icon of religious tolerance and secularism and his songs inspired and influenced many poets and social and religious thinkers, including Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Lalon influenced Rabindranath deeply for his composition of Gitanjali, Song offerings that earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He borrowed themes and also tune for his songs from Lalon. He was a Boyati, composer and performer of songs. During his life, Lalon used to organize a three day program on a full moon night on the occasion of Dol-Purnima, (birth date of Krishna) in the month of Falgun (March-April). The same practice has been on-going till date after his death by his followers. Tens of thousands of people from different parts of the country and also from outside the country attend the festival each year twice, one on the occasion of Dol-Purnima (March-April) and the other on the occasion of his death anniversary in October and pay tribute to him. Each time, the festival continues for three days and it was done as a convention from the time of Lalon. During this time, the followers of Lalon bring food for themselves and they also feed others who come there. Such practices were performed by Lalon during his time also. However, the Management of the Academy also makes arrangement for food for Lalon followers.
The main theme of the songs of Lalon Shah is the concept that ‘the body is the seat of all truths’ and the Baul asceticism is based on supremacy of the guru or preceptor. Lalon’s songs are unique not only in religious and social value, but also in literary and musical qualities. In highlighting the doctrine that ‘the body is the seat of all truths’ though he occasionally used metaphor and allegory in his songs, his language is spontaneous and easily intelligible. For his extraordinary poetical talent and lucid style of expression, his songs emerged artistic with poetical fervor. Though structured within the purview of Bhatiyali and Kirtan music, Lalon’s songs represent a distinctive tune which have asserted their standing position in the trend of Bangla folk-song as ‘Baul music.’
Lalon was the best of all Bauls. Rabindranath borrowed themes from Lalon and other Bauls. He composed not less than five thousand devotional songs related to Sufi and Baul songs. His songs are rich in Sufi and baul philosophy. Lalon Shah denounced caste distinction. His songs are metaphysical in nature. He takes human body as the microcosm and the best of all creations. The main theme of the songs of Lalon Shah-the concept that ‘the body is the seat of all truths’ and the Baul asceticism is based on supremacy of the guru or preceptor. The main objective of Baul practice is to trace and get company of the inherent and formless Supreme Being who can only be achieved by divine love, devotion and meditation. The guru devises the way of devotional success and salvation. This metaphysics have allegorically been expressed in the songs of Lalon. Lalon had the materials of his songs from the Hindu and Buddhist religious behests, the Vaishnava Sahajiya doctrine and from Sufism.
His thoughts on humanism and secular approach have been added to his liberal religious idealism. In his songs like Sab loke koi Lalon ki jat samsare, Jat gelo jat gelo bale, Sabe bale Lalon Fakir Hindu ki Javan, Emon samaj kobe-go srijan hobe. Lalon Shah has indicated a guideline for the emergence of a religious, racial and caste discrimination free society.
For his extraordinary poetical talent and lucid style of expression, his songs emerged artistic with poetical fervor.
Though structured within the purview of Bhatiyali and Kirtan music, Lalon’s songs represent a distinctive tune which have asserted their standing position in the trend of Bangla folk-song as ‘Baul music.’
Lalon’s songs were at a time so popular that they were extensively practiced by the common people including the boatmen in the river. Even today these songs are getting popularity in all quarters and have been included in the regular program of the Radio and Television.
Sob loke Koy Lalon Ki jat Songsare
Every-body says what religion does Lalon belong to
Lalon says, I have never experienced the exact nature of either religion or birth
If one is circumcised, he is Muslim but what is the rule for women?
A Brahmin is known by his sacred thread, but how does one recognize a Brahman? Someone uses a string and others a bead or Tasbi around one’s neck.
Do these change the birth or religion?
When one is born or he meets his death
What identity does he carry with him to the other world?
The water when it is found in a ditch, it is called ditch water
And when it is found in the Ganges, it is called the Ganges water
But what is true, all water is same
The difference that we notice is how one keeps it.
Everywhere in the world people feel proud of their birth.
Lalon says I have sold out my birth to the market of my fancy.
(The writer is the founder Director of Lalon Academy, Kushita, Formerly a Visting Scholar, Divinity School, Harvard University, 1985. Executive Director, Bangabandhu Research Center, Northern University Bangladesh, Dhaka)
