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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Nabani Das Baul songs... from this oral Living Lineage..
The only Legendary Baul and the last of the real Bauls of Bengal, (Lineage Baul) Nabani Das Khyappa Baul
These 4 songs made Baul famous worldwide.. these songs and the tune are from Babukisha's lineage and his family. His grandfather Sri Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul wrote the lyrics to "Ghole Male Ghole Male," "Bhalo Kore Porga Schoole," and "Menka Mathay Delo"... all written by Nabani Das Baul and music composed by Nabani Das Baul.
In recent times they were made super famous by the one and only "legendary Baul of our time Purna Das Baul" who is Babuksihan's and Nabani Das Baul son.. these songs were recorded by Indian Cinema's legendary music directors of "Hindustan Records which was the first official Indian Music Company in India." These 3 music directors were Bengali's, Pan kaj Mallick, Timir Baran, Raichand Boral. These famous music directors recorded Purna Das Baul because Purna Das is the best Baul singer and because these music directors respected Nabani Das Baul, they were his friends and well wishers. 20x Ghole Male Ghole Male was recorded 20 X worldwide and 18 of those times it was recorded 18X by Babukishan and everytime it was recoreded it was a hit. Today this song is sung by Bauls without any of them giving credit to the Baul who wrote it or made it famous.
None of these songs are Bengali folk songs they are Baul songs from a many thousand year old lineage and should be treated with respect not songs to be sung on singing shows or in Movies without any understanding of where they came from or who wrote the songs?
(Another of Nabani Das Baul songs is Hridmjhare Rakhbo, from this lineage..) Singing Babukishan
1. Ghole Male Ghole Male, Nabani Das Baul song.
The Ektara's in the picture are hand made by Babukishan himself.... and he is playing the dolak in this version of Gole Mali Gole Mali..
2. Jemon Beni, Rasaraj Gosai (Nabani Das Baul's uncle) wrote this...he was one of the prominent sanskrit scholars and Baul poet in Bengali history, he was a sanskrit master. Never married and the greatest tantric and tantric poet. Music composed by Nabani Das Baul and Purna Das Baul is the first to record it. I just want to let you know this is not a Bengali folk song, none of these songs are folk songs they are Baul songs of Sadhana with a deep philosophical meanings.
3. Bhalo Kore Porga Schoole... Nabani Das Baul song and tune, it is a song about about Sri Chaitanya mahaprabu, and Nityanada Revolution.. Actually the Bauls made this revolution famous and Gaudiya Math and Iskcon high-jacked their songs ect and distorted what Baul is???.. there is something that people need to understand Chaitanya was not a poet or Baul he was a scholar, it was Nityananda and his lineage going back thousands of years that were the poets, philosophers, Hare Krishna singers and dancers....
4. Menka Mathay Delo.. Nabani Das Baul song and tune.
So if you are singing these songs and record on "You tube" now you know.. Please at least give credit to the lineage and stop making up fake lineages ect.. If the Bauls are ever going to survive these songs and this lineage need to be preserved.
These 4 songs made Baul famous worldwide.. these songs and the tune are from Babukisha's lineage and his family. His grandfather Sri Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul wrote the lyrics to "Ghole Male Ghole Male," "Bhalo Kore Porga Schoole," and "Menka Mathay Delo"... all written by Nabani Das Baul and music composed by Nabani Das Baul.
In recent times they were made super famous by the one and only "legendary Baul of our time Purna Das Baul" who is Babuksihan's and Nabani Das Baul son.. these songs were recorded by Indian Cinema's legendary music directors of "Hindustan Records which was the first official Indian Music Company in India." These 3 music directors were Bengali's, Pan kaj Mallick, Timir Baran, Raichand Boral. These famous music directors recorded Purna Das Baul because Purna Das is the best Baul singer and because these music directors respected Nabani Das Baul, they were his friends and well wishers. 20x Ghole Male Ghole Male was recorded 20 X worldwide and 18 of those times it was recorded 18X by Babukishan and everytime it was recoreded it was a hit. Today this song is sung by Bauls without any of them giving credit to the Baul who wrote it or made it famous.
None of these songs are Bengali folk songs they are Baul songs from a many thousand year old lineage and should be treated with respect not songs to be sung on singing shows or in Movies without any understanding of where they came from or who wrote the songs?
(Another of Nabani Das Baul songs is Hridmjhare Rakhbo, from this lineage..) Singing Babukishan
1. Ghole Male Ghole Male, Nabani Das Baul song.
The Ektara's in the picture are hand made by Babukishan himself.... and he is playing the dolak in this version of Gole Mali Gole Mali..
2. Jemon Beni, Rasaraj Gosai (Nabani Das Baul's uncle) wrote this...he was one of the prominent sanskrit scholars and Baul poet in Bengali history, he was a sanskrit master. Never married and the greatest tantric and tantric poet. Music composed by Nabani Das Baul and Purna Das Baul is the first to record it. I just want to let you know this is not a Bengali folk song, none of these songs are folk songs they are Baul songs of Sadhana with a deep philosophical meanings.
3. Bhalo Kore Porga Schoole... Nabani Das Baul song and tune, it is a song about about Sri Chaitanya mahaprabu, and Nityanada Revolution.. Actually the Bauls made this revolution famous and Gaudiya Math and Iskcon high-jacked their songs ect and distorted what Baul is???.. there is something that people need to understand Chaitanya was not a poet or Baul he was a scholar, it was Nityananda and his lineage going back thousands of years that were the poets, philosophers, Hare Krishna singers and dancers....
4. Menka Mathay Delo.. Nabani Das Baul song and tune.
So if you are singing these songs and record on "You tube" now you know.. Please at least give credit to the lineage and stop making up fake lineages ect.. If the Bauls are ever going to survive these songs and this lineage need to be preserved.
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Rabindranath Tagore, Nabani is the only Baul who initiated Tagore into Baul.
https://bhavaproject.weebly.com/tagore--baul.html
This picture of Nabani Das Khyappa Baul was taken by his great friend Rabindranath Tagore. This photo is in the Royal British Museum in London.
Tagore gave Nabani the name "
'Khyapa Baul' and 'Mirror of the Sky'.
Nabani is the one and only Khyapa Baul which all called Khyapa Baba.
It has become a famous picture that most people use as a symbol of the Bauls of Birbhum Bengal, however, Nabani is not only a symbol of Bauls he is probably one of the last original Bauls and from a many thousand year old lineage.
Most articles on Baul are inaccurate as they are just copy and paste or from Phd holders who are not from within the tradition.
This is an oral living lineage, oral Sanskrit Tradition.
TantricVaishnava Baul which means 'Vayu Tula'
The Wind-catchers, Vayu Dharma, Paranyama.
Rabindranath Tagore became a Baul when the legendary Sri Nabani (Gosia) Das Khyappa Baul gave Tagore the name Ravi (Robi) Baul and in return Tagore gave Nabani (Noboni) the name Khyappa Baul and named him 'Mirror of the Sky'. To this very day villagers in Birbhum remember a legendary Tantric Vaishnav Baul Saint Avadhut named Nabani Das Khyappa Baul.
Nabani Das Khyappa Baul and his wife & Monar Manush (soul mate) Brajabala Dasi.
Khyappa means sat chit ananda, highly mystical, fully awake, aware, divine ecstatic love, wild, free bird, blissful, divine consciousness, magical, mysterious, out of body connected to the divine at a very high level, khyappa is not something that can be faked. It is not a name for everybody it was a name designated for a Avadhut, however, today everybody is calling themselves khyappa as many are calling themselves ‘Baul’ and ‘Baul Guru’.
Rabindranath Tagore the great Bengali Noble prize winner for literature and the writer of the Indian, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan national anthems, loved Nabani and Nabani is the only Baul who inspired and associated with Tagore.
In 2005, UNESCO Declared the Baul Tradition a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".
The Mirror of the sky, reflects my soul. O Baul of the road, O Baul of the heart, What keeps you tied, to the corner of the room. By Nabani Das KHYAPPA Baul.
To the untrained eye and ear wandering and singing a song does not make one a Baul. Rabindranath honoured Nabani because he was an ecstatic mystic full of wisdom, he admired his poetry, his tune and his depth in sadhana as a Tantric Yogi and Baul Avadhut. Rabindranath respected Nabani's ancient lineage and its richness, authentic cultural significance and tradition of wisdom, along with the energetic live wire shaktified pure ecstatic love that Nabani embodied.
Tagore appointed Nabani Das Baul as a Professor of Baul music and dance at the Tagore Vishva Bharti University that Tagore created in Shantineketan. Nabani is the first and last Baul to teach at Vishva Bharti University. One of Nabani's students was Indira Gandhi, her father Jawaharlal Nehru had the greatest respect for Nabani. The Indian Independence movement was in full swing. Nehru appointed Nabani a state singer in 1947, where Nabani along with Nehru and his contingent travelled all over India, playing for people, sharing the magic of Baul and Nehru's political messages.
Please Note:
Baul has already Archived and Preserved, decades ago.
Babu Kishan completed what his grandparents (Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi) had asked him to do decades ago. These Baul Archives are safe and will be published one by one when the time is right.
This has been going on over the years (outsiders fundraising in the name of Baul) and now is still going on, it needs to 'STOP' because Baul is already preserved and archived. New Baul singers fundraising to preserve Baul are cheaters and are using this tradition for their own selfish purposes.
If anybody is saying they are preserving Baul, think twice before you fall into donating money because BAUL has already been preserved.
There is no need for an outsider to procure donations to do what does not belong to them, especially when it is complete?
Babu Kishan will speak about this in time, he is not very happy about the using of his tradition by, New Baul singers who are not even from Bengal.
-------------------------------------------------------
This one and only Lineage of Vaishnava Baul originates in and around Ekachakra Birbhum Bengal. This is the One and ONLY Lineage of Baul. All Bauls Follow this Lineage, they sing their songs, they dress like them and they follow them around the world and copy and do as they do. This is the pioneering family and Lineage who brought Baul out of the village of Bengal to all of India and the World over at least 70 years ago when Nabani Das Khyapa Baul was appointed a state singer Bengal to sing before Nehru's speeches all over India. Nabani Das Khyapa Baul was a part of the Freedom Movement of India, his part was to draw people together and that is what a authentic Baul does through his song and dance. Nabani was an adept Tantric Yogi and Avadhuta there was great power in his presence and voice.
He was the last authentic Baul and his wife Brajabala and their children are the last authentic Bauls. Nabani passed away in 1969.
Baul has been preserved and ARCHIVED by Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul who was raised by Nabani and Brajabala, then by Purna Das Baul and Manju Dasi.
Babu Kishan gave many of the New Baul singers a platform to stand on, and a path to follow.
Babu has archived and preserved his whole tradition decades ago, this has already been done, there is no reason for any outsider to say they are archiving Baul, it is complete. The only fundraising that needs to be done is translation into English and the writing of Books in English.
Baul History is complete, there is no more history or her-story to be made.
Baul has been archived. Today Baul is extinct.
All will be explained in Babu Kishan's new Book he will qualify all and you will understand why Baul History is already complete and many are culturally appropriating Baul and have been doing so for years.
This is the Das Baul and Dasi Only Lineage of Baul. There is no other Lineage (period).
Baul has already Archived and Preserved, decades ago.
Babu Kishan completed what his grandparents (Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi) had asked him to do decades ago. These Baul Archives are safe and will be published one by one when the time is right.
This has been going on over the years (outsiders fundraising in the name of Baul) and now is still going on, it needs to 'STOP' because Baul is already preserved and archived. New Baul singers fundraising to preserve Baul are cheaters and are using this tradition for their own selfish purposes.
If anybody is saying they are preserving Baul, think twice before you fall into donating money because BAUL has already been preserved.
There is no need for an outsider to procure donations to do what does not belong to them, especially when it is complete?
Babu Kishan will speak about this in time, he is not very happy about the using of his tradition by, New Baul singers who are not even from Bengal.
-------------------------------------------------------
Baul has been preserved and ARCHIVED by Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul who was raised by Nabani and Brajabala, then by Purna Das Baul and Manju Dasi.
Babu Kishan gave many of the New Baul singers a platform to stand on, and a path to follow.
Babu has archived and preserved his whole tradition decades ago, this has already been done, there is no reason for any outsider to say they are archiving Baul, it is complete. The only fundraising that needs to be done is translation into English and the writing of Books in English.
Baul History is complete, there is no more history or her-story to be made.
Baul has been archived. Today Baul is extinct.
All will be explained in Babu Kishan's new Book he will qualify all and you will understand why Baul History is already complete and many are culturally appropriating Baul and have been doing so for years.
This is the Das Baul and Dasi Only Lineage of Baul. There is no other Lineage (period).
Purna Das Baul on his father 'Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Rabindranath Tagore'.
"My father would say that Tagore was very spiritually oriented.
However, many of his thoughts on spiritualism were scattered.
It was in order to bring these thoughts into a trajectory that Tagore required my father, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
Tagore would look up to my father both as a friend and as a guru.
My father taught him the various philosophical discourses of Baul. As such, Tagore had accepted my father as a guru who could initiate him into Baul philosophy.
At times, Tagore would see my father as a friend, at other times, as a guru.
It was from a sense of deep respect Tagore had for my father that he gave him the name ‘Khyapa Baul.’ My father too had told him jokingly, “You call me Khyapa Baul and I shall call you Robi Baul!”
They had a relationship which was based on the exchange of philosophical and spiritual ideas. That is why Tagore had a specific regard for my father, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul. My father was a constant presence at the Tagore household.
Whenever Tagore would stray, even a bit, from the trajectory of his thoughts, he would call for Nabani Das Khyapa Baul. "
"My father would say that Tagore was very spiritually oriented.
However, many of his thoughts on spiritualism were scattered.
It was in order to bring these thoughts into a trajectory that Tagore required my father, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
Tagore would look up to my father both as a friend and as a guru.
My father taught him the various philosophical discourses of Baul. As such, Tagore had accepted my father as a guru who could initiate him into Baul philosophy.
At times, Tagore would see my father as a friend, at other times, as a guru.
It was from a sense of deep respect Tagore had for my father that he gave him the name ‘Khyapa Baul.’ My father too had told him jokingly, “You call me Khyapa Baul and I shall call you Robi Baul!”
They had a relationship which was based on the exchange of philosophical and spiritual ideas. That is why Tagore had a specific regard for my father, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul. My father was a constant presence at the Tagore household.
Whenever Tagore would stray, even a bit, from the trajectory of his thoughts, he would call for Nabani Das Khyapa Baul. "
Although Baul is ARCHIVED and Preserved we never like to give out too much information, exactly for the reason of Cultural Appropriation and the 'Riding on the Coat Tails of this Lineage' Baul is a secret esoteric tradition. Babu Kishan will do something and the followers do not just follow, they take and then say it is about them.
People are now using Baul, making up lineages, watering down, dumbing down, and systematically destroying the "Essence of Baul" the origins in Baul. Babu Kishan is one of the main figures who Brought Baul out of India, he has always encouraged, NEW BAUL SINGERS, little did he know that they would turn around and take their names off of history or her-story and put their own, making up lineages that never existed. This is a huge issue in todays world and people outside of Baul do not have a clue.
They are the 'fake it til you make it Bauls' and some are aggressive in their appropriation, using theatrical techniques.
#socialmedia #news #indianheritage #baulhistory #theqint #bengal#calcutta #rabindranathtagore #ndtv #timesofkolkata #bobdylan#allenginsberg #purnadasbaul #babukishan #shantiniketan #anandbazar#patrika #aajkal #hindunewspaper #kolkata #india #zeenews #googlenews#amazon #google #birbhum #baul #historicalbaul #getitstraight
People are now using Baul, making up lineages, watering down, dumbing down, and systematically destroying the "Essence of Baul" the origins in Baul. Babu Kishan is one of the main figures who Brought Baul out of India, he has always encouraged, NEW BAUL SINGERS, little did he know that they would turn around and take their names off of history or her-story and put their own, making up lineages that never existed. This is a huge issue in todays world and people outside of Baul do not have a clue.
They are the 'fake it til you make it Bauls' and some are aggressive in their appropriation, using theatrical techniques.
#socialmedia #news #indianheritage #baulhistory #theqint #bengal#calcutta #rabindranathtagore #ndtv #timesofkolkata #bobdylan#allenginsberg #purnadasbaul #babukishan #shantiniketan #anandbazar#patrika #aajkal #hindunewspaper #kolkata #india #zeenews #googlenews#amazon #google #birbhum #baul #historicalbaul #getitstraight
A Baul Song written by Rabindranath Tagore, and gifted to Nabani Das "Khyapa". Sung by Purna Chandra Das. The entire right of this song now belongs to the descendants of Nabani Das. This song is not available in any of Vishwabharati's documents.
This song does not exist in "Geetabitan" or even "Rabindra Rachanabali" (The Entire Collected Works of Rabindranath Tagore). What is interesting in this song is the "bhuni" added by the poet.
As a tradition, baul songs are always sung and picked up by others; it is is never "written". So the authors add a line in the song or poem, revealing their own identity, so that the his name can remain attached to his creation. Rabindranath followed the same tradition here and added the word "Thakur Robi bole...". I hope you will enjoy this.#socialmedia #news #indianheritage #baulhistory #theqint #bengal#calcutta #rabindranathtagore #ndtv #timesofkolkata #bobdylan#allenginsberg #purnadasbaul #babukishan #shantiniketan #anandbazar#patrika #aajkal #hindunewspaper #kolkata #india #zeenews #googlenews#amazon #google #birbhum #baul #historicalbaul #getitstraight
This song does not exist in "Geetabitan" or even "Rabindra Rachanabali" (The Entire Collected Works of Rabindranath Tagore). What is interesting in this song is the "bhuni" added by the poet.
As a tradition, baul songs are always sung and picked up by others; it is is never "written". So the authors add a line in the song or poem, revealing their own identity, so that the his name can remain attached to his creation. Rabindranath followed the same tradition here and added the word "Thakur Robi bole...". I hope you will enjoy this.#socialmedia #news #indianheritage #baulhistory #theqint #bengal#calcutta #rabindranathtagore #ndtv #timesofkolkata #bobdylan#allenginsberg #purnadasbaul #babukishan #shantiniketan #anandbazar#patrika #aajkal #hindunewspaper #kolkata #india #zeenews #googlenews#amazon #google #birbhum #baul #historicalbaul #getitstraight
The Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
“That is why, brother, I became a madcap Baul. No master I obey, nor injunctions, canons or custom. Now no men-made distinctions have any hold on me, and I revel only in the gladness of my own welling love. In love there's no separation, but commingling always. So I rejoice in song and dance with each and all."
Rabindra Nath Tagore, The Hibbert Lecture, Oxford, 1930
Rabindranath Tagore became a Baul when the legendary Sri Nabani (Gosia) Das Khyappa Baul gave Tagore the name Ravi (Robi) Baul and in return Tagore gave Nabani (Noboni) the name Khyappa Baul and named him 'Mirror of the Sky'. To this very day villagers in Birbhum remember a legendary Tantric Vaishnav Baul Saint Avadhut named Nabani Das Khyappa Baul.
“That is why, brother, I became a madcap Baul. No master I obey, nor injunctions, canons or custom. Now no men-made distinctions have any hold on me, and I revel only in the gladness of my own welling love. In love there's no separation, but commingling always. So I rejoice in song and dance with each and all."
Rabindra Nath Tagore, The Hibbert Lecture, Oxford, 1930
Rabindranath Tagore became a Baul when the legendary Sri Nabani (Gosia) Das Khyappa Baul gave Tagore the name Ravi (Robi) Baul and in return Tagore gave Nabani (Noboni) the name Khyappa Baul and named him 'Mirror of the Sky'. To this very day villagers in Birbhum remember a legendary Tantric Vaishnav Baul Saint Avadhut named Nabani Das Khyappa Baul.
Nabani Das Khyappa Baul 1954 by British Photographer Richard Lannoy.
Rabindranath Tagore became a Baul when the legendary Sri Nabani (Gosia) Das Khyappa Baul gave Tagore the name Ravi (Robi) Baul and in return Tagore gave Nabani (Noboni) the name Khyappa Baul and named him 'Mirror of the Sky'. To this very day villagers in Birbhum remember a legendary Tantric Vaishnav Baul Saint Avadhut named Nabani Das Khyappa Baul.
Rabindranath Tagore the great Bengali Noble prize winner for literature and the writer of the Indian, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan national anthems, loved Nabani and Nabani is the only Baul who inspired and associated with Tagore of course he was Tagore's one and only Baul Guru.
Rabindranath Tagore the great Bengali Noble prize winner for literature and the writer of the Indian, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan national anthems, loved Nabani and Nabani is the only Baul who inspired and associated with Tagore of course he was Tagore's one and only Baul Guru.
PHOTO:
BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE OF HIS (BAUL GURU)
'NABANI DAS KHYAPA BAUL'
The only authentic Baul who inspired and influenced Tagore. They were best friends. If you are talking about Baul & Tagore and you are not talking about Nabani Das Khyapa Baul you do not know what you are talking about because Nabani was Tagore's only Baul Guru.
BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE OF HIS (BAUL GURU)
'NABANI DAS KHYAPA BAUL'
The only authentic Baul who inspired and influenced Tagore. They were best friends. If you are talking about Baul & Tagore and you are not talking about Nabani Das Khyapa Baul you do not know what you are talking about because Nabani was Tagore's only Baul Guru.
The only stories of Tagore and Baul are about Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Tagore (period).
In the middle of no where you came and taking the stories but the names off the real stories replacing the names, taking the names making stories and I bet you do not even know the true stories, making new stories everyday, generation after generation this family has been preserving Baul, this is Cultural Misappropriation. Before there was internet this lineage, this family of Bauls were taking Baul to the world.
There is only one lineage Baul and this is one and only family brought Baul throughout India and the world. Baul is from Birbhum Bengal and Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the only Baul who had anything to do with Tagore, he was and is the only Baul who was involved with Tagore, Why? Because Nabani was Rabindranath Tagore Baul Guru.
This family can be seen on the cover of Bob Dylan's album John Westley Harding in 1967 they brought Baul outside of India, they are associated with Dylan not others.
This family and only lineage fundraised along with Ravi Shankar and the Indian contingent in 1970, 71, 72 and 75 in London along with the Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the floods in Bangladesh. This family has always been honoured at Tagore Centres around the world because of Nabani's close personal association with Tagore. They have always been honoured guests in Bangladesh with the government and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. You should know Babu Kishan's mother is from Bangladesh and when she lived there, ... there were no Baul's in Bangladesh. Babu Kishan was one of the first composers to put a tune to Lalon Fakir poetry before that he was a poet and there was no tune to his poetry. Baul always has a tune and a huge philosophy and sadhana's (practices). They are not just poets.
Allen Ginsberg is only friends with this family and a was a great personal friend or Babu Kishan's for decades, he had nothing to do with Lalon other than putting his name Lalon on a piece of poetry. Ginsberg's Baul Guru was only Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. (period) and it was Ginsberg who brought Purna Das Paul and Laxshman Das Baul to America because he wanted his Guru Nabani Das Baul but he would not. Huge assumptions and many fake writings have been made over the years just on copy and paste and the fake stories on the internet?
There are so many fake stories and wrong writings in Books and on the internet about Baul. Babu Kishan was a decades long friend of Ginsberg visiting him in New York every year for decades, Ginsbery wrote poetry about Nabani and that is all he wanted to talk about was Nabani he never ever mentioned Lalon, he never met Lalon had no clue?
Lalon Fakir (note the name fakir or shah is not Baul) was a great poet he was NOT a 'Baul' of course Tagore liked his poetry but he had no association.
Sri Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the only Baul who initiated Tagore into Baul and gave him the name Ravi (Robi) Baul and Tagore gave Nabani the name "Mirror of the Sky" and "Khyapa Baul". He is the only Baul who taught and was a Professor of Baul song and dance at Vishva Bharati University, Tagore's University in Shantiniketan Birbhum India. Nabani was also, a teacher to Indira Gandhi that is why he became much admired by Nehru and sang at the opening of his speeches for the "Indian freedom Movement".
Tagore gave Nabani a place and land to stay and be with him all the time.
I surely hope you are NOT teaching Baul from the internet or books because most of what the internet says about Baul is wrong. This is a huge history there is no Tagore and stories about Baul without 'Nabani Das Khyapa Baul' and he is Babu Kishan's Guru but yet you are teaching about Baul?
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the father of Purna Das Baul whose Guru is SitaRam Das Omkarnath. Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the Grandfather & Guru to Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul who I know you know.
Nobody would know a thing about Baul without him or his family especially Babu Kishan because he spent his life traveling around the world teaching at all Universities around the world on who and what Baul is and his Grandfather was of extreme importance in his life, he raised him until he passed when Babu was 8, he saved his life because he was not to live at birth, he initiated him into Tara Ma sadhana at Tarapith and all Baul sadhana, it was Nabani and Nabani's wife Babu's Grandmother Brajabala Das who taught Babu oral Sanskrit and all the stories. Nabani gave Babu Kishan his birth name Krishnendu which is Krishna in Bengali. They are his first parents who he bonded with from birth, it was when Babu went to live with his Birth parents (the parents who gave birth to him) but left him at birth with Nabani and Brajabala.
Tagore took many pictures of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul, these pictures are famous and are at the Royal British Museum in London his relationship with Tagore is well documented, this association is well documented.
Tagore even had a statue made in honour of his "Baul Guru" Nabani Das Baul at Vishva Bharati University in Santiniketan created for Nabani Das Baul by the famed great friend of both Nabani and Tagore by RamKinkar Baj. This sculpture is still there today, and at the Bulpur station MF Hussain the great artist did art work of Nabani Das Baul, why because he loved him as did millions of others, including all famed poets, authors during that time. Really if you are going to teach about Baul and Tagore the only association was with Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
If you Love Rabindranath Tagore and Baul obviously you would respect the only connection between Baul and Tagore this lineage of Baul? The only way you know about Baul is through this lineage or a few books. The hard work this lineage did bringing Baul outside the village so you could know about Baul obviously there should be some respect especially if you are teaching Baul.
It was the Indian Government and Tagore's University and society who sent this family all over the world to all Tagore Societies around the world?
In the middle of no where you came and taking the stories but the names off the real stories replacing the names, taking the names making stories and I bet you do not even know the true stories, making new stories everyday, generation after generation this family has been preserving Baul, this is Cultural Misappropriation. Before there was internet this lineage, this family of Bauls were taking Baul to the world.
There is only one lineage Baul and this is one and only family brought Baul throughout India and the world. Baul is from Birbhum Bengal and Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the only Baul who had anything to do with Tagore, he was and is the only Baul who was involved with Tagore, Why? Because Nabani was Rabindranath Tagore Baul Guru.
This family can be seen on the cover of Bob Dylan's album John Westley Harding in 1967 they brought Baul outside of India, they are associated with Dylan not others.
This family and only lineage fundraised along with Ravi Shankar and the Indian contingent in 1970, 71, 72 and 75 in London along with the Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the floods in Bangladesh. This family has always been honoured at Tagore Centres around the world because of Nabani's close personal association with Tagore. They have always been honoured guests in Bangladesh with the government and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. You should know Babu Kishan's mother is from Bangladesh and when she lived there, ... there were no Baul's in Bangladesh. Babu Kishan was one of the first composers to put a tune to Lalon Fakir poetry before that he was a poet and there was no tune to his poetry. Baul always has a tune and a huge philosophy and sadhana's (practices). They are not just poets.
Allen Ginsberg is only friends with this family and a was a great personal friend or Babu Kishan's for decades, he had nothing to do with Lalon other than putting his name Lalon on a piece of poetry. Ginsberg's Baul Guru was only Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. (period) and it was Ginsberg who brought Purna Das Paul and Laxshman Das Baul to America because he wanted his Guru Nabani Das Baul but he would not. Huge assumptions and many fake writings have been made over the years just on copy and paste and the fake stories on the internet?
There are so many fake stories and wrong writings in Books and on the internet about Baul. Babu Kishan was a decades long friend of Ginsberg visiting him in New York every year for decades, Ginsbery wrote poetry about Nabani and that is all he wanted to talk about was Nabani he never ever mentioned Lalon, he never met Lalon had no clue?
Lalon Fakir (note the name fakir or shah is not Baul) was a great poet he was NOT a 'Baul' of course Tagore liked his poetry but he had no association.
Sri Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the only Baul who initiated Tagore into Baul and gave him the name Ravi (Robi) Baul and Tagore gave Nabani the name "Mirror of the Sky" and "Khyapa Baul". He is the only Baul who taught and was a Professor of Baul song and dance at Vishva Bharati University, Tagore's University in Shantiniketan Birbhum India. Nabani was also, a teacher to Indira Gandhi that is why he became much admired by Nehru and sang at the opening of his speeches for the "Indian freedom Movement".
Tagore gave Nabani a place and land to stay and be with him all the time.
I surely hope you are NOT teaching Baul from the internet or books because most of what the internet says about Baul is wrong. This is a huge history there is no Tagore and stories about Baul without 'Nabani Das Khyapa Baul' and he is Babu Kishan's Guru but yet you are teaching about Baul?
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the father of Purna Das Baul whose Guru is SitaRam Das Omkarnath. Nabani Das Khyapa Baul is the Grandfather & Guru to Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul who I know you know.
Nobody would know a thing about Baul without him or his family especially Babu Kishan because he spent his life traveling around the world teaching at all Universities around the world on who and what Baul is and his Grandfather was of extreme importance in his life, he raised him until he passed when Babu was 8, he saved his life because he was not to live at birth, he initiated him into Tara Ma sadhana at Tarapith and all Baul sadhana, it was Nabani and Nabani's wife Babu's Grandmother Brajabala Das who taught Babu oral Sanskrit and all the stories. Nabani gave Babu Kishan his birth name Krishnendu which is Krishna in Bengali. They are his first parents who he bonded with from birth, it was when Babu went to live with his Birth parents (the parents who gave birth to him) but left him at birth with Nabani and Brajabala.
Tagore took many pictures of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul, these pictures are famous and are at the Royal British Museum in London his relationship with Tagore is well documented, this association is well documented.
Tagore even had a statue made in honour of his "Baul Guru" Nabani Das Baul at Vishva Bharati University in Santiniketan created for Nabani Das Baul by the famed great friend of both Nabani and Tagore by RamKinkar Baj. This sculpture is still there today, and at the Bulpur station MF Hussain the great artist did art work of Nabani Das Baul, why because he loved him as did millions of others, including all famed poets, authors during that time. Really if you are going to teach about Baul and Tagore the only association was with Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
If you Love Rabindranath Tagore and Baul obviously you would respect the only connection between Baul and Tagore this lineage of Baul? The only way you know about Baul is through this lineage or a few books. The hard work this lineage did bringing Baul outside the village so you could know about Baul obviously there should be some respect especially if you are teaching Baul.
It was the Indian Government and Tagore's University and society who sent this family all over the world to all Tagore Societies around the world?
RABINDRANATH TAGORE COMMISSIONED RAM KINKAR BAJ TO SCULPT THIS STATUE OF NABANI DAS KYAPA BAUL, IT STANDS AT VISVA BHARTI UNIVERSITY IN SANTINIKETAN
To the untrained eye and ear wandering and singing a song does not make one a Baul. Rabindranath honoured Nabani because he was an ecstatic mystic full of wisdom, he admired his poetry, his tune and his depth in sadhana as a Tantric Yogi and Baul Avadhut. Rabindranath respected Nabani's ancient lineage and its richness, authentic cultural significance and tradition of wisdom, along with the energetic live wire shaktified pure ecstatic love that Nabani embodied.
Tagore appointed Nabani Das Baul as a Professor of Baul music and dance at the Tagore Vishva Bharti University that Tagore created in Shantineketan. Nabani is the first and last Baul to teach at Vishva Bharti University. One of Nabani's students was Indira Gandhi, her father Jawaharlal Nehru had the greatest respect for Nabani. The Indian Independence movement was in full swing.
In 1947 Nehru appointed Nabani a state singer, where Nabani along with Nehru and his contingent travelled all over India, playing for people, sharing the magic of Baul and Nehru's political messages. No one had ever heard a Baul before outside of Bengal. Nabani would sing and like the Pied Piper the people would come from far and wide.
#tagorebaul #baultagore #RabindranathTagoreandBaul
#AllenGinsbergandBaul #GinsbergandBaul #BobDylanandBaul#BaulandBobDylan #GinsbergandBabukishan #ginsbergandNabanidasKhyapabaul
Tagore appointed Nabani Das Baul as a Professor of Baul music and dance at the Tagore Vishva Bharti University that Tagore created in Shantineketan. Nabani is the first and last Baul to teach at Vishva Bharti University. One of Nabani's students was Indira Gandhi, her father Jawaharlal Nehru had the greatest respect for Nabani. The Indian Independence movement was in full swing.
In 1947 Nehru appointed Nabani a state singer, where Nabani along with Nehru and his contingent travelled all over India, playing for people, sharing the magic of Baul and Nehru's political messages. No one had ever heard a Baul before outside of Bengal. Nabani would sing and like the Pied Piper the people would come from far and wide.
#tagorebaul #baultagore #RabindranathTagoreandBaul
#AllenGinsbergandBaul #GinsbergandBaul #BobDylanandBaul#BaulandBobDylan #GinsbergandBabukishan #ginsbergandNabanidasKhyapabaul
Painting by Nandalal Bose of Nabani Das Khyapa Baulapprox - 1920 -1930
This is a really old painting by the famous Bengali artist 'Nadalal Bose' of Babu Kishan's Grandfather GURU - as you can see Nabani's style was 'Ektara Baya and Nupoor'! All who follow this style have followed Nabani Das Khyapa Baul because he is the creator of this style. :)
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandalal_Bose
The statue below was commissioned by Rabindranath Tagore for "Ram Kinkar Baij' another famous Bengali Artist to create this stature of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
approx - 1920 -1930
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramkinkar_Baij
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul was a great friend with both artists and with Rabindranath Tagore.
This is a really old painting by the famous Bengali artist 'Nadalal Bose' of Babu Kishan's Grandfather GURU - as you can see Nabani's style was 'Ektara Baya and Nupoor'! All who follow this style have followed Nabani Das Khyapa Baul because he is the creator of this style. :)
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandalal_Bose
The statue below was commissioned by Rabindranath Tagore for "Ram Kinkar Baij' another famous Bengali Artist to create this stature of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
approx - 1920 -1930
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramkinkar_Baij
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul was a great friend with both artists and with Rabindranath Tagore.
Sculpture by Ram Kinkar Biaj of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul in Shantiniketan at Vishwa Bharati University - This sculpture was commissioned by Rabindranath Tagore. 1920 - 1930's
Babu's dream in honour of his Grandparents Nabani Das Baul and Brajabala Dasi
In the late 70's and 80's Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul had a dream to start an institute to preserve the Bauls of Bengal. He worked tirelessly towards his goal and somehow it did not come to fruition. However, no older and more focused on his goal he is in the process of creating BHAVA Baul Historical Ashram and Vedic Academy of Performing Arts under the Ektara Foundation.
Please stay tuned more to come in 2012
Nabani Das Baul and Rabindranath Tagore, Nabani Das Baul is the Baul who inspired Tagore.
That is why, brother, I became a madcap Baul. No master I obey, nor injunctions, canons or custom. Now no men-made distinctions have any hold on me, And I revel only in the gladness of my own welling love. In love there's no separation, but commingling always. So I rejoice in song and dance with each and all."
-- Rabindra Nath Tagore
The Hibbert Lecture, Oxford, 1930
Sri Nabani Das Baul with his Gopi Chand this name comes only from the Vaishnava Baul lineage...
The famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, was the one person in the world who talked about the Bauls, he had met Lalon Fakir, but it was Sri Nabani Das Baul who became his Baul Guru, and his best friend. Nabina Das was the Baul who inspired Rabindranath Tagore this is known form stories within the Lineage Baul. You see Bauls are from a oral tradition of storyteller, this particular lineage are sanskrit scholar, meaning everything is remember by hearing an repeating in sanskrit and spoken in Bengali to the people of the village. There was a long history between the Rabindranath Tagore and Nabani Das Khyappa Baul, and many stories to be told that have never been told.
Rabindranath Tagore the great poet, novelist, musician, playwright, and artist from West Bengal, India knew Sri Nabani Das personally, Nabani Das was the Baul who inspired Rabindranath. Tagore built Nabani a place to do his sadhana on his land, had statue sculpted of Nabani Das Baul and installed, you can view at the Vishva Bharti University in Santineketan. Vishva Bharti is the University Rabindranath created Shantinekaten.
Rabindranath also photographed pictures of Nabani that you can see at the Royal British Museum in London and now anywhere where his grandson Babukishan aka Krishnendu is. Most people use this picute of Nabani Das Baul when cut and pasting regarding Baul but do not even know who this Baul is or what his influence on Rabindranath was?
Some of the eminent painting and drawing that were done of Nabani Das Khyappa Baul were done by many renowned Bengal painters, who were also very close to Nabani Das and considered as very good friends, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy. Nabani Das Baul was Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Baul music, dance and philosophy teacher atViswa Bharti University, this is how Nabani Das Baul had come to Know Jawaharlal Nehru.
When India gained independence form the British in 1947 Nehru invited Nabani Das Baul to sing at the inaugaration ceremonies all over India, this was through Rabindranath Tagore. Most of the famous songs that the Bauls are singing have been written by Nabani Das Baul or come from this lineage.
It was the American beat Poet Allen Ginsberg who met Baul Saint Nabani Das Baul in the early 60’s, Ginsberg called Nabani Das his Guru and the 8th wonder of the world, even though Nabani didn't want to be Allen’s guru, Allen claimed Nabani Das Baul as his guru. Allen wrote about Sri Nabani Das Baul for the New York times, Nabani preference was to remain anonymous. There were some people before Allen Ginsberg who also recorded and wrote about Nabani Das Baul, including Deben Battacharya who got the date of his death wrong in his book and other writers in Europe and Japan. What one needs to understand is that Bauls are poets and philosophers, Nabani was a poet who wrote thousands of pieces of poetry or Baul songs, these songs have never beeen published and are only held in memory by a Baul linage holder.
Tagore knew a little bit about Bauls, and as he learned more developed an interest learning more and more and was finally inititated into the Vaishnava Baul by Nabani Das Baul which is a fact whether it is written down or not. The stories are held in the oral tradition and there are many picture which are not shared in this article. They will be shared when we publish because one can see how the world has changed and it is through pictures and people outside that tradtion namely scholars who think they hold all knowledge. For example take a look at the whole Baul tradition it is being watered down and distorted to such a degree, what you see today is not what it was even 30 years ago.
One may ask why is Nabani Das Baul's name not written about in Rabindranaths writings, it is because Nabani being a real Baul Sadhu and he never wanted to be known. He was a deep Baul sadhaka this was the way of avadhuta's who preformed a lot of sadhana, it is only now these stories and photos will come to fruition because who would have thought all would be so distorted, who would have thought the world would be so changed after thousands of years, who would of thought that the Bauls would become so cut off from their roots, and the oral traditions would die. The information presented here between the relationship between Nabani Das Baul and Rabindranath Tagore is just a small sampling, we will write more as things are published into books, which in the Baul tradition it was never meant to be but times have changed and this is a must to preserve this tradition called Baul of Bengal. Of course we are not going to provide all for facebook. If we did this would be irresponsible, we are only providing enough to just say there is more to the story, the person in the photo that is being passed around is one of the most influential legendary Bauls from an ancient lineage. The picture was take by Rabindranath Tagore himself, for anyone doing research on the Bauls of Bengal and Tagore, the first thing that one should know is Baul is an oral tradition, and one can only properly talk about Baul if one is inside the tradtion, all stories written abou the Baul are mostly copy and paste, so if one wants to learn about Baul and write about their relationship between Tagore one should at least know Baul 101 or all research is defunct, you must get both sides of the story. The second thing one should know is that there is more to the story, be humble, not all is presented here and not all is found in a book of copy and paste. At least first know who the Baul is in the picture, it is not just some Baul, it is a Baul saint and probably one of the last authentic original lineage Bauls.
Rabindranath called Nabani names like khyeppa, actually he gave Nabani the name Khyeppa before this no one was called khyeppa Baul, today many have taken this name. He also called Nabani "Mirror of the Sky"... he used nic names for Nabani Das Baul. Nabain Das Baul was a great poet and the songs Bauls are singing are songs written by Nabani Das Baul. It was this peotry that drew Nabani Das and Rabindranath together as great friends. Poets like to hang out with poets.
There were also some other famous Bengal writers who were so connected and very close friends of Nabani Das Baul, this we know because of the relationship that this lineage Baul and their long relationships with the families of the poets and the Tagore family. Through this association, and over time Rabindranath became Baul. Nabani gave Rabindranath the name Ravi (Robi) Baul, and gave him a guduri (dress), this is how a Baul traditionally inititated one into the Baul tradition.
Many top poets from around the world would travel to see them, they were all intringued, thus Rabindranath started the Poush Mela in honour of Sri Nabani Das Kyappa Baul. Most people do not know this or the history because has not been written about.. and everything that is written is just repeated over and over.. the same story half of it not true.
Rabindranath named the bridge at the Pous Mela Nabani Das Setu. Nabani Das's name has not been preserved the way it should have been, now is the time to start to tell his story. At Tagore University outside the prayer room there is a tree where Nabani Das used to sit, it it preserved there to this day.
Rabindranath Tagore would say to Nabani Das, "You are you a mad maker machine, you have completely changed me with your song, dance, and your smile." You must understand Bauls are more than just poets and philosopher, they are escsatic mystics, sadhaka's, there is something extra-ordinary about a Baul, the lineage is in the poetry in the song and this is what can not help draw the spectator into the bhava of baul. Perhaps it was the poetry that drew Tagore towards Nabani Das Bauls lineage and then hardly no one could refuse the undeniable flow of God intoxication or flow of rasa that Nabani created when he sang his Baul poetry and danced with his Gugubi which he called Ananda Lahari and his Gopi chand now called ektara.
Rabindranath wrote about Nabani Das and used the tune from a Nabani Das Baul song for Rabindranath's song about Nabani Das Baul called.. "Amare paraye paraye khepia berai".... Rabindranath Tagore wrote this song and dedicated to Nabani Das (Khappa Baul) "
Rabindranath Tagore started the Pous Mela in honour of my grandfather Sri Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. Rabindranath created this festival to bring all the poets of the world together and to preserve Bengali culture in Shantiniketan. Tagore also named the bridge at the Pous Mela, the "Nabani Setu" after my Grandfather Sri Nabani Das Baul as he was the first Baul to be introduced through the Pous Mela, he opened the door for other Bauls at the Pous Mela which now has become a Baul Mela. This is Baul history, Nabani Das Baul is a legenadary Baul Saint, not just a poet or playwrite he is a lineage Baul from the roots of Baul going back thousands of years. He is from the lineage of Baul going back 9 generations to Sri Nityananada of Ekkchaka, the best friend of Sri Chaitanya, and going back thousands of years before this. If one wants to write or do research about Tagore and Baul first one has to understand what a Baul is?
Nabani Das Baul was the biggest attraction for the Joy Dev Mela, Rabindranath said to Nabani Das you go to the Joy Dev Mela why not start a Mela here in Shantinekatan to bring together all the poets and storytellers from around the world. He thought Nabani Das would be the biggest attraction for everybody. Rabindranath photographed Nabani Das Baul and you can even view these photographs in the Royal British Museum in London and also on my icon above in yellow. He created a meditation spot for Nabani Das just opposite the glass room in Shantiniketan.
Allen Ginsberg suggested that Nabani Das Baul come to Woodstock New York, Nabani Das Baul could not go or perhaps he would not go, as he was not well, he sent his son’s, Purna Das Baul and Luxman Das Baul to Woodstock and America in 1967, this was the beginning of this families legendary association with Bob Dylan.
You can see Purna Das Baul and Luxman Das Baul on the cover of Bob Dylans, ‘John Westly Harding’ album. This was the first time any Baul had come to North America, Purna Das had already traveled to Russia and all over India. Purna Das Baul has now been traveling for over 70 years.
Krishnendu Das Baul has been traveling for over 40 years around the world, with his father and mother at first, and then by myself, continuous traveling, promoting Baul, lecturing about Baul. It is not easy to do because most people have short attention spans. It is easy for the new Baul singers to change the story, to make up their own story and undue any of the work that has been done? As i said they sing the songs composed by my grandfather, my family and never mention who composed the songs mostly because they do not know? Baul is and always has been for thousands of years been based on Indian Philosophy, The Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads...
Nabani Das Khyappa Baul was already famous through his ecstatic Baul sadhana and divine ecstatic singing that would propel even a casual passerby into the bhava divine blissful God intoxication. This is what a lineage is, this is what Baul singing is about, it is not about singing a folk song.
Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul born in Suri Birbhum West Bengal India into a many thousand year old Baul lineage. Grandson of Nabani Das Baul, eldest son of Purna Das Baul.
-- Rabindra Nath Tagore
The Hibbert Lecture, Oxford, 1930
The famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, was the one person in the world who talked about the Bauls, he had met Lalon Fakir, but it was Sri Nabani Das Baul who became his Baul Guru, and his best friend. Nabina Das was the Baul who inspired Rabindranath Tagore this is known form stories within the Lineage Baul. You see Bauls are from a oral tradition of storyteller, this particular lineage are sanskrit scholar, meaning everything is remember by hearing an repeating in sanskrit and spoken in Bengali to the people of the village. There was a long history between the Rabindranath Tagore and Nabani Das Khyappa Baul, and many stories to be told that have never been told.
Rabindranath Tagore the great poet, novelist, musician, playwright, and artist from West Bengal, India knew Sri Nabani Das personally, Nabani Das was the Baul who inspired Rabindranath. Tagore built Nabani a place to do his sadhana on his land, had statue sculpted of Nabani Das Baul and installed, you can view at the Vishva Bharti University in Santineketan. Vishva Bharti is the University Rabindranath created Shantinekaten.
Rabindranath also photographed pictures of Nabani that you can see at the Royal British Museum in London and now anywhere where his grandson Babukishan aka Krishnendu is. Most people use this picute of Nabani Das Baul when cut and pasting regarding Baul but do not even know who this Baul is or what his influence on Rabindranath was?
Some of the eminent painting and drawing that were done of Nabani Das Khyappa Baul were done by many renowned Bengal painters, who were also very close to Nabani Das and considered as very good friends, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy. Nabani Das Baul was Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Baul music, dance and philosophy teacher atViswa Bharti University, this is how Nabani Das Baul had come to Know Jawaharlal Nehru.
When India gained independence form the British in 1947 Nehru invited Nabani Das Baul to sing at the inaugaration ceremonies all over India, this was through Rabindranath Tagore. Most of the famous songs that the Bauls are singing have been written by Nabani Das Baul or come from this lineage.
It was the American beat Poet Allen Ginsberg who met Baul Saint Nabani Das Baul in the early 60’s, Ginsberg called Nabani Das his Guru and the 8th wonder of the world, even though Nabani didn't want to be Allen’s guru, Allen claimed Nabani Das Baul as his guru. Allen wrote about Sri Nabani Das Baul for the New York times, Nabani preference was to remain anonymous. There were some people before Allen Ginsberg who also recorded and wrote about Nabani Das Baul, including Deben Battacharya who got the date of his death wrong in his book and other writers in Europe and Japan. What one needs to understand is that Bauls are poets and philosophers, Nabani was a poet who wrote thousands of pieces of poetry or Baul songs, these songs have never beeen published and are only held in memory by a Baul linage holder.
Tagore knew a little bit about Bauls, and as he learned more developed an interest learning more and more and was finally inititated into the Vaishnava Baul by Nabani Das Baul which is a fact whether it is written down or not. The stories are held in the oral tradition and there are many picture which are not shared in this article. They will be shared when we publish because one can see how the world has changed and it is through pictures and people outside that tradtion namely scholars who think they hold all knowledge. For example take a look at the whole Baul tradition it is being watered down and distorted to such a degree, what you see today is not what it was even 30 years ago.
One may ask why is Nabani Das Baul's name not written about in Rabindranaths writings, it is because Nabani being a real Baul Sadhu and he never wanted to be known. He was a deep Baul sadhaka this was the way of avadhuta's who preformed a lot of sadhana, it is only now these stories and photos will come to fruition because who would have thought all would be so distorted, who would have thought the world would be so changed after thousands of years, who would of thought that the Bauls would become so cut off from their roots, and the oral traditions would die. The information presented here between the relationship between Nabani Das Baul and Rabindranath Tagore is just a small sampling, we will write more as things are published into books, which in the Baul tradition it was never meant to be but times have changed and this is a must to preserve this tradition called Baul of Bengal. Of course we are not going to provide all for facebook. If we did this would be irresponsible, we are only providing enough to just say there is more to the story, the person in the photo that is being passed around is one of the most influential legendary Bauls from an ancient lineage. The picture was take by Rabindranath Tagore himself, for anyone doing research on the Bauls of Bengal and Tagore, the first thing that one should know is Baul is an oral tradition, and one can only properly talk about Baul if one is inside the tradtion, all stories written abou the Baul are mostly copy and paste, so if one wants to learn about Baul and write about their relationship between Tagore one should at least know Baul 101 or all research is defunct, you must get both sides of the story. The second thing one should know is that there is more to the story, be humble, not all is presented here and not all is found in a book of copy and paste. At least first know who the Baul is in the picture, it is not just some Baul, it is a Baul saint and probably one of the last authentic original lineage Bauls.
Rabindranath called Nabani names like khyeppa, actually he gave Nabani the name Khyeppa before this no one was called khyeppa Baul, today many have taken this name. He also called Nabani "Mirror of the Sky"... he used nic names for Nabani Das Baul. Nabain Das Baul was a great poet and the songs Bauls are singing are songs written by Nabani Das Baul. It was this peotry that drew Nabani Das and Rabindranath together as great friends. Poets like to hang out with poets.
There were also some other famous Bengal writers who were so connected and very close friends of Nabani Das Baul, this we know because of the relationship that this lineage Baul and their long relationships with the families of the poets and the Tagore family. Through this association, and over time Rabindranath became Baul. Nabani gave Rabindranath the name Ravi (Robi) Baul, and gave him a guduri (dress), this is how a Baul traditionally inititated one into the Baul tradition.
Many top poets from around the world would travel to see them, they were all intringued, thus Rabindranath started the Poush Mela in honour of Sri Nabani Das Kyappa Baul. Most people do not know this or the history because has not been written about.. and everything that is written is just repeated over and over.. the same story half of it not true.
Rabindranath named the bridge at the Pous Mela Nabani Das Setu. Nabani Das's name has not been preserved the way it should have been, now is the time to start to tell his story. At Tagore University outside the prayer room there is a tree where Nabani Das used to sit, it it preserved there to this day.
Rabindranath Tagore would say to Nabani Das, "You are you a mad maker machine, you have completely changed me with your song, dance, and your smile." You must understand Bauls are more than just poets and philosopher, they are escsatic mystics, sadhaka's, there is something extra-ordinary about a Baul, the lineage is in the poetry in the song and this is what can not help draw the spectator into the bhava of baul. Perhaps it was the poetry that drew Tagore towards Nabani Das Bauls lineage and then hardly no one could refuse the undeniable flow of God intoxication or flow of rasa that Nabani created when he sang his Baul poetry and danced with his Gugubi which he called Ananda Lahari and his Gopi chand now called ektara.
Rabindranath wrote about Nabani Das and used the tune from a Nabani Das Baul song for Rabindranath's song about Nabani Das Baul called.. "Amare paraye paraye khepia berai".... Rabindranath Tagore wrote this song and dedicated to Nabani Das (Khappa Baul) "
Rabindranath Tagore started the Pous Mela in honour of my grandfather Sri Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. Rabindranath created this festival to bring all the poets of the world together and to preserve Bengali culture in Shantiniketan. Tagore also named the bridge at the Pous Mela, the "Nabani Setu" after my Grandfather Sri Nabani Das Baul as he was the first Baul to be introduced through the Pous Mela, he opened the door for other Bauls at the Pous Mela which now has become a Baul Mela. This is Baul history, Nabani Das Baul is a legenadary Baul Saint, not just a poet or playwrite he is a lineage Baul from the roots of Baul going back thousands of years. He is from the lineage of Baul going back 9 generations to Sri Nityananada of Ekkchaka, the best friend of Sri Chaitanya, and going back thousands of years before this. If one wants to write or do research about Tagore and Baul first one has to understand what a Baul is?
Nabani Das Baul was the biggest attraction for the Joy Dev Mela, Rabindranath said to Nabani Das you go to the Joy Dev Mela why not start a Mela here in Shantinekatan to bring together all the poets and storytellers from around the world. He thought Nabani Das would be the biggest attraction for everybody. Rabindranath photographed Nabani Das Baul and you can even view these photographs in the Royal British Museum in London and also on my icon above in yellow. He created a meditation spot for Nabani Das just opposite the glass room in Shantiniketan.
Allen Ginsberg suggested that Nabani Das Baul come to Woodstock New York, Nabani Das Baul could not go or perhaps he would not go, as he was not well, he sent his son’s, Purna Das Baul and Luxman Das Baul to Woodstock and America in 1967, this was the beginning of this families legendary association with Bob Dylan.
You can see Purna Das Baul and Luxman Das Baul on the cover of Bob Dylans, ‘John Westly Harding’ album. This was the first time any Baul had come to North America, Purna Das had already traveled to Russia and all over India. Purna Das Baul has now been traveling for over 70 years.
Krishnendu Das Baul has been traveling for over 40 years around the world, with his father and mother at first, and then by myself, continuous traveling, promoting Baul, lecturing about Baul. It is not easy to do because most people have short attention spans. It is easy for the new Baul singers to change the story, to make up their own story and undue any of the work that has been done? As i said they sing the songs composed by my grandfather, my family and never mention who composed the songs mostly because they do not know? Baul is and always has been for thousands of years been based on Indian Philosophy, The Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads...
Nabani Das Khyappa Baul was already famous through his ecstatic Baul sadhana and divine ecstatic singing that would propel even a casual passerby into the bhava divine blissful God intoxication. This is what a lineage is, this is what Baul singing is about, it is not about singing a folk song.
Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul born in Suri Birbhum West Bengal India into a many thousand year old Baul lineage. Grandson of Nabani Das Baul, eldest son of Purna Das Baul.
Statue of Nabani Das Baul commissioned by Rabindranath Tagore at Vishva Bharti University.
This statue can be viewed in front of the Agricultural department Krishi Bhavan at Vishva Bharti University, in Santiniketan, it is a symbol of the rural culture of Bengal. Vishava Bharti is the University Tagore created...
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