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Deben Bhattacharya was wrong about the death time of Nabani in his book, he says Nabani passed away in 1962, not true Nabani passed away in 1969. There are other misleading statements written and told about Nabani by Deben Bhattacharya.
Nabani Das Baul
1895? -1969
Nabani was the only Baul to initiate Rabindranath Tagore into Baul and he was recorded many times and new about recording equipment, many decades before it is stated in some other books.
I could go on and on, there are many who name drop Nabani Das Khyapa Bauls name, tell stories but have not got a clue. All will be qualified. If all anyone can say is stories of his use of cannabis, it just shows your misunderstanding of who Nabani was, he was an adept and all Bauls copying his songs and style, yet the take his name off, or print something about ganja??
Low minded souls, Nabani was a Tantric adept and knew the spirit of cannabis, it was a private practice, not a practice to sit around and be video taped, you can tell a true tantric by how many souls they actually helped, Nabani's inner life, was true sahaja, he was a real Baul Avadhut, not a fake copy cat.
Nabani Das Baul
1895? -1969
Mirror of the Sky is the name Rabindranath Tagore gave Das Kyappa Baul, Nabani was known as 'Khepa Baul and Mirror of the Sky'.
All Bauls followed Nabani and this Lineage.
Ektara, Baya and Napoor (medal ankle bells) were known as Nabani Das Baul's style. He had his own style of dance and way, all who copy his style of dance and the Ektara Baya, Napoor are following Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
All who call themselves Das Baul and Dasi are following this lineage. All who wear the patchwork dress are following Babu Kishan because he designed the dress!
ShantiDev Ghosh who was in charge of the Pous Mela and Tagore's Vishnu Bharti University and Rabindranath Tagore's right hand man used to say, "Nabani Das Baul was the symbol of Baul and the last authentic Baul. He never liked the new Baul singers, he could see right through them and the watering down, destruction of Baul these were called Nakal Bauls, all will be talked about in Babu Kishan's new book, many will not like the truth because they have pulled the wool over the eyes of many for decades, riding on the coat tails of this One and Only Lineage.
Baul is not from Turkey, Persian Bangladesh, Uzbekistan or any other concoction that 'new Baul singers' have fabricated and continue to fabricate in the name of this lineage, taking their names off and adding new names, culturally appropriating and making people stupid. Baul is only from Birbhum and all Bauls follow this lineage, they sing their songs, dress as them. copy them and follow them around the world.
Baul is NOT an ambrella name for random groups of people who wandered Bengal. Baul is NOT Muslim, that is a recent fabrication.
Call yourself a Baul, copy this lineage, travel around the world, that was what Babu Kishan always promoted and that is why he helped so many Bauls however, what he never expected was the lies, distortions, and made up new lineages, he never expected people to steal his Grandfather poetry and the out right lies of putting other poets names on. He did not expect what is going on today after 40 years or more of teaching Baul around the world.
Stayed tuned for his new 4th Book and a Youtube tell all called 'Spotlight on Babu Kishan.
Nothing is wrong with Baul fusion he loves it, he is the one who started Baul fusion decades ago but do not make up stories and put the poets names on the songs. Babu Kishan created Baul Fusion decades before others are claiming? He is the first yet you will see others claiming this?
Baul has been recorded and archived by Babu Kishan decades ago. He has spent a lifetime doing this.
If you do not know that is not an excuse, you do not know because you are not a Baul and using Baul to fundraise or become a Baba or Maa it may seem like a good business but this is someones family and lineage you are using.
Ram Kinkar Baij the well known respected and best friend of Nabani's and Tagore was commissioned to create this statue of Nabani Das Baul for Rabindranath Tagore, it stands at Vishva Bharti University in Shantiniketan Birbhum Bengal in honour of Nabani. It was created a very long time ago and is a very old statue probably dated 1940's.
To this day Nabani Das Baul is still the symbol of Baul, but the young people will never know this history or her-story unless it is told, there is so much distortion it is embarrassing to this lineage and family. This is a drawing of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul who is the symbol of Baul. The new students need to understand and remember the significance of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
Photo take by Rabindranath Tagore it is at the Royal British Museum too.
