https://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/2025/09/baul-vayu-tula-new-book-historical.html
Official Book Update & Call for Authenticity!
Heads up! We're pushing the book release to early 2026. It's coming—we are close to the finish line, promise!
In the meantime, we're giving you a preview: a strong letter from Krishnendu Das Baul (Babu Kishan) that will be featured in the book.
Why the urgency? The book, "Reclaiming the Bauls of Birbhum, W Bengal India," is a necessary stand against the flood of fake narratives and false "Baul" claims dominating social media and papers.
We are backed by the highest Cultural offices in India:
ICCR
Sangeet Natak Akademi
The Cultural Ministry of India
And many other National and Bengali Government offices.
The time for silence is over. We will no longer stand by and watch the misappropriation of the authentic Baul legacy. Enough is enough.
It has come to our attention that an individual promoting themselves as an authentic Baul Voice a know it all, representative has been copying, replicating, and disseminating material directly from this blog and the writings of KD Babu Kishan without permission or attribution. This will all be spelled out in our upcoming Historical Autobiography of Mystic Baul. Some not copied directly, but using stories, terms, songs, tattvas, going everwhere this lineage has gone trying to infere they are the most popular Baul, no that is impossible. This is stealing the legacy of this lineage remaking everything Babu Kishan has done as a first and last regarding Baul, including what Nabani Das Khyapa, and Purna Das Bauls history already lived, as if they lived his life of Babu Kishan, Purna Das Baul and Nabani Das Khyapa Baul, this is beyond insane. Using terms that have never been used in Baul before all of sudden used in the Baul promotions I have listed off these appropriations below in Baul and .....
Furthermore, we must publicly correct the gross misrepresentation concerning the indigenous ancestral most famous Baul, Padma Shre (Baul Samrat) Purna Das Baul while trying to claim all the things he has done in his life, no one can remake his life or achievements they are first and last regarding Baul. The promoter in question has incorrectly and inauthentically labeled the Purna Das Baul as a mere "Shilpi Baul." This distinction is critical and reveals the promoter's inauthenticity:
The Error: The term Shilpi simply means "artist." While all Bauls are artists, labeling someone a Shilpi Baul (in the current context) is often used to mislead audiences about the depth of their spiritual practice (Sadhana). First of all Purna Chandra Das Baul is the one and only famous Baul singer in the past present and future, he could actually really sing and he was famous in the millions highly respected and awarded, he is now in his 90s. That was a cheap shot.
The Truth: Authentic Baul culture is a one and only singular lineage or parampara of Sadhakas (spiritual practitioners). To simplify a venerable artist into a mere "performer" through such inauthentic terminology shows an opportunistic mind copying without truly understanding the soul of the tradition.
To Our Readers: We urge you to question promoters who cannot cite their sources and who use stolen content to spread cultural falsehoods or use Baul to collect people, if you hear Baul Masters used you are dealing with inauthentic opportunistic uninitiated Bauls. The authentic voice of Baul demands respect, research, and honesty, not copyright infringement and easy lies. The whole purpose of the book is to give any person interested in Baul how to qualify, who is using Baul for personal fame riding on the coattails of this lineage, how to tell, and how to ask the questions that lead to discernment.
Purna Das Baul is NOT a Shilpi Baul he is the only famous awarding winning part of Baul history, he is an indigenous ancestral Baul born in Ekachakra Birbhum W Bengal from the pioneering Baul family who introduced Baul to W Bengal, India and the world. The use of the term Shilpi Baul by a vulture to describe Purna Das is inauthentic and opportunistic. This mislabeling betrays a profound lack of understanding of the Baul tradition's philosophical and spiritual foundations.
The Intent: This practice is a calculated attempt to spread misinformation and profit from the authentic cultural legacy of the Bauls while exploiting the work of legitimate indigenous Bauls.
Be warned: We take the unauthorized use of our intellectual property seriously and will pursue all available measures to protect our copyrights and ensure the integrity of the Baul tradition.
Words such as Vulture, Leach and Exploiter come to mind, you have never met Krishnendu Das Baul aka Babu Kishan it is best to hope you never meet him because he is an expert in Purva Paksha, he doesn't like fake. He doesn't like the appropriation of his lineage that you are displaying replacing us by remaking us. He knew all the Bauls and has preserved Baul as an indigenous ancestral Baul for over 60 years and his Guru is Nabani Das Khyapa Baul.
Vulture: Suggests someone circling and waiting to prey on the intellectual labor of others.
Leach (or Leech): Implies someone is sucking the life/value/credibility from your original work.
Exploiter: Accurate for someone taking advantage of a tradition for personal gain.
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Letter by KD Babu Kishan
To the New Generation of Baul Artists, inauthentic practitioners and opportunistic claimants.
I send my greetings in the spirit of the Baul tradition.
The path you now follow was paved by giants. Before offering criticism, we must first salute the pioneers who dedicated their lives to establishing the Baul tradition on a global stage.
Honoring the Foundation and Roots of Baul
The Baul tradition's most authentic and oldest living lineage originates in Birbhum, W Bengal India. This foundation was concretized by a specific singular Parampara or ancestral lineage that successfully brought Baul music and philosophy to the worldwide consciousness:
Baul Pioneer Nabani Das Khyapa Baul (The Baul Sant cherished by Rabindranath Tagore and the last Baul Avadhuta to walk on earth). He was the only Baul Avadhuta in the past generations that was a true tantric Baul and was known at Tarapith, initiated by Bhama Kepa himself and others, no one can be Nabani Das Khyapa Baul or use his life as a marketing campaign for opportunistic inauthentic practitioners regarding Baul.
Baul Samrat Purna Das Baul, a Padma Shri recipient from President Pranab Mukherjee in 2012. Purna Das Baul expanded the legacy of this singular one and only parampara of Baul globally since the 1950's as can be seen on Bob Dylan's album John Westly Harding 1967. Purna Das Baul is the first Indian vocalist to spread Indian cultural singing outside of India as an authentic award winning last famous Baul singer with many President of India Awards. He is the son of one and only BAUL GURU Nabani Das Baul, of course he is an authentic Baul and not to be disrespected by calling him a shilpi Baul? He is the 1st and last authentic ‘Baul singer’ in history of all of his firsts and last regarding Baul belonging to him, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and KD Babu Kishan. You can't replace them by following their lives, remaking where they went, who they associated with while dressing as them, singing their songs while deleting their names and telling their stories as if it belongs to you.
Krishnendu Das Baul (Babu Kishan) for the past 60 years I have led Baul preservation efforts of this lineage, research, recording all of lineages Baul songs & Baul Kirtans of this one and only parampara of Baul, as an indigenous ancestral Baul from the inside of at least 13 generations documented. My Baul Guru is my Grandfather (Boro Baba“Nabani Das Khyapa Baul’ from birth. Nabani Das Khyapa Baul aka Khyapa Baba and Khyapa Baul. My father Purna Das Baul is not a shilpi Baul as recented stated by a non-Baul and uneducated in Baul guy. If not for Purna Das Baul they would not have even know about Baul, I knew their so called Guru, he was 100% not a Baul.
“When people steal from our culture they end up distorting our culture, they turn it into something we do not even recognize, erasing us by replacing us.”
Our family is directly responsible for creating the concrete platform upon which every contemporary Baul opportunistic practitioner now stands. Before our efforts, Baul was largely unknown outside of specific regional pockets in West Bengal and later throughout India when Nabani Das Khyapa Baul was a state of Bengal singer opening to gather people all over India for Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister of India in 1947.
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul sang Baul songs/Baul Kirtans at the inauguration of this new India in 1947 for Nehru, and is the first Baul ever to sing on stages with his unique style of Ektara (Gopi Yantra) Baya at this waist and his own style of Nupoor ankle bells encased in metal. Sri Nityananda (Nitai) was a Vaishnava Sahajiya Tantric Baul Avadhuta (Gosia Candra) of Ekachakra, Bribhum W Bengal; are our ancestors part of our lineage (parampara). My ancestors including Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Baul Samrat (Padma Shri) Purna Das Baul were born in Ekachakra Birbhum W Bengal India this is where our ancestors, and Baul explicitly called the Vaishnava Sahajiya Bauls of Birbhum W Bengal originate.
Today, anyone identifying as a Baul artist, singing Baul songs, or discussing its philosophy owes a debt of gratitude to our family's tireless work over 13 generations documented and hundreds or thousands of years undocumented.
On Authenticity and Respect
While many today choose to perform or act as Bauls, it is crucial to understand the distinction between a Baul Singer and a Real Baul.
Real Bauls maintain a distinct and sacred separation. They do not seek public acclaim or mix with what they perceive as false or commercial representations. Their path is one of divine devotion, not public spectacle.
Contemporary Performers are fundamentally Baul Singers who DO NOT and are NOT initiated into authentic Baul practices. there is no way a one generation self-titled Baul singer is an initiated Baul unless they were born in the 1960's because Nabani Das Baul was the last Baul Guru. Purna Das Baul was his son and what he has done is Baul history, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul initiated Krishnendu Das Baul aka Babu Kishan who never talks about this, he is only coming out in the past few years because he can not believe what has gone on over since the 1970's he kept quite, but today and over the past few decades it is beyond a big joke. Some are even actors with no experience in Indian Cinema but trying hard making videos. They are liars they are not Bauls and this truth must be told for once and for all, tolerance is on a short string.
All the Bauls I knew from the 1960's even the older ones that ended up in W Bengal as refugees from East Pakistan (Bangadesh after the 1971 wAR) forward that were using 'Das Baul and Dasi' were not BAUL. Many decided to call themselves that to suvive while they copied either Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and of course Purna Chandra Das Baul. I can say that with confidence because I knew them all, and each and everyone was either a refugee who saw Purna Das Baul and decided they would follow him and perhaps they too could become famous. I know it sounds insane but it is true. Today, there are no Bauls and those who are calling themselves as Baul is self-titled, that is 100% the truth, and keep in mind not one of them or anybody else would know a thing about Baul but for this singular parampara or lineage based only on ancestry.
There is no such thing as a 'Baul master or Baul artist', this was made up by inauthentic opportunistic people who try every which way they can to use our legacy by making up fake Baul Gurus and fake lineages.
If you choose this path, you must be humble, grateful, and respectful of the true pioneers who made your visibility possible. We are the only Guru shisya parampara sampradya of Baul.
In the past, the philosophy of Baul was often exploited by academics and certain opposition groups solely for personal or commercial benefit. Today, while we see a vast number of performers—some using the context primarily for tourist attraction—this surge in visibility only underscores the success of the pioneering work done by this lineage.
We urge the new generation to think logically: Who made the road from obscurity to ease?
Creating new groups and spreading false, fabricated stories about the tradition is a grave disservice to reality. Such actions are the biggest crime against the sacredness of the Baul path.
An Appeal
If you love Baul, just love Baul. Do not start a circus. Baul is a divine being—a spiritual quest—not a public performance venue for ego.
I, KD Babu Kishan, as the eldest grandson of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and eldest son of Padma Shri Baul Samrat Purna Chandra Das Baul, represents the oldest living lineage on Earth. I am committed to leading the preservation of the real Baul essence and created the a strong platform globally, which they are taking easily now, however, they have no idea of hough tough it was for me in those early days with social media, computers, from University to University, festival to festival, cultural conference to conference, stage to stage, temple to temple, recording all the music presented on the radio, TV at Government bodies worldwide, libraries, Baul fusion created by KD Babu Kishan starting in the 1970’s with all of Indian Cinema singers, international Rock Bandsyou name it without us, there is no platform to steal. I and I were the first Indian National and International Cultural Ambassadors of Baul, Bhakti Yoga, Kirtan, Tantra, Indian Philosophy, Indian Music to the world on a huge platform as Cultural representatives and Cultural Ambassadors of Indian culture and Baul.
This has all been copied, remade their social media by as I have coined by actor hawker Bauls.
We were the first Cultural Ambassadors of India worldwide through the ICCR and Sangeet Natak Akademi.
I created the first comprehensive Baul website in the 1990s to 2006, of which 99% of subsequent online content has drawn from its groundwork. Show gratitude and be humble.
Before criticizing or challenging the history, consider: What do you truly know about Baul other than throwing out false narratives and one offs for commercial collection of people? Many critics were not even born when this family began the arduous, dedicated work of establishing the authentic Baul spirit worldwide and throughout India.
Baul was never a race or competition; why should it be now?
Joy Guru
Krishnendu Das Baul (Gosia Chandra) aka Babu Kishan
The below are only exclusive to this one and only singular Baul Parampara or lineage, all the terms and associations, for too long Baul has been mis-appropriated by inauthentic opportunistic fake Bauls and written about with false narratives by the Colonial Academic scholarly institutions.
Key Baul Figures & Lineage
#NabaniDasKhyapaBaul #PurnaDasBaul #BabuKishan #KrishnenduDasBaul #lineagebaul #baullineage #NabaniDasBaul #dasbaul #NityanandaofEkachakra #ChandiDas #Joydev #GosaiVaishnavaDasBaul ##NeemKaroliBaba #baulparampara
Core Baul Concepts & Philosophy
#Baultantra #GaudiyaVaishnavaandBaul #Baulphilosophy #VaishnavaSahajiya #VaishnavaSahajiyaTantricBauls #KrishnaKaliunity #Krishnakali #RaaiRajaLila #Baulsadhana #BaulAvadhut #BaulAvadhuta #BaulthepathoftheAvadhuta #BaulsahajaKrishnaDattatreyasahahaja #Baultantramantragopiyantra #BaulKirtan #BaultheRasaLilaMystics #BaulVayuTula #Baulwindcatchers #mirrorofthesky
Geographic & Cultural Context
#BirbhumBaul #Birbhum #EkachakraBirbhum #Tarapith #TarapithandBaul #TaraMa&Baul #Kolkata #Shantiniketan #shantiniketanbirbum #Bengal #baulofbengal #baulofbirbhum #India #IncredibleIndia #indianmusic #sangeetnatakakademi
Critique & Preservation
#Baultruth #Baulculturalappropriation #Baulrealhistory #EndangeredBaullineage #Baulendangeredlineageparampara #Baulhistory #baularchive #archivedbaul
Baul Music
#baulmusic #baulgaan #Bauldocumentary #baulsangeet #baulkirtan #ektara #gopiyantra
Related Figures & Movements
#RabindranathTagore #BaulTagore #osho #VaishnavaBaul #TantricBaul #vaishnavaaghori #Ramakrishna #BaulandRamakrishna
General & Other
#baul #historicalBaul #pioneeringBaul #baulwomen #baulsaint #legendarybaul #baulartist #BaulGuruShishyaParampara #Baulparampara
"Authentic Baul" #AuthenticBaul
"Vaishnava Sahajiya Tantric Bauls" #VaishnavaSahajiyaTantricBauls
"Birbhum Baul" #BirbhumBaul
"Nabani Das Khyapa Baul" #NabaniDasKhyapaBaul
"Babu Kishan Baul" / "Krishnendu Das Baul" #KrishnenduDasBaul
"Baul Guru Shishya Parampara" #BaulGuruShishyaParampara #Baulparampara
"Baul philosophy" #Baulphilosophy
"Krishna Kali unity" #Krishnakali
"Raai Raja lila" #RaaiRajaLila
"Real Baul history" #Baulrealhistory
"Baul cultural appropriation" #baulculturalappropriation
"Endangered Baul lineage" #Baulendangeredlineageparampara
Baul and Ramakrishna is only associated with KD Babu Kishan as he is the only Baul to be a monk in the Ramakrishna Mission for 12 years, this is a first and last in Baul.
Baul and Tantra is only associated with Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and KD Babu Kishan, Baul and Tarapith is only associated with them both too. Those others are not Baul as Baul Artist of an non-indigenous Baul is not a Baul but a users, poser, actor trying to remake the already lived lives of this parampara, do you speak the language, do you know what they are singing or who is the owner of the songs, or even if the songs are Baul songs, no you do not, so don't make emotional promotional comments when you do not even understand. You are cheering for a fake Baul and have no clue.
The practice of "Baul Kirtan-anga" Copyright, all songs will be reclaimed that belong to this lineages.
(only this lineage, parampara, no one used Baul kirtan until they read it on this blog, this is downright appropriation and false advertising by fake opportunistic self-titled so-called Bauls for marketing purposes, they have appropriated this lineages intellectual property, it can be proven and must be brought to the attention of the public because they are asking for donations and fundraising for jackpots, awards, grants and are not Baul, their Guru is a fake Baul Guru.
The "Rasa Lila Mystics" this is the only lineage parampara that is Vaishnava and Vaishnava Sahajiya Gosia Chandra Das Baul and Dasi, there is not another, never was. #BaultheRasaLilaMystics
"Baul Tantra Mantra Gopi Yantra". Copyright, no poaching
"The path of the Avadhuta". Copyright there are no other Baul Avadhuta's and that title only belongs to this lineage or singular parampara, there is not another. They make Baul a no name generic Baul while claiming the intellectual property and the already lived firsts and lasts of this lineage. I have documented thousands of misuse of Baul for over 20 years, if you would like to see my research contact KD Babu Kishan, his website is listed throughout this blog and website
"Baul Sahaja is Krishna & Dattatreya Sahaja". Copyright and only mentioned by KD Babu Kishan
The Windcatchers (Vayu Tula). #BaulVayuTula. #baulwindcatchers
#India #lineagebaul #baultantra #baullineage #baulofbengal #babukishan #baulwomen #baulavadhuta #baulsaint #legendarybaul #nabanidasbaul #mirrorofthesky #rabindranathtagor #osho #vaishnavabaul #vaishnavaaghori #baul #baulmusic #tantra #babukishan #baulgaan #nabanidasbaul #purnadasbaul #bengal #india #indianmusic #shantiniketan #baullineage #bengalibaul #baularchive #archivedbaulbn#Baulhistory #BaulofBengal #BaulofBirbhum #dasbaul #Kolkata #Bauldocumentary #baulkirtan #Baulsadhana #ektara #EkachakraBirbhum #gopiyantra #baultantra #NabonidasKhyapabaul #bauldocumentary #baulsangeet #RabindranathTagore #BaulTagore #shantiniketanbirbum #jainitai #jaiguru #NityanandaofEkachakra #BaulAvadhut #Birbhum #Tarapith #Kolkata #IncredibleIndia #India #VaishnavaBaul #TantricBaul #sangeetnatakakademi
"Authentic Baul" #AuthenticBaul
"Vaishnava Sahajiya Tantric Bauls" #VaishnavaSahajiyaTantricBauls
"Birbhum Baul" #BirbhumBaul
"Nabani Das Khyapa Baul" #NabaniDasKhyapaBaul
"Babu Kishan Baul" / "Krishnendu Das Baul" #KrishnenduDasBaul
"Baul Guru Shishya Parampara" #BaulGuruShishyaParampara #Baulparampara
"Baul philosophy" #Baulphilosophy
"Krishna Kali unity" #Krishnakali
"Raai Raja lila" #RaaiRajaLila
"Real Baul history" #Baulrealhistory
"Baul cultural appropriation" #baulculturalappropriation
"Endangered Baul lineage" #Baulendangeredlineageparampara
The practice of "Baul Kirtan-anga"
The "Rasa Lila Mystics" Raasa leela Mystics, Raas Tattva (this lineage only)
"Baul Tantra Mantra Gopi Yantra".
"The path of the Avadhuta".
"Baul Sahaja is Krishna & Dattatreya Sahaja". #BaulsahajaKrishnaDattatreyasahahaja
The Windcatchers (Vayu Tula). #BaulVayuTula. #baulwindcatchers