www.babukisha.org (copyright 2018 -2030)

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Showing posts with label bangla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bangla. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Baul History 101 Part 2





 Babukishan Das Baul and George Harrison of The Beatles
Bauls do not care for rules and regulations of the orthodox religions they are freedom (moksha) liberation seekers, the original bhakti yogi’s from West Bengal India. Bauls were the newspaper before the printed newspaper with a twist they are spiritual Guru’s, and spiritual messenger of the eternal truths of India. They believe in humanity, they do not negate the body, however this does not mean the body is the focus of everything. To them we are all divine gifts and our bodies are our temples, music is the path, actually you could call them Yogi sound healers of India.


The divine in the form of Radha and Krishna reside in the soul located on the altar of the heart within the human body. This is where the rasa lila dance takes place. The ekatara or Gopi Chand or Gopi Yantra, one stringed musical instrument is the Bauls symbol of unity and peace. Bauls are lovers of Hari, of the divine, ecstatic mystical lovers, they are honey bees gathering the rasa (juice) grinding this juice into the pure love of God intoxication.

Manju Das, Purna Das Baul, and son Krishnendu Das Baul aka Babukishan (the author)
The first Baul to wander far from the streets of Bengal was Purna Das Baul . As a young lad he pioneered Baul singing on the trains in British India at the tender age of 7 or 8, which eventually led him to all of India, Russia, America to Woodstock and just about every country in the World many times over for the past 60 years. Over the years he noticed everybody making money off of the Bauls, he felt the Bauls should be paid for what they do, they have families and the old ways of survival no longer work. Purna was an advocate of lifting the Bauls up he felt the Bauls should be the only ones gaining from their songs. Everybody was fundraising for their temples always saying, "oh come and sing a song for Krishna," the Bauls became the greatest fundraisers for everybody. Now it is time to raise funds for their own survival and preservation.


Purna Das Baul brought Baul to the world and Babukishan his eldest son, did all of the leg work organizing the tours, making contacts for performances at theatre halls, univerisities, radio, television and festivals around the world. They preformed concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York opening doors for all Bauls to follow, they created history all credit goes to them and their lineage as pioneering Bauls of Bengal,India.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1940) the great Nobel peace prize winner, writer, and poet started the Pous Mela in honour of Babukishan's grandfather Baul Saint Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. Rabindranath created this festival to bring all the poets of the world together and to preserve Bengali culture in Shantiniketan, he named the bridge at the Pous Mela, Nabani Setu (Bridge on Ajoy River,Birbhum,West Bengal) after Sri Nabani Das Baul as he was the first Baul to be introduced through the Pous Mela (Poetry & Baul Festival).

Nabani Das Baul


Nabani Das Baul was the biggest attraction for the JaiDev Mela , (Baul festival in honour of the Poet JaiDev who authored the Gita Govinda.) Rabindranath said, "Nabani you always go to the JaiDev Mela why not start the Pous Mela in Shantiniketan to bring together all the poets and storytellers from around the world." Nabani Das Baul was not any regular Baul he was a Saint, millions of people all over India would come to see him.








Babu was blessed as he was born into Nabani's care for the first 8 years of his life, Nabani named Babu, Krishnendu healed his crooked limbs and carried him around India giving him darshan with the most important spiritual Guru's that were alive in the 60's. To Nabani Das, Babu was his Bala Krishna, he was addicted to his little Krishna Das.

Rabindranath Tagore photographed Nabani Das Baul you can view these photographs in the Royal British Museum in London, Tagore installed a Statute dedicated to Nabani Das Khyappa Baul it was sculptured by world renowned Ramkinkar Baij. Tagore gave Nabani Das the"Khyappa" name before this there were no Bauls named "Khyappa" many of Nabani’s students took the name Khyappa after Nabani passed away in 1970, Pare Khyappa,Manohar khyappa or Nitai khyappa among them. Now many Bauls call themselves Khyappa without knowing where the name came from. Our lineage is that of Das Goswami, gosai or Dasi and any Bauls using this title are in some way related to our lineage.

There were also many eminent painting and drawing done of Nabani Das Khyappa Baul by renowned Bengal painters who were also his well wishers and friends Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, M.F.Hussain to name a few.

It was American Poet Allen Ginsberg who met Nabani Das Baul in the early 60’s, Ginsberg called Nabani Das his Guru and the 8th wonder of the world. Allen wrote about Nabani Das Baul in the New York times. Nabani’s preference was to remain anonymous before Allen Ginsberg came to Bengal there were others who also wrote about him and recorded his music from Europe and Japan. Nabani did not want anybody making a big deal about him, he did not want anybody even to know who he was thus we have him almost forgotten about in the history of West Bengal.


Allen Ginsberg and Babukishan in the 1980's
In more recent times the Bauls of Bengal were at the legendary first Woodstock in 1969 in New York, thanks, to Allen Ginsberg and Bob Dylan's manager Albert B Grossman. 


You will hear of Ravi Shankar and Swami SatChidAnanda but for some reason Purna Das Baul and his younger brother Laxman Das Baul. Purna Das Baul and his younger brother can be seen on the cover of Bob Dylan's album, "John Westly Harding" the photo originates from 60's Woodstock.

"Baul of Bengal, I sing for all, Blue Danube is Jamuna, Hudson my Vrindavan, see me in Kolkata, Toronto, London, Hear my call Baul of Bengal, Same man many names, same player, many games, Love is magic to win at life...Hear my call O Baul of Bengal." - by Allen Ginsberg.




Allen Ginsberg’s Guru being Babu’s Grandfather Nabani Das Khyappa Baul wrote this poetry for Next generations Baul Leader Babukishan Das Baul and dedicating it to Nabani Das. Babukishan composed in collaboration with Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, and his parents, this music for the their tour with Bob Dylan and The Band in 1985. They toured all over American in the East to West Tour with Bob Dylan.

Babu and his family played on stage in London for Rolling Stone’s concerts, fundraisers for Bangladesh Flood victims. They played in the Indian Music section in 1971, 1972, and 1978 in Hyde Park in front of thousands. The Rolling Stones produced an Album called 'Jai Bangla', Babu along with his family spent a week at Mick Jagger’s mansion in Nice France while Purna Das Baul was recorded on this album. This was the beginning of a long relationship between the Rolling Stones and Babu he last saw the Rolling Stones in 2004 Mumbai. Millions of people would come to see Purna Das the fame he achieved unfortunately created much jealousy among some of the New age Bauls, it almost proved fatal one year when he was poisoned at the famed JaiDev Baul festival.

Wikipedia is completely wrong on the subject of Baul. This is about preserving an ancient Lineage not creating one.

The pioneers who brought Baul outside of India are this lineage Baul family, Sri Nabani Das Baul, Purna Das Baul, his wife the late Manju Das, their eldest son Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul, for more than 60 years.

The Mystic Bauls sings,
"My skin and bone are turned to gold...
When the inner man and woman meet...
When Krishna and Radha become one...
My skin and bone are turned to gold...
I am the reservoir of love...
Alive in the waves of the ocean of bliss.
"
Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul -
Baul Guru

BA Indian Philosophy, MA Indian Music,
12 years Vedic Monk RamaKishna Order.
Master of Indian Classical, Folk, Baul and Bollywood music.
30 years- Bollywood Music Composer.
http://babukishandasbaul.com
http://myspace.com/babukishandasbaul
http://youtube.com/thebaulsofbengal
© copyright all rights reserved 2011 Babukishan. Reproduced on Washington Bangla Radio with blessings of the author.


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Allen Ginsberg & his many decades friendship with Babu Kishan & his Baul Guru - 'Nabani Das Khyappa Baul'



This one and only lineage of Vaishnava Tantric Baul are the pioneers and the first Bauls to travel the world! They set the template for other Bauls to follow, to be exact Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das created this modern template for his father. Nabani Das Baul is the first to ever sing on a stage, all Bauls follow him, including his style of dance which is the Ektara, Baya (waist drum) and Nupoor (his style of ankle bells.)

 Babu Kisha was his fathers manager from an early age and Babu Kishan composed music for his father Purna Das Baul, his most famous music. However, Babu Kishan was always silentl behind the scene, behind the camera for all the photo's.

 This lineage has been teaching, talking, traveling all around the world for more than 80 years, and the only Bauls to travel throughout India for decades before what is going on now. 

In those days there was no internet, it was Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das who made all the contacts since the 1970's onward to the 2000, now others are enjoying the cream, they are making up stories about false lineages and yet they copy everything from this lineage. They even copy Nabani style dance Ektara, Baya and ankle bells, they sing the songs of this lineage and never give credit, instead they make Baul generic, saying Baul Masters, and Bauls do not care who wrote the poetry. 

Yes, Bauls care who wrote the poetry and it is well documented within the lineage. You should also, know there is no such thing as 4 or 5 types of Baul, this was created by fundamental Vaishnava in the early 1900's who hated Baul but probably never met one, because that is pure hate and unVaishnava to denigrate groups of people, then repeated by people who pose as Baul and buy likes and bots to look famous?

This lineage is only one and they are the only pioneers!

 This lineage of Bauls opened the door for all Bauls to now say they are wandering Bauls and world wide travellers before Purna Das Baul and his family, no Baul ever travelled the world or outside of India, people who follow Baul followed everything this lineage does, even teaching at Universities for free, when Babu has been a paid lecturer at Universities for decades, however, he is qualified with a Masters degree and a 40 year career in Indian Cinema, he has written 3 books on Baul by 1985.

Some people have been using the Bauls to generate funds from UNESCO and governments by making up stories about where the Bauls are from and who they are associated with. They are making people stupid by writing stories that are not even part of history. Truth is that Baul only became famous by this lineage. 

Even stranger is the fact that this lineage popularized Lalon Fakir songs, before this lineage no Bauls were singing Lalon Fakir (Shah) songs or associated Lalon Fakir poetry with the Bauls of Bengal?

 Lalon Fakir was never a Baul he is a poet who was Hindu but Bangaldesh made him Muslim, there is no such thing as Muslim Baul but yet, this is how the Muslims now fundraise for Unesco funds! Actually many are now making documentaries on Baul because they know Unesco gives funds and yet the people in their video's are not even Bauls. Some are writing articles on Baul trying to set up with Unesco to get funding? People think they can just use Baul and they get away with it.  

This lineage started to popularize Lalon Fakir song through Babu Kishan who is a poet/music composer he loves Lalon Poetry and put tunes to his songs and had his father sing and record. Just because a Baul sings Lalon Songs does not mean Lalon is a Baul. 

Same with Monohar Khepa and Bhava (Baba) Pagala, they were poets not Bauls and Babu Kishan knew all 2 personally over a long period of time and recorded and composed Music for their poetry. 

Both Bhava (Baba) Pagla and Monohar Khepa would stay at his house in Calcutta, in fact they never said, they were Baul they followed this family of Baul this lineage, they followed Baul and only this lineage because of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul. Yet, there are academics now saying, Baul followed Baba Pagla, WRONG. Both of these poets were great on their own, people do not have to make up stories and they do.

The New Bauls who say they Monohar and Baba Pagla were Baul Guru's are making up stories, their Guru's used to work at Monohar Khepa's Ashram at the Joy Dev Mela, where Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Purna Das Baul were special guest of this ashram and the biggest hit at the Joy Dev Mela bringing in millions of people. 

Purna Das Baul does not go to the Joy Dev Mela anymore, because way back these Bauls who used to hang out at Monohar Khepa Ashram poisoned Purna Das Baul almost killing him. 

We know who they are and they this will be revealing in Babu Kishan's 4th book.




There are many people writing about the Bauls of Bengal that mention, "Allen Ginsberg's" name ( the famous Americal Beat Poet.) 

Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) was associated with this lineage of Baul, his Baul Guru was Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. 

Allen mentioned Lalon's name in one writing 'Lalon' (1774–1890) but was never associated with him, he never met Lalon, it was way before his time. 

It was only Nabani Das Baul, and Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul whom Ginsberg associated with, Nabani Das Khyappa Babukishan's grandfather was his Baul Guru. Babu Kishan was a great close friend of Allen Ginsberg's whom he met every year in New York for decades. 

Yet, generic Baul includes themselves in Babu Kishan's story? They say Baul was associated with Ginsberg, Bob Dylan and post pictures of them beside saying this? What? No they were not, and to lay claim to Babu's stories is appropriation.


 This lineage (Babu Kishan only) was the first to record Lalon Fakir poetry as songs, this lineage has always talked about Lalon Fakir, before that no one even paid attention to Lalon Fakir who was a poet living in Bangladesh but from a Hindu family from Bengal India. 

In fact there were only a few Bauls in Bangladesh way back! 

 Aul, Sai, Dervesh, Fakir are not Baul, they are Muslim and there is no such thing as a Muslim Baul, Baul is a the combination of 2 Sanskrit words, Baya (Vayu and Tula) Batula = Baul.

When this family went back to Bangladesh in the early 1970's to visit Babukishan's mother's place her father was a Sanskrit Professor at Calcutta who lost his job, land stolen and became a refugee in Calcutta. Manju was from a educated Hindu family living in Dhaka, they were visiting(Manju Das's) homeland to revisit her early life and property that had been stolen in 1952?? There were NO Bauls in Bangladesh then and nobody knew about any before that!

It was Babukishan's mother who was from Bangladesh,she started to sing Lalon's songs and record Lalon Fakir songs. 

Manju Das's father Jogesh Das was a Professor of languages at Dhaka University, he was a Triple MA and was violently kicked out of Bangladesh for no other reason than he was a Sanskrit scholar and Professor of languages at Dhaka University, he was a Hindu and didn't speak Urdu in 1952.

On 21 February 1952, students in the present day capital city called a strike because they were told they could only speak Urdu the language of Pakistan. The Pakistan government had taken over Bangladesh calling it East Pakistan. 

The Pakistani police fired on the students despite these peaceful protests and a number of students were killed. What is never written about is that these East Paksitani militants also decapitated Jogesh Das's brother head and confiscated all their property, kicking the whole family out of Bangladesh where they became refugee's in Calcutta. In Calcutta even more tragedy awaited this family. 

Jogesh Das was a linguist and Sanskrit professor at Dhaka University, the muslim militants were going to enforce their will on the people. This piece of history regarding Jogesh Das is never written about in Bangladesh, they only talk about he Muslims, they have deleted all Hindu History? 

February 21is called, "International Mother Tongue Language Day." in honour of these events, however, they never mention Jogesh Das's story and I am sure there are other Hindu families who suffered the same fate, one has to wonder if they were not mentioned because they were Hindu?

It is very common to read Bangladeshi's claiming Allen Ginsberg, and Bob Dylan were associated with what today is called Bangladeshi Bauls.

 It is also, common for many new Bauls who try to appropriate this history too, they will talk or write about it but they leave off the names alluding somehow to the fact that it was their Guru or their association.

 This has happened with the stories of Rabindranath Tagore too, they use the stories of this family and just say Baul. Please respect History and use the names of this family and stop making up stories. It will all come out in the new book. 

However, none of the history from the 60's onward has had any association with the Bangladeshi community. 

George Harrison, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and all the famous people of India have only been associated with this lineage of Baul, Babukishan and his family. We are writing and recording this history which has already been preserved and archived decades ago by Babu Kishan.

It is way too easy for history to be distorted and many people are now using Baul as a way to become famous without even understanding the deep sadhana and the lineage of Baul. Today we have the internet and it is way too easy for anybody to write anything. The goal here is to preserve what is left of the The Bauls of Bengal which is very much near extinction.

Ektara, Baya, and Napoor (ankle bells) if you were them you are copying Nabani Das Baul and if you use the name Das Baul and Dasi you are copying this One and Only Lineage.

 If you or your Guru wore the patchwork Guduri (dress) you are they are copying Babu Kishan because he designed it for his father Purna Das Baul.
Statue of Nabani Das Khyappa Baul @Vishva Bharti University (Rabindranath Tagore's University) Allen Ginsberg's Baul Guru.

Photo of Nabani Das khyappa Baul taken by Rabindranath Tagore, Nabani Das Khyappa Baul was the Baul who inspired Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore gave Nabani the name Khyappa before this no Baul used the name Khyappa.. and Tagore called this picture and Nabani Das Baul, "Mirror of the Sky."

This song written for Babukishan by Allen Ginsberg in honor of  Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul. Babu and Allen Ginsberg had long talks in New York regarding Allen's association with Babu's grandfather Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. Babukishan kept in touch with Allen Ginsberg from the 1980's until he past away in 1997.

The below is from BabuKishan.org (Friends)

www.BabuKishan.org



The American Poet Allen Ginsberg & Babu Kishan The Indian Poet.

Babu Kishan is in the process of writing his personal story of  his long friend and friendship with Allen Ginsberg. He is the only Baul who developed a long friendship with Allen Ginsberg.

​Of course this friendship has it roots in Babu Kishan's Grandfather 'Nabani Das Khyepa Baul'who was an Avadhuta that Ginsberg met on his trip to India in '1962' and whom he kept a personal and private connection all his life. You can see Babu Kishan's link on Allen Ginsbergs Page under links, miscellany. Babu and Allen are both poets and they were mystical friends.




"We also are indebted to the influence of Allen Ginsberg, who met Nabani Das in the early 1960s and wrote “Indian Journals” and never wavered from his spiritual path; to Albert B. Grossman who brought Nabani’s sons Purna and Luxman Das Baul with their group to the US in 1967 to record for Elektra Records and tour; " 


Albert was the Music Producer of Bob Dylan. It was 'Allen Ginsberg' who contacted them to bring Nabani Das Khyapa Baul to America:

​"
Albert Bernard Grossman (May 21, 1926 – January 25, 1986) was an American entrepreneur and manager in the American folk music scene and rock and roll. He was famous as the manager of many of the most popular and successful performers of folk and folk-rock music, including Bob DylanJanis JoplinPeter, Paul and Marythe BandOdettaGordon Lightfoot and Ian & Sylvia."


It should be noted that it was Allen Ginsberg who wanted to bring Nabani Das Khyepa Baul to America but he refused, thus he sent his two son's, Laxshman Das Baul and Purna Das Baul and their band.
Picture
Albert B Grossman with his wife and Babu Kishan 1983
Picture
Dylan and Grossman
Picture
Picture
Poetry written by Allen Ginsberg for Babu Kishan

This is the only Baul Poetry Allen Ginsberg wrote.

Baul of Bengal, I sing for all,  Blue Danube is my Jamuna, 
 Hudson my Vrindavan,  see me in Calcutta, Toronto and London,  Hear my call Baul of Bengal,  Same man many names,  same player,  many games,  Love is magic to win at life,  Hear my call O Baul of Bengal.”  


Written by Allen Ginsberg in 1983
as a gift to Babu Kishan ' 


Babukishan composed the music for the original in collaboration with Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, (of The Band) Bob Dylan's Band in 1985 for the tour.  

This is the one and only piece of Baul poetry Ginsberg wrote.  Babu Kishan sang this on 40 city American tour with Bob Dylan and the Band.

Babu became great friends with The Band and jammed with them all the time.

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