A message from Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das to New Baul Singers and those that Follow this lineage of Baul:
Repost from 2017
https://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/2026/08/formal-notice-of-intellectual-property.html
https://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/2026/08/roots-of-vaishnava-baul-sahaja-sahajiya.html
https://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/2026/08/academia-vaishnava-sahajiya-baul.html
https://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/2025/02/indigenous-identity-theft-indigenous.html
“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.”
They re-package a watered-down or romanticized version. The mainstream world then accepts the fake/distorted version as authentic, effectively erasing the original living caretakers and replacing them in the public consciousness. I have see this in academia, and in the western audiences who do not have a clue, if it sweetly smiles and looks exotic it must be, whether their lineage is fake, their style and songs are appropriated, they have not got a clue.
When a sacred song, medicine, or teaching is taken out of its traditional lineage, it loses its spirit or in this case Baul essence (the Shakti that has been passed down for hundreds of years). When the dominant society spreads that distorted version, the original community is erased because their true practice is no longer recognized—even by their own youth who grow up seeing only the mainstream caricature.
Official Statement: Stopping the Indigenous Fraud of the Baul Tradition
Pioneering global Baul culture without the internet was a monumental task. Long before Facebook or social media existed, our family dedicated over a century of hard work to bringing the sacred Baul tradition from the villages of Suri, Birbhum, West Bengal, to the world stage. Before us, the global public did not know who or what a Baul was. We carry an unbroken ancestral lineage tracing back thousands of years—acting as village teachers, gurus, and spiritual standard-bearers long before newspapers existed.
The Signature of the Lineage: Attire, Instruments, and Performance
When you see the names Das Baul or Dasi Hare Krishna, you are looking at our family lineage.
The Aesthetics: The signature patchwork robe (Guduri) was personally designed by Babu Kishan.
The Instruments and Style: Playing the Ektara alongside the Baya (duggi drum) at the hip, combined with rhythmic Nupoor (ankle bells), represents the unique style forged by Nabani Das Kheppa Baul.
Today, performers worldwide copy this exact attire, posture, and instrument combination—yet many fail to attribute the origin of this template to Nabani Das Kheppa Baul and our family.
Historical Impact and Political Stature
Our lineage carried the sacred honey of Baul song directly into the pivotal moments of modern Indian history:
Nabani Das Kheppa Baul (Boro Baba)
├── Sang for Jawaharlal Nehru during the Indian Freedom Movement
│
└── Purna Das Baul & Manju Dasi (with young KD Babu Kishan)
└── Performed extensively for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,
Sanjay Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi across major national stages
Women of the Lineage: Legendary lineage women—including Brajabala Dasi, Manju Dasi, and Radharani Dasi—were the original pioneers. Today, while other women travel as performers, the historic path was paved by the women of this lineage.
The Misuse of Lineage, Erasure, and Performance Quality
In 2010, this platform was established under the name Lineage Baul because no one in the tradition used the term "lineage" prior to Babu Kishan defining it. Today, revisionist claims and fabricated history are widespread online:
1. Misattribution of Sacred Compositions
Lineage compositions are frequently uploaded to public platforms, credited to incorrect poets, or categorized under completely unrelated traditions (such as Kabir sites). A prominent example is the revered Baul Kirtan "Kichhu Din Mone Mone."
Historical Fact: "Kichhu Din Mone Mone" was written and tuned by Nabani Das Kheppa Baul. It was officially recorded in the 1960s by Purna Das Baul for Hindustan Records—India's first recording company—and later preserved in field recordings by his grandson, Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul). Nabani Das was also a close spiritual companion to Rabindranath Tagore, initiating him into the lineage under the Baul name Ravi (Robi) Das Baul.
2. Fabrication of "New Lineages" and Modern Titles
Superficial terms like "Baul Master" do not exist in traditional sadhana—there is only the Baul Guru. Today, performers adopt the outer style, head-spinning theatricality, and instrument layout developed by Nabani, while claiming to belong to newly invented lineages.
3. Vocal and Musical Rigor
True Baul singing requires precise vocal control, pitch, and internal energetic discipline (Vayu Dharma). As an award-winning music composer with six decades of experience producing legendary Indian vocalists like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, Babu Kishan notes that much of what is marketed today as "Baul performance" lacks basic tonal control, pitch stability, and genuine spiritual initiation.
A Call for Respect and Authenticity
Preserving the Baul path does not require online fundraising, theatrical showmanship, or non-lineage organizations collecting donations for non-existent populations of "20,000 Bauls." True social service should be conducted transparently without exploiting a sacred heritage.
Learn the Sadhana: Focus on real musical technique, voice development, and internal discipline rather than theatricality.
Honor the Ancestors: Respect the foundational work of Nabani Das Kheppa Baul, Baul Samrat Purna Das Baul, Manju Dasi, and the lineage elders who built the international platform everyone benefits from today.
Stop Misattributing Poetry: If you sing or record songs from this lineage, state the correct poet. If you do not know the author, learn the lineage history before presenting the work publicly.
Joy Guru.
All content and lineage history protected under international copyright. Lineage archive maintained by KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul).
This statement addresses the pervasive issue of intellectual property theft and the creation of fake lineages targeting the authentic Baul heritage of Birbhum, West Bengal, India.
I. The Core Offense: Indigenous Fraud
The practice of cultural appropriation, identity theft, and fraud against the Baul tradition. This constitutes a severe violation of the first tenet of Baul philosophy: Truth (Satya).
The Theft: Outsiders—referred to as "pretendian Bauls"—are engaging in Indigenous Intellectual Property Theft by:
Stealing the songs, style, dance, and stories of this specific lineage. While taking this lineages names off, replacing us by faking us.
Dropping the names of the true pioneers (Nabani Das Khyapa (the last Baul Avadhut), Padma Shri Baul Samrat Purna Chandra Das Baul, Krishnendu Das Baul aka KD Babu Kishan) replacing them with fake gurus and invented lineages.
Listing wrong or fake poets' names to mislead, while using the poetry of the Nabani Das Khyapa Baul without giving credit, or by changing the poets name through false narratives, reducing and watering down Baul to claim its history as your own.
The Lie (Asatya): This deception violates the core ethical mandate of Baul. To steal a song, claiming ignorance of the poet, and then to record and commercialize it as one's own, is bold-faced thievery.
The Consequence: This deconstruction, watering down, and reduction of the tradition is a form of cultural genocide against this pioneering Baul lineage.
II. The Case of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul's Poetry
The theft is evident in the widespread use of two specific, recorded songs:
"Hrid Majhare Rakhbo"
"Kichchu Din Mone Mone"
The Poet: Both songs were written by the one and only Baul Saint Sri Nabani Das Khyapa Baul (Grandfather and Guru of Babu Kishan).
The Preservation: This family is the sole reason these songs are known and preserved:
Purna Das Baul first recorded them in the 1960s with Hindustan Records.
Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul) later recorded them in the 1970s, ensuring their preservation across a 60-year period.
The Fraudulent Use: Some imitators, including those fundraising for "financial jackpots" and seeking fame/awards, are stealing these compositions—often copying directly from Babu Kishan's YouTube channel —and claiming the songs for themselves.
III. The Authenticity of the Only Lineage
This is a formal declaration of the singular nature of the Baul lineage, known as Lineage Baul Parampara Sampradaya:
Singularity: There is only one Baul lineage, and it is indigenous to India, originating in Ekkachakra, Birbhum.
Lived History: The lives of Nabani Das, Purna Das Baul, and Babu Kishan are unique, verifiable history. Outsiders are attempting to remake and randomize this history, taking the names off the people who lived it.
Babu Kishan's Credentials: Babu Kishan is uniquely qualified to teach this indigenous ancestral tradition, possessing both the lineage and academic credentials:
Academic: BA and MA from Calcutta University, qualified to lecture on Indian Philosophy, Tantra, Music, Veda, and Baul Sandhya Bhasha at universities worldwide since the 1970s.
Cultural Association: He is the only Baul with verifiable associations with historical figures and institutions, including the Ramakrishna Mission, Anandamayi Ma, Osho, Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, and a 40-year career in Indian Cinema.
IV. Demand for Respect and Accountability
Stop Stealing: Do not make Baul generic and random (cultural appropriation). Do not add other people's names to this lineage's poetry.
Give Credit: If you sing or record songs from this lineage, you must state the true poet: Baul Saint Sri Nabani Das Khyapa Baul even if it were Roshik which is nicname for Rasaraj Gosia a family member and only used within this family ancestral parampara Lineage.
Stop Fundraising: To fundraise in the name of preserving Baul when this lineage has already preserved it for over 60 years is the biggest fraud.
A Crime Against Indigenous Peoples: The appropriation of Indigenous people's identity, songs, and wisdom, especially when used for self-promotion and false fame, should be recognized as a crime.
"Indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity. Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination." - United Nations
https://vedicgoddess.weebly.com/vaishnava-tantric-baul-akhara.html
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 Academicholarly 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
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