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- Shameek Ganguly (07010315)

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Introduction Wandering minstrels of Bengal Wandering minstrels of Bengal Narrated stories and sang songs of high spirituality and carried social messages to the masses Narrated stories and sang songs of high spirituality and carried social messages to the masses Mostly illiterate in nature but educated via their own oral tradition Mostly illiterate in nature but educated via their own oral tradition

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Whats so special of them?? Rational outlook at a time when most of the world lingers in the dark ages Rational outlook at a time when most of the world lingers in the dark ages Modernist compositions Modernist compositions Critics to anti-social practices Critics to anti-social practices Rich oral tradition Rich oral tradition Influenced Bengal unto some sort of a Renaissance in the 19 th and 20 th centuries Influenced Bengal unto some sort of a Renaissance in the 19 th and 20 th centuries

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Structure of presentation Origin Nature of songs Social Message Impact on society A Western eye Modern Scenario Conclusion

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Origin of Baul tradition Word " Baul " refers to three terms: betul, " mad ", " out of rhythm "; vayu, " air ", or the inner flow of energy which gives life and harmony to all sentient beings; and uliy, a term of Arabic origin, which means " holy man ". Word " Baul " refers to three terms: betul, " mad ", " out of rhythm "; vayu, " air ", or the inner flow of energy which gives life and harmony to all sentient beings; and uliy, a term of Arabic origin, which means " holy man ".

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Origin of Baul tradition(contd) Cultural analysts have traced back the baul tradition back as far as 7 th century AD Cultural analysts have traced back the baul tradition back as far as 7 th century AD Exact origin unknown since modern Baul compositions show influence of Sufism, Buddhist Tantrism, Vaishnav ideology, and more recently, even Christianiaty Exact origin unknown since modern Baul compositions show influence of Sufism, Buddhist Tantrism, Vaishnav ideology, and more recently, even Christianiaty Mostly in and around modern day Bengal and Bangladesh Mostly in and around modern day Bengal and Bangladesh

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Social background and general get-up Can come from a Hindu or a Muslim background ; in both cases, they are usually rebels against orthodox practices and social institutions. Can come from a Hindu or a Muslim background ; in both cases, they are usually rebels against orthodox practices and social institutions. Usually hail from backward classes Usually hail from backward classes Are mostly abandoned children brought up by other Baul gurus. Are mostly abandoned children brought up by other Baul gurus. Live together without marriage or wander from village to village or are married people Live together without marriage or wander from village to village or are married people

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Techniques used in Baul oratory *Highly modernist in nature * Use of imagism very distinct * Use of imagism very distinct * Images mostly refer to everyday lifes * Images mostly refer to everyday lifes concrete images concrete images *Witty and sometimes rhetorical in nature *Witty and sometimes rhetorical in nature *Metaphysical in nature in some parts *Metaphysical in nature in some parts *Revolve around the main spiritual or *Revolve around the main spiritual or social message it intends to deliver social message it intends to deliver

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Message of the bauls The God Within MONER MANUSH No religion No need for temples No idol worship or sacrifices Devotion lies in a commonplace life Brotherhood Harmony outside and within Importance of free thought Service to needy ushers mental peace Easy acceptance of other cultures

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Janomo morono (Practice of Dying) O my heart! Do the practice of dying, shall bring freedom From the bondage of birth and death Born to die, die to be born again. Death, birth, nothing but endless suffering. Aa, O, Am, three Vedas situated in muladhara, Swadhishtana and manipura This fact, the master practitioner knows; He craves not after mundane mortal delights. - Paravathy Baul

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Amar Sonar Moina Pakhi

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Influence upon the society Mocked and dismissed by society until early 20 th century Mocked and dismissed by society until early 20 th century Slowly led to social uprising in the Bengali society Slowly led to social uprising in the Bengali society Aroused people like Raja Ramohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda Aroused people like Raja Ramohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda Thus invoked the Bengali social revolution in the rising middle classes of Bengal Thus invoked the Bengali social revolution in the rising middle classes of Bengal Influenced many poets such as Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam Influenced many poets such as Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam

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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ISKON An ascetic Vaishnava monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal An ascetic Vaishnava monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal One of the earliest known Bauls who attacked untouchability and castism One of the earliest known Bauls who attacked untouchability and castism His legacy lives on in the form of the world renowned organisation, ISKON founded by his followers His legacy lives on in the form of the world renowned organisation, ISKON founded by his followers

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Rabindranath Tagore : Baul-der- Samrat Tagore greatly influenced by Baul songs in his middle ages Tagore greatly influenced by Baul songs in his middle ages Several compositions dedicated to the Baul school of thoughts Several compositions dedicated to the Baul school of thoughts Geetanjali illustrates several such songs written in the form of Baul songs Geetanjali illustrates several such songs written in the form of Baul songs

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AmAr prANer mAnuSh Achh prAN tAi heri tAye sakol khAne Achhe sh nayntArAy, Alk- dhArAy, tAi nA hArAye-- ogo tAi dekhi tAye JethAy sethAy tAkA-i Ami J dik-pAn The man of my heart dwells inside me. Everywhere I behold, it's Him! In my every sight, in the sparkle of light Oh I can never lose Him -- Here, there and everywhere, Wherever I turn, right in front is He! - Rabindranath Tagore

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The Baul religion is completely based on ones experience in the realization of the divine. It is the disciples feeling of longing for the Supreme and the resulting madness that demonstrates that he feels reunited with the Divine The Baul religion is completely based on ones experience in the realization of the divine. It is the disciples feeling of longing for the Supreme and the resulting madness that demonstrates that he feels reunited with the Divine Robert Menger Robert Menger (Renowned American cultural historian) (Renowned American cultural historian)

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Baul tradition and Occident literature Some Western literature on Bauls of Bengal: The Bauls of Bengal, Robert Menger The Bauls of Bengal, Robert Menger The Music of the Bauls of Bengal, Charles Capwell (English musicologist) The Music of the Bauls of Bengal, Charles Capwell (English musicologist) Seeking Bauls of Bengal, Jeanne Openshaw, Professor of Literature, Edinburgh University Seeking Bauls of Bengal, Jeanne Openshaw, Professor of Literature, Edinburgh University The Path of the Mystic Lover: Baul Songs of Passion and Ecstasy, Bhaskar Bhattacharyya, Nik Douglas, Penny Slinger The Path of the Mystic Lover: Baul Songs of Passion and Ecstasy, Bhaskar Bhattacharyya, Nik Douglas, Penny Slinger .. And so on. .. And so on.

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Place of the Bauls today Baul tradition continues to live on in the hearts of Bengal and Bangladesh Baul tradition continues to live on in the hearts of Bengal and Bangladesh Some contemporary Bauls are Purnadas Baul, Kheparam Baul, Some contemporary Bauls are Purnadas Baul, Kheparam Baul, Parvathy Baul and many others Parvathy Baul and many others In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO International concerts organized by NGOs around the globe including UK, Europe and America International concerts organized by NGOs around the globe including UK, Europe and America

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Personal Views The Order Of Madness!!

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Bibliography Wikipedia Wikipedia South Asian Cultural society (SAC webpage) South Asian Cultural society (SAC webpage) Youtube Youtube Purnadas Bauls Webpage* Purnadas Bauls Webpage* Khepa Das Bauls Webpage* Khepa Das Bauls Webpage* Google Images Google Images World Culture Encyclopaedia World Culture Encyclopaedia Bauls of Bengal website Bauls of Bengal website * These websites are maintained by an NGO Lokesh

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