Banyan Roots

This first episode explores Deho Twatto “theory of the body” in the Baul context, where the body itself is the starting point for spiritual understanding.

Songs:

Baul Howa Sohoj Kotha Noy
Composer: Kangal Horinath
Singer: Babu Fakir

Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Selina Fakirini

Chirodin Pushilam Ek Ochin Pakhi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Nurbaba

Phaki Deowa Pakhi Re Tor
Composer: Ammulyo Sarkar
Singer: Uttora Baidya

Instrumentals:

Jekhane Shai’r Baramkhana

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

Gram Chhara

Composer: Rabindranath Tagore
Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Violinist: Lucia Thomas

Painting credit: Dipshikha Debnath

For photos and more info please visit Amplisoundsradio

Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show.

Searching for the Man of the Heart explores how Baul songs use the metaphor of the house to describe the human body, which, for the Baul, is the starting place for realization. In this episode, listeners hear lyrics with cryptic images that point toward what the Baul call the praner manus “the man of the heart”–a personification of one’s inner truth.

Songs:

Dhonno Dhonno - Lalon Fakir (composer)*, Supriya Poddar (singer) *

Charyapada (First Song) - Lui Pad (composer), Srijoni Sadhika (singer)

Ghor Niye Koto Jontrona - Anath Bondhu Ghosh (composer and singer)

Amar Bhanga Ghore - Kingsuk Goshai (composer), Rabi Das Baul(singer)

Barir Kachhe Aarshinagar - Lalon Fakir (composer), Ochin Pakhi(performer)

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*students of Babu Fakir

Instrumentals:

Jekhane Shai’r Baramkhana - Lalon Fakir (composer), Amirul Fakir (Dotara player)

Dhonno Dhonno - Lalon Fakir (composer), Amirul Fakir (Dotara player)

Ghor Niye Koto Jontrona - Anath Bondhu Ghosh (composer), Lucia Thomas (violinist)

Youtube Links:

Babu Fakir and his students: https://youtube.com/@babufakirofficial5603?si=6T-tG1r71DHXDaPa

Sadhika Srijoni and Simon Zakaria: https://youtube.com/@charyapada7209?si=Pe31qLE6i3F31hZL

Anath Bondhu Ghosh: https://youtu.be/ojMfb-PyWJg?si=Lxpr4vrYsGK-FpPJ

Robi Das Baul: https://youtu.be/jjkfOVVMzi0?si=NyhSB6W6AK6XDIcE

Ochin Pakhi: https://youtube.com/@ochinpakhichicago?si=tuCdiH_6U8UPeMmM

Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show.

Photo: "Bengal Patachitra" via Wikimedia Commons

The Baul songs in this third episode challenge divisive religious identities and beg for a society where all humans treat each other well. It will share some background on the painful history of the partition of India as well as dive deeper into the life story of Lalon Fakir, the legendary Baul saint from the late 18th century.

Sob Loke Koy Lalon Ki Jat

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Singer: Babu Fakir

Emon Manob Somaj

Composer: Lalon Fakir (attributed to Lalon Fakir but composer is unknown)

Singer: Dolan Banerjee

Ami Dil Kabate Namaz Porbo

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Singer: Ohidul Fakir

Apnar Apni Fana Hole

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Singer: Dolan Banerjee

Instrumentals:

Jekhane Shai’r Baramkhana

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

Sob Loke Koy Lalon Ki Jat
Composer: Lalon Fakir

Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to Subhajit Sengupta for co-hosting, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show.

Podcast is recorded, curated and hosted by Lucia Thomas

For photos and more info please visit Amplisoundsradio

“Rejecting Caste – All are Brothers of my Heart" is a further exploration of manus twatto - the theory of humanity, this time focused on jat, or caste. Some Fakiri singers will discuss what caste felt like to them and what the great poet-saint Lalon Fakir had to say about caste.

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Songs:

• “Jat Gelo Jat Gelo Bole”

• Composer: Lalon Fakir
• Singer: Amirul Fakir

“Sorol Dese Jao”

• Composer: Matal Rajjak
• Singer: Jamsher Fakir

“Nishedh Karo Ogo Brinde”

• Composer: Ajahar Fakir
• Singer: Khaibar Fakir
• Recording courtesy of: Suvankar Dassharma & Sudip Ray (Dubki project)

“Achhe Manus Hridoy Pinjiray”

• Composer: Prafulla Sarkar
• Singer:Uttara Baidya

“Manus Bhojle Sonar Manus Hobi”

• Composer: Lalon Fakir
• Singer: Jamsher Fakir

Instrumental Backgrounds:

1. Jekhane Shai’r Baramkhana

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

2. Jat Gelo Jat Gelo

Composer: Lalon Fakir

Dotara player: Amirul Fakir

3. Snowflake and Inver Bank

Band: Baba Yaga’s Stew

Composers: Lucia Thomas and Patrick Davey

4. Raag Yaman Alap

Violinist: Lucia Thomas

Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to Subhajit Sengupta for co-hosting, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show.

Podcast is recorded, curated and hosted by Lucia Thomas

For photos and more info please visit Amplisoundsradio

In the Garden of Krishna’s Love is the first episode to explore bhakti - devotion, and specifically songs showing devotion to Hindu Gods and Goddesses. We will hear from Baul masters on the importance of devotion in one’s spiritual progress as well as learn the historical significance of the Bhakti movement in India.

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Songs:

Bhakti Bina Se Dhon Mele Na

• Composer: Sotish Gosai
• Singer: Anath Bondhu Ghosh

Eseche Kunjero Dware

• Composer: Jadubindu Gosai
• Singer: Rina Das Baul

Krishna Anurager Bagane

• Composer: Ananta Gosai
• Singer: Rabi Das Baul

Instrumentals:

Jekhane Sai’r Baramkhana

• Composer: Lalon Fakir
• Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

Rai Jago Go

• Composer: Traditional
• Performed by: Ochin Pakhi featuring Nathan Torrence on bansuri

Kirtan Chant

• Composer: Traditional
• Singer: Priest and devotees at Hare Krishna Temple in Rogers Park, Chicago

Ei To Tomar (intro)

• Composer: Rabindranath Tagore
• Performed by: Ochin Pakhi, featuring Soumyajyoti Ghosh on bansuri

Khandana Bhava Bandhana

• Composer: Swami Vivekananda
• Performed by: Ochin Pakhi

Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to Subhajit Sengupta for co-hosting, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show.

Podcast is recorded, curated and hosted by Lucia Thomas.

For photos and more info please visit Amplisounds Radio.

Kwajababa and the Bengali Sufi Tradition is the second episode to explore bhakti - devotion, this time with a focus on Islamic symbolism. Some songs will be extolling the 12th century Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, also known as Khwajababa.

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Songs:

1. Pakhi Tui Pakha Mele
Composer: Latif Sarkar
Singer: Robi Das Baul

2. Shab e Hijr Voh Dam ba Dam Yaad Aaye
Composer: Nawab Muazzam Jaah Shaji
Singer: Ustad Farid Ayaz
Recording Credit: Dream Journey

3. Amar Khwajababar Chobi
Composer: Dewan Rajjak
Singer: Robi das Baul
Recording Credit: Satyoki Banerjee

4. Ekbar Allah bolo mon re pakhi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Selina Fakirini

5. Pare ke Jabi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Nurbaba

Instrumentals:

1. Jekhane Sai’r Baramkhana
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

2. Ekbar Allah bolo mon re pakhi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Violin Player: Lucia Thomas

Light of the Guru is the third episode from the Banyan Roots series to explore bhakti - devotion, this time with a focus on the teacher. We will hear discussions from three master singers on the importance of following a guru or teacher in the Baul or Fakiri tradition.

Songs:

Guru Amare ki Rakhben Kore Choron Dasi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Babu Fakir

Bhobo Node Amar Keho Nai
Composer: Gopal Fakir
Singer: Nur Baba

Ami Opar Hoye Bose Achhi
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Anath Bondhu Ghosh and Kangal Khyapa

Guru Dohai Tomar Monke Amar Lao Go Supothe
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer: Subhajit Sengupta with Ochin Pakhi

Instrumentals:

Jekhane Sai’r Baramkhana
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir

In the Sunset of Our Lives, the final episode of this podcast series, will illuminate the importance of non-attachment in the Baul/Fakir path, and share some ancient Buddhist roots of the meditations hinted at in these cryptic songs.

Songs:

Pakhi Kokhon Jani Ure Jay
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Singer:Nurbaba

Ekdin Matir Bhitore Hobe Ghor
Composer: Manir Sarkar
Singer: Ochin Pakhi

Dekhite Dekhite Bela
Composer: Manir Sarkar
Singer: Sadhan Das Boiragi, Anath Bondhu Ghosh, Halim Fakir

Instrumentals

Jekhane Sai’r Baramkhana
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir