Songs of the Soul

(Clockwise from top left) a scene from the dance-drama "Roopban"; child artiste Sagar Baul performs a Lalon song at the event; Hiroshi Omura (left), Kamal Lohani, Promode Mankin, Suraiya Begum and Derek Elias at the book launch. Photo: Mumit M.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in collaboration with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) launched Baul Songs Publications (Books and CD) under the project of 'Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Baul Songs' on March 2 at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka.
The launching programme was a part of celebrating inclusion of the tradition of Baul Songs on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity [declared by UNESCO].
Credit also goes to the Japanese Government that supported UNESCO in bringing out the publications.
The event featured discussion, launching of the books and CD and cultural programme.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Promode Mankin was the chief guest. Derek Elias, Head and representative, UNESCO Dhaka Office; Hiroshi Omura, First Secretary and Head of Information and Cultural Division, Embassy of Japan, Dhaka; Suraiya Begum ndc, Secretary in Charge, Ministry of Cultural Affairs as special guests spoke on the occasion. Director General of BSA Kamal Lohani presided over the discussion.
"The Bauls are mystic minstrels living in rural Bangladesh and West Bengal [India]. The Baul movement, at its peak in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, has now regained popularity and is enjoying a renaissance among the non-metropolitan population of Bangladesh. Their music and way of life have influenced and continue to inspire a large segment of Bengali culture," said Derek Elias.
"Baul songs were selected for their artistic, historical and anthropological values and especially for their importance in forming cultural identity. Like so many other expressions of intangible cultural heritage, Baul songs represent an important contribution to the cultural diversity of humanity," added Elias.
"Japan is interested in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of the world because the heritage is facing the danger of extinction. Baul songs are unique and diverse in nature, "said Hiroshi Omura.
Later, the guests unveiled two books, and an audio CD. Kamal Lohani is the chief editor of "Baul Sangeet", a collection of 500 Baul songs. Dr. Anwarul Karim, Md. Nazrul Haque, Dr. Abul Hassan Chowdhury and Saymon Zakaria are members of the editorial board that worked on the book.
Saymon Zakaria with Kamol Khalid and Susmita Chakrabarty collected the songs from Durlab Shah, Didar Shah, Hedaet Ali Shah, Karim Shah, Nahir Shah, Mahram Shah, Rawshan Fakir, Bajlu Shah, Rahela Khatun, Usuf Shadhu and many others. The collection mostly features the mystic poems of Fakir Lalon Shai (1774-1890) and several of his followers from the Kushtia region.
National Professor Kabir Chowdhury, along with Professor Anwarul Karim, Dr. Abul Hassan Chowdhury and Samyasathee Bhowmik translated the first 100 songs in the book.
The other book includes staff notations of 150 songs. Eminent musician and exponent Sudhin Das and Debproshad Dawn worked on the notations of 140 songs, while singer and researcher Dr. Sayeem Rana added staff notations to the rest of the songs [that were translated in English].
Md. Nazrul Haque, Debproshad Dawn and Dr. Sayeem Rana edited the book. Director of Research and Publication Department of BSA Md. Nazrul Haque is the project director and publisher of the two books.
A CD featuring 50 songs of the bards was also launched at the event. Kamol Khalid directed the music while Saymon Zakaria selected artistes for the CD.
At the cultural programme Pagla Bablu, Samir Baul and a child prodigy Sagar Baul performed Lalon numbers "Manush Chhara Khyapa Rey Tui", "Jomi Korbo Abad Ghotey Bipod" and "Boro Shongkotey Poria Doyal" respectively. The highlight of the show was the staging of the dance-drama "Roopban". Noted choreographer Deepa Khandakar adapted, choreographed and directed the dance-drama while Ali Asgar Khokon composed and directed the music. Over 55 noted and promising artistes donned different roles in the dance-drama.