Banyan Roots

Songs of the Unknown Bird

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 NoyComposer: Kangal HorinathSinger: Babu Fakir
Khachar Bhitor Ochin PakhiComposer: Lalon FakirSinger: Selina Fakirini
Chirodin Pushilam Ek Ochin PakhiComposer: Lalon FakirSinger: Nurbaba
Phaki Deowa Pakhi Re TorComposer: Ammulyo SarkarSinger: Uttora Baidya
 
Instrumentals:
Jekhane Shai’r Baramkhana
Composer: Lalon Fakir
Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir
Gram Chhara 
Composer: Rabindranath TagoreDotara 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

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

Lalon’s Liberation: Worshiping in the Temple of the Mind

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 JatComposer: 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

“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

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.
 

Khwajababa and the Bengali Sufi Tradition

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 MeleComposer: Latif SarkarSinger: Robi Das Baul
2. Shab e Hijr Voh Dam ba Dam Yaad AayeComposer: Nawab Muazzam Jaah ShajiSinger: Ustad Farid AyazRecording Credit: Dream Journey
3. Amar Khwajababar Chobi Composer: Dewan RajjakSinger: Robi das BaulRecording Credit: Satyoki Banerjee
4. Ekbar Allah bolo mon re pakhiComposer: Lalon FakirSinger: Selina Fakirini
5. Pare ke JabiComposer: Lalon FakirSinger: Nurbaba
Instrumentals:
1. Jekhane Sai’r BaramkhanaComposer: Lalon FakirDotara Player: Amirul Fakir
2. Ekbar Allah bolo mon re pakhiComposer: Lalon FakirViolin Player: Lucia Thomas