Bauls of Bengal: First and Pristine Sufis
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 May 2024
Mr Ghulam
Rasool Dehlvi's excellent article on the Mystic of Bengal has inspired me to ferret out my
old article on Bauls of Bengal who were called Swabhabik Rahosyobadi
(Natural Mystics) by none other than Rabindranath Tagore.
Strange
though it may sound, it's true that we are seldom aware of our own attributes
and capabilities. That it needed an English scholar to enlighten us on the
spiritual influence of Bauls of Bengal's Bankura district is a rather sad
commentary on our apathy towards the rich and varied spiritual traditions and
wealth. Professor Arthur John Arberry, a British scholar of Arabic Literature,
Persian poetry and Islamic studies, wrote in 1939 that the Bauls of Bengal
started and perpetuated the great (Islamic) mystic traditions of Muslim mystics
in their own natural, non-denominational, non-religious and non-sectarian
manner.
Photo: Chaupahari.come
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There are
striking similarities in the ways of Bauls and the mysticism of Sufis. Since
1967, when Baul singers Purna Das and Luxmun Das featured on the album cover of
Bob Dylan's John Wesley Hoarding, the West has been fascinated by the mystical
world of the Bauls and their rejection of the mainstream (Islam/Hinduism). The
Bauls subscribe to a philosophy that doesn't acknowledge caste, creed and
social hierarchies. The syncretism of the Sufis is similar to Baul philosophy.
Even John
Lenon's famed "Imagine" (1966) was actually inspired by the
Baul philosophy: "Imagine there's no god, no heaven....." British
scholar of Vedanta Sir Christopher Isherwood called the Bauls 'First Sufis'
and ' Spiritual world's earliest evolved souls.' Even Jalaluddin Rumi's concept
of "Dancing Darvesh" has its roots and vestiges in the
whirlwind dancing steps of the Bauls, which they (Bauls) call ''Alaukik
Nritya" (Divine Dance). The Bauls of Bangladesh were following their
spiritual tradition much before the advent of Islam, which came into existence
nearly 1500 years ago.
Though
their devotional songs can be traced back to the fifteenth century when they
first appeared in Bengali literature, Baul spiritual traditions were much
older. The Bauls never called themselves
Hindus or Muslims. Their only identity is Hari Das (slave to God). And their
God is both Saguna-Saakaar (having a definite form) and Nirguna-Nirakaar
(formless). On this front, Bauls are much more evolved (than the Sufis).
Most of the
Sufis were highly accomplished poets like Rumi, Attar, Sanai, Khaqani, Nizami,
Bayazid Bistami and Jami, having a great command of Persian and Arabic, whereas
Bauls were simple village-folks, unspoilt by bookish or scriptural knowledge.
While all Sufis from Central Asia and Arab Peninsula were the devout followers
of Islam, Bauls didn't tie themselves to the apron-strings of any man-made
faith. To quote western Urdu scholar Ralph Russell, ' Theirs (Bauls) was a
pristine spirituality, bereft of scriptural adulteration.' Bauls have never had
religious trappings. They worship a God or even gods. On this count, their
philosophy is much greater than all the sophisticated religious ideologies put
together.
Even Jesus
Christ and his mother were mentioned in the folk-songs of Bauls many centuries
ago in the erstwhile East Pakistan. The loftiness of their spiritual experience
with no barriers of customs and rituals is incredibly fascinating. The message
of Bauls is universal and is articulated in one of the songs-Je Maane
Maanush Ke / Bhagban O Maane Taake (Who serves mankind / God serves him).
Can anyone cite a spiritually more audacious statement than this?
The
disarming simplicity of the life of a Baul, the absence of social obligations
and classifications, the unhesitant devotion of the music of the soil are some
of the features that make the Bauls truly affable.
The most
beautiful thing about the Bauls is that though they are against all social and
religious conventions, they are not disconcertingly iconoclastic. They welcome
everyone to their fold with no pre-conditions whatsoever. "We are all
offspring of the same God," intrinsically believe the Bauls and the echoes
of it can be heard in the teachings of the Sufis. The egalitarian mysticism of
the Bauls inspired the Sufis, who came into contact with them when they arrived
from Central Asia and Arabia.
But
Professor Reynold A Nicholson suggested that Muslim mystics sidelined Bauls
during their active period in Bengal (Read Nichloson's Notes, published by the
Department of Persian, Cambridge University). If Socrates called himself 'a
global citizen' almost 4, 000 years ago, Bauls considered the whole world as 'a
huge family' (Brihod Poribaar) centuries ago. Just because their history
is not so well-documented, Bauls have never got the much broader canvas enjoyed
by the Muslim Sufis.
Despite
their lack of formal education, Bauls admirably believe that there's no hell or
heaven. It's just a state of mind, they believe. Alas, 'educated' Muslims are
still cocksure that Hell, Heaven, Afterlife and all that jazz exist and they
write bogus treatises on these non-extant concepts that are actually insults to
human intelligence.
No last
rites are performed when a Baul shuffles off the mortal coil. His mortal
remains are consigned to the flowing waters of a river or sea, symbolising the
continuity of life. In one of his poignant songs, Purna Das sings, "Give
me a watery grave. Fire burns, lonely darkness suffocates, why shouldn't I flow
with water as my whole life I have lived like a river?"
This
exalted philosophy of Bauls is all the more relevant in today's world of
differences and discrimination. Here I must add Nirad C Chaudhury's words,
" While all great Muslim mystics in Bengal had a subtle or dormant desire
to convert Hindus to the fold of Islam, Bauls never had that intention as they
were beyond all religious affiliations, nay afflictions '' (Courtesy, Desh,
January 1970). Humanity needs the universal spirit and message of Bauls.
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The
above article first appeared in TOI's now defunct supplement The Crest (2009).
Some additions have been incorporated to make it relevant for NAI.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/bauls-bengal-pristine-sufis/d/132375
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