Lalon Shah : A Philosopher Musician Searching for Human identity

Lalon Shah was probably born in 1774 in the part of the formerly larger Nadia district now in Kushtia, Bangladesh.The details of Lalon's early life are made controversial. It is hard find the real history of his life. Some claim Lalon was born of Hindu Kayastha parents and during a pilgrimage to Murshidabad with other Bauls of his native village, he contracted a virulent type of small pox and was abandoned by his companions in a precarious condition on the banks of the Ganges. But no body knows what is true about his early life. However, it is true that a Muslim man Malam Shah, a weaver and Sufi practitioner and his wife Matijan saved him from death. Lalon never revealed his social identity because of his consistent opposition against all forms of communal identity. Despite of this silence on his origins, communal appropriation of this great politico-philosophical figure has created a controversy regarding whether he is 'Muslim' or a 'Hindu' ,a 'sufi' or a follower 'bhakti' tradition—a 'baul' or a 'fakir', etc. He is none, as he always strove to go beyond all politics of identities. Lalon sang, “People ask if Lalon Fakir is a Hindu or a Mussalman. Lalon says he himself doesn’t know who he is. He critically re-appropriated the various philosophical positions emanating from the legacies of Hindu, Jain, Buddha and Islamic traditions, developing them into a coherent discourse without falling into the mixes of being syncretic. It is said that he had composed about 10,000 songs of which 2000-3000 can be tracked down today while others are lost in time and hearts of his numerous followers. Lalon greatly affected Rabindranath Tagore. He was deeply motivated by Lalon's music. It is said that if Lalon was educated then he would be like Rabindranath. His all songs indicate his strong belief in humanity. His songs were a unique example of ascetics, mysticism and divinity. He passed away on the 17 October, 1890, at Chheuriya in Kushtia, at the age of 116.But Lalon, the true philosopher and artist, has existed on his own and in his own right.

Some lyrics of Lalon's Music:

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?
Catch it, I would, if I could...
and put my mind's chains on its feet.
There are eight rooms with nine doors,
with latice-work in between.
On top of that, there' s a central yard
and a hall of mirrors.

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?

The Bird wouldn't behave so,
had it not been for my ill-luck.
It has broken through its Cage
and flown away somewhere....

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?

O Mind, you have lived with high hopes,
but your Cage is made of raw bamboo.
One day this Cage (too) will fall and break.
Lalon says, "The door 's ajar, the Bird's flown!"

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?
Catch it, I would, if I could...
and put my mind's chains on its feet.

There are eight rooms with nine doors,
with latice-work in between.
On top of that, there' s a central yard
and a hall of mirrors.

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?

The Bird wouldn't behave so,
had it not been for my ill-luck.
It has broken through its Cage
and flown away somewhere....

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?

O Mind, you have lived with high hopes,
but your Cage is made of raw bamboo.
One day this Cage (too) will fall and break.
Lalon says, "The door 's ajar, the Bird's flown!"

The unknown Bird in the cage...
how does it fly in and out?

Another one

Everyone asks what caste of this world does Lalon belong to
Lalon says I haven’t yet laid my eyes on the visage of caste.

Someone has a garland on their neck, and someone a talisman
Hence one can call them different
But while coming into or leaving this world
Where does the sign of caste exist?

If one's circumcised he’s Muslim
But then what;s teh rule for women-folk?
I know the sacred thread is the evidence of a brahmin
But how am I to recognise a brahmin-ess?

All over the world there’s talk of caste
People often chatter idly about it
Lalon says I’ve opted to discard all notion of caste.

The translation from Bengali is by Carol Salomon (courtesy the Bengali e-zine Parabaas).