[Reader-list] A Visit to the Joydev Mela - posting by Averee Chaurey

[Neepa Majumdar]

Your posting was very interesting, especially what Purna Das Baul has to 
say about authenticity in Baul music. Authenticity is a slippery slope and 
especially ironic coming from Purna Das Baul, whom many regard as the 
first commercial exploiter of Baul music, seemingly unable to perform 
without a microphone. Kenduli Mela itself is a sign of the slipperiness of 
notions of authenticity considering the enormous changes it has undergone 
in the last 20 years with the introduction of electric lights and 
microphones not just in the central stage, but in virtually all akhras. As 
is often the case with authenticity as an obscure object of desire, one 
now hears of other "more authentic" baul melas elsewhere, though of 
course, those melas too are undoubtedly always already in transition.

--------------------
Neepa Majumdar



On Mon, 27 Mar 2006, Vivek Narayanan wrote:

> THIRD POSTING
>
>
>
> My next visit was to the Joydev Mela , at Kenduli in Birbhum ,where the 
> largest number of Bauls congregate.
>
> This was my first visit to Kenduli , a place close to the hearts of all Bauls 
> . From Kolkata I take the train to Shantiniketan and onwards by taxi to 
> Kenduli which takes about 2 hours .Kenduli is a small village , on the banks 
> of the river Ajay . This is the mecca for the Bauls .Kenduli is home to a 
> shrine of Joydev and Padmabati , whose love story has been sung for many 
> years . Joydev is the famous poet who wrote `Geet Gobind’. The annual mela is 
> held here in his honour .
>
> Thousands of people have gathered here for the festival ; as far as the gaze 
> goes all you can see is countless heads of people .Small tents , about 50 in 
> number , have mushroomed all over ; all of them housing Bauls .These tents 
> are known as ` akhras ‘. A huge open stage or Mukta Mancha stands in the 
> centre .It is from here that I hear beautiful music and get to speak to some 
> Bauls and Baulinis .Interestingly , I get to meet Purna Das Baul ,who has 
> been responsible for popularising Baul music all over the world .In spite of 
> his busy schedule I did get to have a chat with him .He is probably one of 
> the most famous Bauls around having even found a place on the cover of Bob 
> Dylan’s 1968 album .I asked him to comment on the current trends of Baul 
> music ,the publicity it is getting and on Baul fusion .`Most Bauls do not 
> stick to authentic tunes,’he says,`though the popularity of the music has 
> brought in a welcome change.’Purna Das thinks the older generation 
shies away 
> from the publicity blitz .He is not averse to the idea of Baul fusion because 
> as long as he chants the name of Krishna ,he thinks it does not mean drifting 
> away .
>
> As dusk sets in , the crowd has now swollen to scary proportions . I meet a 
> Baulini who lets me into her small hut .She looks after her Baul sangi 
> (partner) and rears children .Still she finds time to sing and has inducted 
> her child into the tradition . I hear the little Chatu Das regale the 
> audience .He is just 10 years old .
>
> I noticed that the music too has changed . Instruments like harmonium 
and 
> tabla which traditionally are not played with Baul songs , now form a part of 
> their renditions .Group shows with musicians accompanying Bauls seemed to be 
> an emerging trend .
>
> Yet, the philosophy remains the same :
>
> Dwija Sudra itar bhadra , nai re bhedabhed bichar .
> Brahmon ,Kshatriya ,Sudra mile mishe ekakar – Krishna Dasi
> (Brahmin Sudra, the high and the low , there is no difference ; all are 
> mingled together )
>
>
>
>
>
> The next part of my work will focus more on women Bauls . The gender bias 
> notwithstanding ,I intend to culminate my work in a play which will highlight 
> the lives of these Baul women .
>
>
>
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