LALON: A FANTASTIC PHILOSOPHY
The village sage obviously concurs with our Vedanta sage when he claims that when trying to reach the unknown being, the mind becomes mystified. However, this poet, like the iron age philosopher, doesn't really surrender to the quest of the infinite, suggesting that there is a path to its realization. That poem by Shelley, "Hymn to Intellectual Beauty," in which he sings of the mystical essence of beauty, comes to me. Despite their difficulty in comprehending it, both the English poet and the anonymous Bengali village singer, whose music contains the unidentified bird's wing beats, acknowledge that the unknown is the most fundamental reality. In his Hibbert Lectures, which he gave at Oxford, Rabindranath Tagore emphasized his enthusiasm for Fakir Lalon Shah's creations by mentioning the first rhyme of Lalon's well-known song "Khachar vitor ochin pakhi." About a century earlier, Tagore introduced Lalon's philosophy on a global platform after acknowledging its profundity. However, 128 years after Lalon's passing, we were unable to effectively spread his philosophy throughout the world. Lalon Fakir and many of his concepts thus remain unknown to the public despite having exceptional appeal. This is because we have failed to comprehend Lalon and his ideologies, as well as see the importance of exposing him and spreading his ideas around the world. Lalon is well known in our nation as a spiritual scholar and the father of Baul music. Many of his followers live their lives in accordance with his ideology. His songs are so well-known that regular Bengalis occasionally sing them. He advocated for a world without caste, creed, or religion throughout his life and opposed any other practices that were inimical to the idea of human unity. These are the fundamental beliefs about Fakir Lalon Shah and his creations. Apparently, it's just the beginning of his extensive thoughts. Despite having no formal qualifications, his spiritual ideas are so original, cutting-edge, and all-encompassing that they may appeal to people from all around the globe.
Lalon was born on October 14, 1772, in Harishpur, Jhenaidah, and passed away on October 17, 1890, in Cheuriya, Kushtia, at the age of 118. Lalon was a notable Bengali saint, philosopher, spiritual artist, and philanthropist. Lalon Fakir and Shai-ji were other names used to address him. This revered icon of Bengali culture influenced many intellectuals, artists, and social thinkers, including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Alien Ginsberg. The humanist perspective of Lalon denies all caste, class, and creed injustices and speaks out against racial prejudice and spiritual disagreements. It represents sub-continental Bhakti and Sufism's culturally visionary significance in renunciation all secular pursuits in quest of the soul.
Portrayal of a Legend's Life: Lalon
Lalon's life history is incredibly cryptic. Nobody can express his caste, religion, or ancestry with clarity. Lalon kept his information confidential as well. One story claims that Lalon was born in Kushtia(formerly Nadia) into a prominent Hindu family. However, based on various sources, he was born around the same time in the Jhenidah area to a devout Muslim family. He was unable to finish his studies due to his poor financial circumstances. Another story claims that Lalon and his companions traveled to the Ganges for a voyage or to bathe in the Ganges. When he was returning home, he fell unconscious due to smallpox. Because his acquaintances believed he had passed away, they kept a fire going in his mouth and abandoned him next to the river. The friend informed his mother that Lalon had passed away. Some Muslim ladies went to the river at that time to fetch water. A woman named Motijan found Lalon in a potentially fatal position. She brought Lalon into her house, cared for him, and helped him recover. Then Lalon returned to his village, where the residents were reluctant to embrace him even though his mother and sisters were relieved to see him alive. His village's residents wanted to expel him since he stole food from the Muslim's home and carried out his ritual there as well. These actions caused Lalon considerable harm, and he chose to leave his town forever and live in the external world. Siraj Shai, a guru, was met by Lalon. He was told to go to the shore of the Kaliganga, close to Kushtia, after achieving the first phase of spirituality. Lalon had visited the Tagores while living in the Tagores' zamindari in Kushtia. On his houseboat on the river Padma in 1889, zamindar Jyotirindranath Tagore is believed to have sketched the single and only portrait of Lalon. In 1830, Lalon established an akhra in Kushtia. Locals assisted him. Many individuals adopted his ideas and way of living because they found them compelling. Lalon composed and sang many songs. His melodies convey profound philosophical concepts. He categorized his songs into three categories: physical truth, personal truth, and spiritual truth. In 1963, a research center on his philosophy was erected beside his shrine. Both Muslims and Hindus offer respect at his shrine. His music serves as a reflection of his metaphysical beliefs. At the age of 118, he passed away in Kushtia on October 17, 1890.
Lalon and his philosophy
Lalon opposed religious strife, and a number of the parody of his song political correctness splinters societies and incites violence. Even during the height of the anti-colonial nationalist uprisings on the Indian subcontinent, he repudiated nationalism. He opposed discrimination and did not support castes. He also opposed a divided, patriarchal order. Lalon plays the historically truly revolutionary role of sub-continental bhakti and sufism, not occult or divine in nature, who despises all material concerns in quest of the soul. He had faith in the ability of music to transform one's mental and emotional state and allow one to comprehend and respect life altogether. Lalon is revered as a spiritual leader by individuals from all around the world. Many individuals believe Lalon has admirable internal traits that could help him serve the human race. Genuinely, Lalon wished to alleviate people's suffering through his philosophy. People deal with many issues in daily life; thus, Lalon sought to create certain principles that would calm regular people's minds. He treated all men equally. The information below reveals
সব লোকে কয়
লালন কি জাত সংসারে?”
Lalon's metaphysical theory, beautiful nature, social realism, and everyday truths have had a significant impact on Islam in other ways. He examined Islam from his Nadiya viewpoint, appropriated it, and provided an innovative interpretation of prophets and prophethood. According to Dr. Duncan MacDougall, a physician from Haverhill, Massachusetts, a person loses roughly 21 grams of weight when they pass away in 1970. And a hummingbird weighs 21 grams as well. Does that imply that after a person dies, a hummingbird inhabits their body and flies off to another location? Maybe that’s why Lalon quoted this in his song:
Lalon's point of view was about discovering one's own great power. He reflected on how people try to discover God in many places and how the human body has become more sophisticated. According to him, the human body is the ultimate location where God may be found. According to Fakir Lalon Shai'ji, if there is a higher power, then people are part of it. That’s why Lalon wasn’t a human. He was more than a human; he was a concept himself.
Lalon Shih-ji's Works
Lalon wrote a lot of poetry and songs that represent his ideology. Lalon is thought to have written between 2,000 and 10,000 songs, although only roughly 800 of them are widely regarded as genuine. A couple of Lalon's songs were only later transcribed by his pupils after being passed down orally. Lalon did not leave any versions of his songs in manuscripts. Additionally, hardly any of his songs exist in hard copy because the majority of his followers were illiterate. Rabindranath Tagore published a handful of the Lalon songs in the Kolkata-based Prabasi newspaper, which served as the songs' formal debut. The idea that “the body is the seat of all beliefs” is the fundamental theme of Lalon Shah's songs, and Baul discipline is founded on the guru's or preceptor's dominance. Finding and establishing touch with the inherent and formless Ultimate Being, which can only be done via prayer, meditation, and spiritual love, is the main objective of Baul ascetic practice. The guru creates the path to lifelines and successful loyalty. In Lalon's songs, this metaphysics is expressed mystically. Lalon drew inspiration for his songs from Sufism, Vaishvava Sahajiya ideology, Hindu and Buddhist scripture, and other sources. His humanitarian social ideas have been combined with his liberal religious beliefs. “Jat gelo jat gelo bale” and “Emon samaj kobe-go srijan hobe” are two songs. A blueprint for the establishment of a society devoid of systemic religious, racial, and ethnic racism has been provided by Lalon Shah. His most well-known tunes include:
Lalon's music pursues an unfathomable truth that transcends realism. He was socially aware, and his songs addressed everyday issues in clear yet powerful language. His worldview was communicated verbally as well as via songs and musical compositions performed on homemade instruments such as the duggi and the ektara, a one-string instrument. The baul sects were the primary domain of Lalon's songs. Through well-known singers, they were able to reach the urban population when Bangladesh gained its independence. Many of them began using devices besides the ektara and baya. To appeal to the sensibilities of the urban population, some people started adopting classical forms for a polished presentation.
Symbol and legacy of Lalon in mainstream heritage
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In 1963, a mausoleum and study institution was established close to his shrine in Kushtia, Bangladesh. Countless individuals pay a call on the monument every Dol Purnima during Falgun to mark his passing. People pay respect throughout these three-day song melas, especially Muslim fakirs and Bauls. Farida Parveen and Anusheh Anadil are two contemporary Baul singers who are well-known around the world for singing Lalon melodies. According to Bengali poet Fakir Lalon Shah, "verbal literature and tradition in the social framework of contemporary Bangladesh inform his life philosophy," which is one of the fundamental works, according to M Shahinoor Rahman.
Literature and films about Lalon
Moner Manush: the quest (A film on Lalon)
In the arts, including theater, television drama, and movies, Lalon has been represented. Syed Hasan Imam directed Lalon Fakir, the first Lalon biopic, in 1973. Ashim Kumar played Lalon in the 1978 film Lalon Fakir, which was directed by Shakti Chatterjee. In 1992, Allen Ginsberg published a poem titled "After Lalon" in which he cautioned readers against the risks of celebrity and fixation on material possessions. In the 2004 movie Lalon, directed by Tanvir Mokammel, Raisul Islam Asad played the role of Lalon. In Moner Manush, a 2010 Bengali movie that chronicled the life and ideas of Lalon, Prosenjit Chatterjee played Lalon. The life history memoir of a certain title by Sunil Gangopadhyay served as the basis for the movie. The "best feature film on national integration" prize was given to this Goutam Ghose-directed movie by the Indian National Film judge board at their 58th award show. It was also awarded "Best Film" at the 41st International Film Festival of India.
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