Baul’s French connection wanders back home

Arguably one of the most famous of his kind,the journey of the wandering minstrel started very early. His father,Dibakar Das,was a farmer from Mamudpur in Kandi. However,due to illness,Dibakar had to sell off the little land he owned and started begging.

“I used to accompany my father when he was out singing kirtans and begging. I liked the songs and started to dance to the rustic tunes. One day,we met a fakir who was playing a dubki. I took an instant liking to the instrument and asked my father to get me one. And that was just the beginning,” baul said.

At 14,he was initiated into the baul tradition by Subal Das Baul from Dhaka,who saw promise and enthusiasm in the precocious curly-haired lad. Grappling with poverty,as well as performing at various small events and singing on trains,he moved up and began to share the stage with international musicians such as Clark Terry and Big Joe Williams. He was also involved with the first Bengali band Mohiner Ghoraguli. However,he got international acclaim with his participation in a French documentary film,Le Chant des Fous (Song of the Madmen). This film brought him to Paris in 1981,where he was invited by Radio France. That tour also included multi-city performances in Germany,Switzerland and England. He returned to Alliance Françoise auditorium in Boulevard Raspail in 1982. Since then the dynamic singer shuttles between Bengal and France.

Currently,his itinerary is full,where he will be performing in in Bangladesh,France,Germany,the UK and the US. Paban along with his long time partner,Mimlu Sen,are working overtime to set up an ashram for bauls on the outskirts of Bolpur.

“Funds are an issue. We are looking to set up an institute to help bauls and residents of the area,who are poor,” Mimlu,signed off.