During birth what was your cust?
What race you took after come?
During death what will be?

Lalon was mystical poet and saint. He was devoted to love, freedom and peace that express in his songs. He taught the way of eternal liberation. He strongly emphasized to resolve the internal conflict and dominancy of false desires.

Razaul Haque, khadam of Lalon Shrine says, ‘‘People aware about his word and philosophy. Now no need to explain. Literate people address him as baul king. To followers he is a per-murshid (saint). Someone jealous to his scriptures, most are come here with devotion….’
Around the age of sixteen Lalon was found as floating by the bank of Kaliganga River, during his suffering from smallpox. He was taken to the home of Malam Shah and his wife Matijan, and took care as their own son. Matijan was the first devotee of Lalon.

Assistant Khadam of Shirne, Karamot Ali says ‘miracally Lalon came in the bank of Kaligonga River. He was sicked by pox and bedded at vala (banana boat). After morning pray when Mowlana Malam sha was walking in the river bank. He find him and checked his life by the thread of handkerchief on nose. By confirming his alive, he brought house and take care he and his wife, Motizan like real parents. Within two months vanished evidences of sickness. Malam sha regularly read the holy Quaran. During namaj when he mistook, Lalon sha made sound. As asking the meaning of sound, one night Lalon said to bring the Quaran, and shown the correct way of reading with excellent explanation. Malam sha was astonished to see formally illiterate Lalon’s wisdom. He was moved and became irregular to mosque. Most of time spent with Lalon. Malam sha did not have any child. One day neighbor said, Malam sha now spent time only with others son. After hearing this rumor Lalan said, ‘I will not live hear anymore’. Mother Motizan encountered Lalon by the love affection, ‘we don’t have child. You came as son, but now going!... ’. After that Lalon changed his decision with the condition to live separated house. Malam made a round shaped new house with straw where Lalon lived and did meditation. Once Lalon tripped to west of the district and returned back with Beshaka Fakir. In the gathering, followers asked – who is she? Lalon said, consider she is your ‘Guru Ma’. After that Beshaka Fakir lived here for forever. Brother, parents, relative, nobody came to looked her. In the mean time, Lalon sha’s father Malam sha died. Lalon san said, when I will die, please take me to beside my mother (Motizan). They are now together. This land where we are now, was belong to Malam sha. Before died he registered this16 units land to Lalon sha. Before, during festival huge people could not be managed. Government has extended the space in the bank of river. Now here annually two ceremonies have been held. Once at dul purnima (full moon night). Another is at fixed pohala Kartik but fixed. In the light of full moon dul purnima’s event is marvelous. How marvelous dul purnima’s event in the light of full moon! Lalon geti , is not normal song. The songs are scriptures for human salvation.’

Lalon did not have formal education. He led simple but spiritual life. People don’t know his real birth date , place, religion, even parents name. The research finding Lalon Fakir was born in 1774. Lalon died at the age of 116 years.

Hindu and Muslim both communities wanted to communalise him. Hindus said he was a Kayastha and adopted by a Muslim Moulobi. But Muslims said he was a Muslim by birth. Philosophically Lalon was none, as he always strove to go beyond all politics of identities.

Lalon composed about two thousands songs which still provide spiritual inspiration and awareness. By songs he guided peoples to be “maner manush” ( perfect man ), “shohoj manush” ( simple man ). He was the against to all forms of oppression, hierarchy, racism and caste system. He celebrates the freedom of mind and body. Lalon represents the “Baul”.

The “Baul” is a revolutionary and secular community. They are formerly illiterate and wandering singers but have impressive wisdom. Baul deny all worldly affairs in desperate search for a mystical ecstasy of the soul with song by using Ektara (a one string musical instrument) and a dugdugi (a hand drum).
Fakir Babu sha, a devoted Baul singer says, ‘since last 30 years I am singing. I love Lalon’s songs very much. I found God’s word and human spirit in song-scripts . I have invested my life to this way.

Young baul Nazrul sha say, ‘since last 15 years I am singing. I am impressed by the songs. Not for musical rethym, I love Shigee and his for his spiritual deepness and expression of goodness.’
Rezaul Haque say, ‘He did not write song. He did not believe to writings . When spirit came, he called followers and said to memorise the song-script. But some followers hiddenly wrote. Still now arround the country, there is many song only to people memory, the collection is going on. There is 13 pionner followers had been blessed by Lalon sha. His first follower shitol sha. He came to a moulana ( muslim prist ). But he came upstream! His works were aginst of current. He religion was, ‘ ujano dormo’ ( challence to contemporarty ). He did not say about his religion. He believed to human religion. This is truth. Only it will sustain.’

The great Lalon was not famous in life time. But his baul philosophy was introduced by Rabindranath and contemporary scholars. He was the greatest mystic-singer of the subcontinent. Lalon believed, the ‘body’ is the universe and the universe is the body. He was revolutionary, challenged to contemporary life style, religions and practices with simple word of songs.

In Kushtia at the Lalon shrine every year held “Lalon Festival” the biggest gathering of Bauls and Bauls’ performance. Nowadays in Bangladesh modern signers also following the folk approach and word of Lalon songs. All Bangladeshi appreciate very much Lalon song, particularly for its deep spiritual meanings and inspiration.

Shahjahan Siraj
19 May, 2007