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In Focus

A clarion call to preserve songs of Pagla Kanai

AZIBOR RAHMAN, Jhenidah
Mystic bard Pagla Kanai was born to Messer Ali and Momena Khatun in Labutala Madhabpur village under Jhenidah district on March 18,1809. Kanai became renowned for his folk songs. He composed a good number of devotional songs but a large number of these have not been preserved. An auditorium and library named after him now stand near the mazaar' (shrine) of Pagla Kanai, but the area often becomes a grazing space for cattle.
Pagla Kanai's passion and intense spirituality was evident at an early age, hence the locals started calling him "pagla" (crazy).
Pagla Kanai left his village to evade the oppression of the British rulers who forced the fanners to cultivate indigo. Dirt-poor Kanai became a drifter after his father's death. He became a cowherd. Many were taken aback by his eclectic spiritual songs and "dhua jaari." His spiritual inclination put him in touch with the hauls and fakirs of the area.
People from all walks of life used to throng his "ashore" (performance) and listened to his songs for hours. And gradually his fame extended throughout the country.
According to Reverend Satish Chandra Mitra, Pagla Kanai's verses arc intensely poetic and replete with spiritual energy and enchanting tunes.
Pagla Kanai's songs can be classified into "jari," dhua," "pala gaan," "kobi gaan," "murshidi," "marfati," Islamic and more.
Of his disciples, Edu Biswas, Sultan Mollah, Anted Ali, Saber Ali Samir Uddin are worth mentioning.
Scholars such as Mohammad Mansur Uddin, Dr. Mazharul Islam, Abu Talib, Amin Uddin Shah, Durga Das Lahiri and Upendranath Bhattacharya collected Pagla Kanai's songs and conducted researches on the bard.
The legendary baul passed away in July, 1889.
Ali Haider of Berbari village, where Kanai stayed for years, said that the 'mazaar,' auditorium and library are situated on one acre and 60 decimal area. However, no wall has been erected around the complex yet.
Abdul Gafur, of the same village, said that on the 25th of Bangla month Phalgun every . xcai. A 'Pagla Kanai fair' is held here where thousands of people come together. The authorities, he added, could fill the big ditch close to the 'mazaar,' which would provide more space for the fair.
Abu Musa, in-charge of Pagla Kanai Library, said that if philanthropists provided more books on the legendary bard, local students and public would greatly
benefit from it.
Pagla Kanai Shilpi Goshthi President Abdur Rashid said that musical instruments are necessary to retain the tradition of the great baul singer. He added that 419 songs of Pagla Kanai have been recovered from different locations and it is necessary to preserve t|ierp.