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Baul Pagla Bablu: Living, breathing and performing Lalon’s songs

Reza tn. Karim , Faridpur
Baul Pagla Bablu's reputation as an accomplished artiste transcends his native Faridpur; the Lalon singer is now a familiar name across the country. Bablu not only renders the songs of Lalon but also believes in and preaches the philosophy of the bard as an effort to uphold humanity.
Through Lalon’s timeless songs, this renowned baul wants to show the frustrated and lost youth the way to enlightenment. He dreams of a society free of inequalities, injustice, repression, deprivation and anarchy, his motto, ’Shatya bol, shupathey chaE (stay on the track of truth and virtue).
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Bablu married Hafiza Begum who is very supportive of her ’baul1 husband. The couple has two sons and a daughter.
Bablu went to work in Saudi Arabia in 1987. But the baul in him made him come back home and continue his musical journey.
As an artiste he was enlisted in Bangladesh Betar in 1989. He completed a three-year course titled "Mentor Fellowship in Music of Lalon and Baul," a project of Folk Foundation, Kushtia in 1995.
Bablu became an enlisted artiste of Bangladesh Television in 1994. At Ramna Batomul Baishakhi celebration in 1995, Pagla Bablu rendered songs. Hearing his songs, poet Shamsur Rahman wrote a poem titled "Pagla Bablur Gaan.” This was a definitive moment for the singer.
Next year Bablu attended a programme in Delhi in compliance with the request of Dev Mukherjee. He also visited Krisna Nagar, Barasat, Bhimpur, Rabindra Sadan, Nazrul Mancha and Hooghly to present Lalon songs.
Bablu has done his share of acting as well. He had performed in drama serials "Bishakha Resort" and "Ghor-er Khobor Por-er Khobor." Another memorable experience is playing the role of Duddu Shah in Tanvir Mokammel's film "Lalon." Bablu sang 18 songs for the film.
Three albums of Pagla Bablu are available in the market -- "Pancham," "Ki Jaadu Bangla Gaaney" and "Tribhuban." Among his upcoming works are "Shubho Sadhu Sangha" and "Achin Pakhi."
Bablu is also active in social reform. Together with his friends and fellow Lalon enthusiasts, he has set up 'Lalon Nagar,' an area in Faridpur town adjacent to Alimuzzaman Bridge. Around 100 underprivileged families live in Lalan Nagar. Bablu is also one of the initiators of Lalon Bidyapith, Lalon Samiti and Lalon Parishad in Faridpur. Not only this, as a demonstration of upholding Lalon’s philosophy of humanism, he and his associates in Faridpur arranged marriages of 69 sex workers.
Talking to The Daily Star, Bablu said, "I want to change the society with Lalon’s philosophy. Lalon’s songs and messages should be included in school curriculum and every sphere of life."
Bablu has another wish: "I want to sing at all the prisons in the country. I’m eager to find out if Lalon's words of peace and enlightenment can touch the hearts of the inmates.”