Shantiniketan

An anthem for Interfaith Unity, Cultural Pluralism, and Racial Justice

Rooted in the Baul tradition of Bengal, Shantiniketan draws on the syncretic spirituality of the Bauls, who blend Vedic (Hindu), Buddhist, and Sufi (Islamic) influences. Baul Sangeet, a spiritual folk tradition dating back to at least the 15th century, is closely associated with Santiniketan (meaning "Haven of Peace"), the town founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in West Bengal.

Baul Sangeet is traditionally performed by ascetics devoted to its spiritual practices, with music as their primary form of expression. It often features a cross-rhythm of three against two, a heartbeat-like pulse symbolizing the convergence of diverse spiritual and cultural rhythms into a richer harmony. The lyrics explore themes of love, devotion, and yearning for the divine, often through everyday or romantic imagery.

Jonomo Morono Hobe Nibarono, a lesser-known Baul song, reflects the Vedic belief in the impermanence of the material world (maya) and the promise of spiritual unity beyond it. The Bengali refrain has been adapted into an Anglicized melody, and its English counterpart—drawn directly from Revelation 21—underscores the striking parallels between Baul and Christian eschatological visions. The verse melody, my own composition inspired by Baul Sangeet, incorporates texts from Revelation 7, 18, 21, and 22, with Verse 3 echoing Hindu teachings on detachment from worldly concerns. The piece concludes with Revelation 22:4, affirming divine belonging and evoking the South Asian metaphor of destiny inscribed on the forehead. © Dr Anita Datta 2023