Writing the Self
Subtitle: The Life and Philosophy of a Bengali Baul Guru
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2009
Language: eng; ben
Number of pages: 336
ISBN-13: 9780198062479
Subjects: Bengal (india), history; Indic literature, history and criticism
Description: "This book investigates the largely unexplored terrain of the lives of Baul Gurus by studying the autobiography of Baul Guru, Raj Krishna, and situating Baul songs in a larger socio-historical perspective. The author examines the life, 'lineage', and legacy of Raj Krishna in the context of the Renaissance in colonial Bengal, the growth of urban middle classes, transforming identities and the development of spiritual philosophy in the subcontinent. She traces the life and beliefs of Raj and his disciples through both oral and written sources. This volume also provides a comprehensive picture of the religious and socio-cultural aspirations of the people being addressed by the Baul Gurus. The appendices of the volume are also very informative with a translieration of the original text, and discussions on the methods of dating and analyzing Baul texts."--Publisher description.