Read Part 1 of this here.
Kabir
lived in the 15th century. But his poems and songs are still valued.
Being illiterate, he didn’t write them. They were passed on orally until they
were collected by certain enthusiasts into books. Vipul Rikhi’s book, Drunk
on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir, not only brings the songs
and poems together in one volume but also seeks to impart the very spirit of
Kabir to the reader.
Kabir is not just a name, the book
informs us somewhere in the beginning. Kabir is a tradition. He is a legend, a philosophy,
poetry and music. I would add that Kabir was a mystic. Most of his songs have
something to do with spirituality. They strive to convey the deep meaning of
reality. They also question the ordinary person’s practice of religion. They
criticise the religious leaders such as pandits and mullahs.
Though a Muslim, Kabir was immensely
taken up by Ram, the Hindu god, for reasons known only to him perhaps. Most of the
songs are about the greatness of Rama. Kabir’s Rama is like Mahatma Gandhi’s
Rama: a metaphysical idea rather than the human Rama of Valmiki. Kabir’s Rama,
like Gandhi’s again, could be Rahim or any other god.
“Mecca is Varanasi again / And Ram
has become Rahim.” Kabir sings. Devotees fail to see Rama within their own
hearts. That’s the problem. Unable to see Rama within their hearts, devotees go
seeking him outside – in temples or other places. This is the mistake. When you
see Rama within you, all reality becomes sacred. You will see Rama in all
reality. Incapable of such perception, “Hindus claim Ram is theirs / Muslims
lay claim to Rehman / They fight and kill each other / Neither knows the essence.”
Kabir laments.
He sang that in the 15th
century. We haven’t come much farther from that, have we? Kabir would say we
are like the crowd in the market. They don’t understand that the stone lying in
the mud is diamond. They trample over it. Then comes a jeweller. He understands
the value of the stone and picks it up. He is enriched and the stone gets its
right place. God is like that stone. Trampled upon by ignorant crowds.
Kabir’s God chides the devotee: “Where
are you searching for me, O man? / I’m here, right next to you. / Neither in
the holy place, nor in the idol / Nor am I in solitary habitation / Neither in
the temple nor in the mosque / Nor am I in Mecca or Mount Kailash.”
Kabir can be blunt in his criticism
of the ascetics. “O yogi, you dyed your robe ochre / But did not transform your
mind / You went to the forest / You lit the holy fire / You smeared yourself
with ash / Now you look like an ass!” [Does anyone come to your mind?]
Kabir is much needed in our time,
especially in India. Vipul Rikhi has done a good job by presenting Kabir in
this book. All of Kabir’s best songs and couplets are available in this slim
volume of less than 300 pages. The last section gives the transliteration of
the original Hindi versions. 
A page from the book
There are traditions that go back centuries where writing wasn't widespread, so singing was the way to go. Glad that these have not been lost to time.
ReplyDeleteThese songs are provocative as well as lyrical. Maybe, that's why they were/are so popular.
DeleteWow! Amazing lines form the book.
ReplyDeleteThe book will be a treasure for anyone who loves Kabir.
DeleteVery nice. Does the book have the original lines of Kabir as well?
ReplyDeleteYes in transliterated form.
Delete