I soon came to understand how rich this country was in music. From the profound songs of Rabindranath Tagore- Bangladesh's Nobel prize winning poet, to the strange philosophies proclaimed through song by the very earthy religious fakir Lalon, I realized that this country communicates at its deepest level through music. As I learned these songs and studied tabla, I was welcomed into homes and hearts of Bengalis.
Here is my translation of 'Gram chara oi ranga matir poth; it sort of goes with our blog post picture at the top:
Leaving the homestead to tread down this earth - red road,
O how forgotten is my past!
To whom does my mind incline with arms out thrust,
Floundering from the dust?
How forgotten is my past!
Drawing me out from my home, this street
begging, begging at my feet
brings the woe that is mine to meet.
On this I am seized, taken and tossed.
Taken to what holocaust?
How forgotten is my past!
Upon which bend of this road will wealth descend?
Which place will it danger send?
Traveling to the end, I cannot comprehend
where my last lot shall be cast.
Leaving the homestead to tread down this earth – red road,
O how forgotten is my past!
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