The above oil painting on a 12 by 16 inches canvas is a throwback memory from 2008 when I had the opportunity to visit a Baul village in Shantiniketan in West Bengal, India. The painting depicts a typical Baul hut made with clay and a thatched roof. The walls were painted in a medium yellow color and had some graffiti writings in Bengali. I also got the opportunity to meet with some of the Bauls and hear their songs while visiting them.
Bauls as some of you may not know are wandering minstrels from Bengal. They wear a distinctive saffron-colored robe holding a single-stringed instrument called Ektara. Their music is mystical and heartfelt and they wander from one place to another singing for people believing in the simplicity of life and love. Their earnings are mostly from alms received by the villagers and common folks.
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