Selected Songs of Shah Abdul Karim contains sixty one songs nicely rendered into English. Non-Bengali speaking readers will find it as a source book to study Bangladesh’s Baul tradition. The Baul tradition, from which Shah Abdul Karim emerged, is a unique blend of inter-faith ethos and indigenous folk beliefs. It is a tradition that defies categorization embracing a fluid and inclusive spirituality. The Baul songs, often improvised and performed in a trance-like state, are characterized by their direct and unadorned expression of spiritual longing. They are songs of love both divine and humane, and of protest against social injustice. Translating such mystical words puts forward a formidable challenge. The Baul songs are often steeped in symbolism and allegory drawing on a rich tapestry of mythological and folkloric references. The language is often poetic and evocative employing a variety of literary devices like metaphor, simile, and hyperbole. And the music itself is an integral part of the poetic experience shaping the rhythm and intonation of words.
