This book explores historical and cultural aspects of modern and contemporary Bengal through the performancecentred study of a particular repertoire: the songs of the saintcomposer Bhaba Pagla (19021984) who is particularly revered among Baul and Fakir singers. The author shows how songs if examined as ‘sacred scriptures’ represent multidimensional texts for the study of South Asian religions. Revealing how previous studies about Bauls mirror the history of folkloristics in Bengal this book presents sacred songs as a precious symbolic capital for a marginalized community of dislocated and unorthodox Hindus who consider the practice of singing in itself an integral part of the path towards selfrealization. About the Author Carola Erika Lorea PhD (2015) University of Rome is a researcher in Bengali oral traditions. She has published books on Bengali language and literature translations of contemporary Bengali authors and several articles on the folklore and sacred songs of the Bauls of West Bengal
