Ektara Foundation Preserving the Sacred Soundscapes & Heritage of India
TRUTH (Accuracy ) Baul LINEAGE (Heritage/Preservation) & Folk Music (Heritage/Preservation)
PROTECTION (IP & Indigenous Rights)
EDUCATION (Research & Universities)
LEGACY (60+ Years of Babu Kishan’s Work)
The Vaishnava Sahajiaya Baul (Gosia Chandra Das Baul & Dasi) are the Roots of Kitan.
The top recorded Folk Singer of Bengal were Nirmalendu Chowdhury and
the top recorded Baul singer was Purna Das Baul. by KD Babu Kishan
(In the past word for word - whatever work KD Babu Kishan has completed has been copied and shadow footprinted while taking his name off, songs, lyrics, writings, where this lineage has gone and what they have done has all been shadow footprinted a heist of the firsts and lasts that this lineage lived. In a aggressive intellectual indigenous property theft of his lived life work and that of his whole lineage. His lived life in Indian Cinema and Folk Music for over 40 years has also been shadow footprinted as the Baul in every area of his life. COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NOTICE (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED): All content, original lyrics, music, arrangements, photographs, historical documentation, and oral lineage archives published on this site are the exclusive intellectual property of KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul. His blog regarding the Ektara Foundation was copied word for word. The lineagebaul.blogspot.com has been poached, and his fist Baul website (1990a to 2006) BabuKishan.com was looted, word for words still repeated today without giving any credit. It is insane but I must give some background regarding this matter. If there is any other persons who have a foundation in the name of Baul, fist of all they are not Baul, secondly it was copied from Babu Kishan's Ektara Foundation, this is indigenous Fraud.
Why Ektara Foundation?
Preservation - essential for heritage work - Cataloging & safeguarding sacred soundscapes.
Education - bridges universities & global teaching - Correcting published academic errors & fake origin stories.
Indigenous Protection — highlights indigenous Baul lineage rights and defense against theft - Protecting intellectual property, lyrics, songs, the Roots of Kirtan, historical truths and associations that belong only to this lineage of 13 generations documented and thousands in the oral tradition of ithas & ancestral heritage. Protecting the self-determiation indigenous rights of this one and only lineage of Baul. Protecting the long shadow footprinting and using of this lineage for financial jackpot fundraising and misuse of of making false claims and intellectual indigenous property theft or indigenous fraud.
Historical Truth - "Accuracy" — carries much more weight against fake academic theses and pretendian opportunistic Baul claimant claims or fake lineages, fake Baul Gurus while using the songs, dress, instruments of this lineage?
Archival Research — 60+ years of primary physical evidence, recordings, and manuscripts- Comparing the oral stories with Translating primary Sanskrit & Birbhum oral manuscripts. Understanding the difference and the cull that took place of these ancient manuscripts that were written in Sandhya Bhasha but taken by the orthodox and academics cleaned up into Classical Sanskrit during the cull of manuscripts in the 1800 -1900s Bengal.
Global Education — Teaching authentic tradition across universities & media.
Cultural Sovereignty — Restoring self-determination to the Birbhum Baul lineage. Stopping indigenous fraud.
The Ektara Foundation is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and accurate presentation of India’s rich musical tapestry—spanning Classical, Folk, Cinema, Bhajans, Kirtans, and the Vaishnava Sahajiya Bauls of Birbhum W Bengal, India the authentic roots and the sacred Baul spiritual traditions of Bengal including Kirtan.
Founded decades ago in the 1990s - registered 2007 in Mumbai, the Foundation serves as an authentic archway to preserve the true history and living culture of Indian music for future generations. We have never fundraised or activated this Foundation but will in the future 2027 when The Historical Autobiography of Mystic Baul Trilogy Vol 1 Vol 2 Vol 3 are published. They span 60 years and 13 year generations of Babu Kishan's lived and archival work and 20 years of my documentations as told by Krishnendu Das Baul - Indian Music Composer, and Baul who pioneered Baul to the world and my 20 years of writing for him. Sandra Das (his wife).
Why Authentic Preservation Requires Unbroken Authority
The Singular Legacy of KD Babu Kishan
The preservation of Baul sound, Oral Sanskrit lineage, and Indian Folk traditions cannot be fabricated by algorithms, claimed by academic certificates, or mimicked by individuals who have never lived the sacred disciplines of the soil. To be a Folk Music expert, or Folk Musician to claim these titles on has to have expertise in this area, and a large body of personal Folk Music, not just singing other peoples lyrics and songs.
Folk Music must come from the soul of person, labeling oneself a Folk musician one must prove their work. Babu Kishan is unique and rare because he has had a 40 year career in Indian Cinema and has also, been a Monk in the Ramakrishna Mission trained in both oral and classical Sanskrit and is an expert linguist and Indian Musician in all areas of Indian Music working with the top Musicians and Singers of India. He created Baul Fusion in the 1970 more than 2 decades before others are claiming. He is at the forefront as an expert in Folk Music of India and Bengal especially. He can not be shadow footprinted.
It can only be legitimately executed by an insider who possesses a lifetime of work in Folk Music, and an independently documented body of work spanning decades.
KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul) has been composing, producing Folk Music of India for some of the biggest singers in India.
He knows where the Folk Music comes from and he knows the difference between Baul and Folk Music. This is a must to anyone claiming mastery in folk music or regarding his indigenous of more than 13 generations of Vaishnava Sahajiya Baul poets. Who is the author of those songs regarding Baul and Folk Music the history behind the song is very important.
1. Living Mastery vs. Synthetic Claims
In an era dominated by digital misinformation, search engine manipulation, and AI-generated fabrications, the global public is frequently misled by individuals posing as "folk experts" and "Baul masters."
Exposing Synthetic Impersonation: Opportunistic performers, non-indigenous impostors, and digital personas frequently construct false identities as "Folk Experts" without having any genuine body of work or training.
The "Shadow Footprint" Scam: Many of these figures operate by shadow-footprinting Babu Kishan’s decades of documented work—copying his family's historical recordings, stage attire, dance, and arrangements, while misattributing his personal compositions without credit or authorization.
The Standard of Proof: A true master is defined by decades of primary archival evidence, recorded discographies, published literature, international university lectures, and first-hand lineage transmission. Posing for photographs or generating synthetic online bios does not equal 60 years of physical preservation on the ground.
2. Sixty Years of Documented Leadership
Why is KD Babu Kishan uniquely qualified—and solely equipped—to lead the preservation of this heritage through the Ektara Foundation? His authority is built upon four pillars of verifiable history:
Pillar Historical Foundation
1. 13-Generation Lineage
Raised directly in Birbhum by Sri Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi, carrying the global legacy of Purna Das Baul and Manju Dasi.
2. Scholar & Practitioner/ Baul Guru as taught by Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi
Combines native Oral Sanskrit fluency with an academic Master’s Degree in Folk Music from Calcutta University.
3. Archival Master
As a composer and producer across Mumbai (Bollywood) and Kolkata cinema, he categorized and archived the folk music spectrum for India's largest music labels.
4. Archival Legacy
Single-handedly funded, recorded, cataloged, and protected his family's vast repertoire of songs, mantras, Kirtans and esoteric teachings over 60 years.
3. The Mission of the Ektara Foundation
Any foundation attempting to preserve Baul or Indian Folk music without direct grounding in this lineage risks perpetuating cultural theft, watered-down revisions, and historical errors.
Under the leadership of KD Babu Kishan, the Ektara Foundation exists to:
Protect Indigenous Intellectual Property: Expose lyric theft, false copyright claims, and unauthorized re-recordings of ancient family compositions.
Set the Historical Record Straight: Correct decades of published academic errors, fake lineages, and fabricated origin stories.
Provide Ground-Level Authenticity: Ensure future generations receive the sacred soundscapes of India directly from its living source—pure, unadulterated, and complete.
Ancestral Lineage: The Authentic Bauls of Birbhum
The core spiritual foundation of the Ektara Foundation rests upon the indigenous, unbroken lineage of the Vaishnava Sahajiya Tantric Bauls of Birbhum, West Bengal—the pioneering lineage that first introduced Baul music and philosophy to India and the world (Das Baul and Dasi / Gosia Chand).
The Sacred Instrument:
The Ektara —also sacredly known as the Gopi Yantra or Gopi Chand—is the central focal point of this lineage. Unlike geometric Yantras used in other traditions, the Baul focal point in Tantric practice is the Gopi Yantra itself: an instrument infused with Shakti through sacred sound, Sanskrit Kirtans, and Birbhum vernacular songs. It stands as an enduring symbol of peace through the resonant, earthly sound of OM (AUM).
The Root of Baul (Vayu Tula):
True Baul tradition derives from the Sanskrit concepts Vayu (the divine wind) and Tula (balance). It represents the mastery of the senses and mind through Vayu Dharma (pranayama)—balancing the inner wind and breath. Contrary to modern misconceptions and academic misinterpretations, Baul does not mean "afflicted by wind disease" (Vatula). The indigenous Bauls hold the sole right to self-determination, preserving their sacred heritage against misrepresentation and appropriation.
The Authority & Legacy of Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul)With over 60 years dedicated to preserving his family's sacred songs, Kirtans, and spiritual practices, Babu Kishan (aka Krishnendu Das Baul) stands as a primary living authority on this indigenous lineage. He is the only Baul that is a Folk Music Composer, Folk Musician who has produced Folk Music for many top Folk Musician in India both in Bengal and in Indian Cinema. He has categorized all the Folk Music of India for all the top Music Companies in Bombay. When it comes to Folk Music Babu Kishan is a top expert and a first and last in the Folk Music Industry regarding Baul. He has been writing, composing Folk Music since the 1970s along with his being a Music Composer in Indian Cinema. There is no other Bauls ever in the history of Baul that is a expert on Folk Music or that is a Folk Musician.
Beyond his spiritual roots, Babu Kishan is an acclaimed Indian Music Composer, Lyricist, Producer, and Filmmaker whose work spans over four decades across Indian Cinema (Calcutta and Bombay/Bollywood):
Mastery Across All Genres:
Having earned an academic Master’s degree in the Folk Music of India and traveled the subcontinent since childhood absorbing its diverse languages and traditions, Babu Kishan possesses an unparalleled depth of expertise.
Architect of Folk Archiving:
As a trusted consultant for India’s largest music companies, he personally categorized and cataloged the immense universe of Indian Folk Music.
Distinct Distinction and authentic nuances:
Having composed music for Bengali folk singers since the age of 11, Babu Kishan clearly demarcates the vital line between regional Folk Music (cultural expressions) and Baul Music (a dedicated, esoteric spiritual path).
Core Mission & Key InitiativesThe Ektara Foundation operates through multiple dedicated branches to ensure India’s authentic musical and spiritual roots remain intact:
Indigenous Heritage Protection:
Restoring historical truth and reclaiming the narrative of the Birbhum Bauls against intellectual property theft, indigenous fraud, and cultural appropriation.
Comprehensive Music Archiving:
Cataloging and preserving rare recordings, oral traditions, and traditional compositions across Folk, Classical, Devotional, and Cinematic genres.
Education & Cultural Awareness:
Serving as a global resource for authentic education on Indian sound, philosophy, and traditional musicology.
Ektara: The Sacred Beacon of Peace
The Ektara stands as the central focal point of peace, harmony, and human unity for the Birbhum Bauls. It is an instrument designed to elevate humanity to its highest vision of peace through the resonant, earthly frequency of sound.
Setting the Record Straight: Protecting the UNESCO Heritage NarrativeIn 2005, Baul songs were recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. However, this recognition was procured under dubious circumstances and false narratives orchestrated by outside interests.
To protect the integrity of the tradition, the Ektara Foundation asserts these documented historical truths:
Geographic & Cultural Origin:
Baul tradition originates strictly from the villages of Birbhum, West Bengal, India. It does not originate from Persia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, or East Pakistan/Bangladesh, nor is it rooted in foreign traditions. It is inherently synergistic with Sanatan Dharma.
Authentic Oral & Textual Languages:
The true, unbroken Baul tradition relies exclusively on Oral Sanskrit(supported by ancient manuscripts), Vernacular Birbhum Bengali, Sandhya Bhasha (twilight language), and Braja Bhasha. Baul has no historical roots in Urdu or Pali.
Indigenous Self-Determination:
Over recent decades, intellectual property theft, false academic theses, and pretendian narratives have distorted the identity of the Bauls. The Ektara Foundation stands to dismantle these false accounts, reclaim the narrative, and defend the indigenous rights of the Birbhum lineage.
The Pioneer Lineage:
13 Generations of World RenownThe story of how the world came to know Baul music belongs to an unbroken ancestral lineage spanning at least 13 generations. It was this family alone that brought Baul out of the rural villages of Birbhum to global prominence:
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul:
The trailblazer who brought Baul music to public stages across India, performing as part of the Indian Freedom Movement and opening for Jawaharlal Nehru's speeches.
Baul Samrat, Padma Shree Purna Das Baul:
The legendary vocalist who popularized Baul and Indian folk singing globally, drawing millions to major stages worldwide as the first internationally recognized Baul performer.
Krishnendu Das Baul (Babu Kishan):
- The eldest son of Baul Samrat Purna Das Baul who created modern Baul and who for over 60 Years of Unrivaled Preservation Beyond his 40-year career in Indian Cinema (Calcutta and Bombay's Bollywood), Babu Kishan has dedicated over six decades to documenting, recording, and preserving his family's ancestral indigenous sacred heritage of more than 13 generations.
While fraudulent claims, copied styles, and appropriated works have proliferated in recent decades, every single accomplishment, historical timeline, composition, and archival record of this lineage is fully documented, verified, and preserved for future generations through the Ektara Foundation.
Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul): The eldest son of Purna Das Baul, who expanded the lineage’s global reach starting in the 1970s. As a composer, producer, and arranger, Babu Kishan was responsible for creating and producing over 80% of his father’s award-winning global recordings. He was also the first Baul to establish university educational programs and organized international cultural exchanges worldwide.
TRUTH (Accuracy ) Baul LINEAGE (Heritage/Preservation) & Folk Music (Heritage/Preservation)
PROTECTION (IP & Indigenous Rights)
EDUCATION (Research & Universities)
LEGACY (60+ Years of Babu Kishan’s Work)
The Vaishnava Sahajiaya Baul (Gosia Chandra Das Baul & Dasi) are the Roots of Kitan.
The top recorded Folk Singer of Bengal were Nirmalendu Chowdhury and
the top recorded Baul singer was Purna Das Baul. by KD Babu Kishan
(In the past word for word - whatever work KD Babu Kishan has completed has been copied and shadow footprinted while taking his name off, songs, lyrics, writings, where this lineage has gone and what they have done has all been shadow footprinted a heist of the firsts and lasts that this lineage lived. In a aggressive intellectual indigenous property theft of his lived life work and that of his whole lineage. His lived life in Indian Cinema and Folk Music for over 40 years has also been shadow footprinted as the Baul in every area of his life. COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NOTICE (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED): All content, original lyrics, music, arrangements, photographs, historical documentation, and oral lineage archives published on this site are the exclusive intellectual property of KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul. His blog regarding the Ektara Foundation was copied word for word. The lineagebaul.blogspot.com has been poached, and his fist Baul website (1990a to 2006) BabuKishan.com was looted, word for words still repeated today without giving any credit. It is insane but I must give some background regarding this matter. If there is any other persons who have a foundation in the name of Baul, fist of all they are not Baul, secondly it was copied from Babu Kishan's Ektara Foundation, this is indigenous Fraud.
Why Ektara Foundation?
Preservation - essential for heritage work - Cataloging & safeguarding sacred soundscapes.
Education - bridges universities & global teaching - Correcting published academic errors & fake origin stories.
Indigenous Protection — highlights indigenous Baul lineage rights and defense against theft - Protecting intellectual property, lyrics, songs, the Roots of Kirtan, historical truths and associations that belong only to this lineage of 13 generations documented and thousands in the oral tradition of ithas & ancestral heritage. Protecting the self-determiation indigenous rights of this one and only lineage of Baul. Protecting the long shadow footprinting and using of this lineage for financial jackpot fundraising and misuse of of making false claims and intellectual indigenous property theft or indigenous fraud.
Historical Truth - "Accuracy" — carries much more weight against fake academic theses and pretendian opportunistic Baul claimant claims or fake lineages, fake Baul Gurus while using the songs, dress, instruments of this lineage?
Archival Research — 60+ years of primary physical evidence, recordings, and manuscripts- Comparing the oral stories with Translating primary Sanskrit & Birbhum oral manuscripts. Understanding the difference and the cull that took place of these ancient manuscripts that were written in Sandhya Bhasha but taken by the orthodox and academics cleaned up into Classical Sanskrit during the cull of manuscripts in the 1800 -1900s Bengal.
Global Education — Teaching authentic tradition across universities & media.
Cultural Sovereignty — Restoring self-determination to the Birbhum Baul lineage. Stopping indigenous fraud.
The Ektara Foundation is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and accurate presentation of India’s rich musical tapestry—spanning Classical, Folk, Cinema, Bhajans, Kirtans, and the Vaishnava Sahajiya Bauls of Birbhum W Bengal, India the authentic roots and the sacred Baul spiritual traditions of Bengal including Kirtan.
Founded decades ago in the 1990s - registered 2007 in Mumbai, the Foundation serves as an authentic archway to preserve the true history and living culture of Indian music for future generations. We have never fundraised or activated this Foundation but will in the future 2027 when The Historical Autobiography of Mystic Baul Trilogy Vol 1 Vol 2 Vol 3 are published. They span 60 years and 13 year generations of Babu Kishan's lived and archival work and 20 years of my documentations as told by Krishnendu Das Baul - Indian Music Composer, and Baul who pioneered Baul to the world and my 20 years of writing for him. Sandra Das (his wife).
Why Authentic Preservation Requires Unbroken Authority
The Singular Legacy of KD Babu Kishan
The preservation of Baul sound, Oral Sanskrit lineage, and Indian Folk traditions cannot be fabricated by algorithms, claimed by academic certificates, or mimicked by individuals who have never lived the sacred disciplines of the soil. To be a Folk Music expert, or Folk Musician to claim these titles on has to have expertise in this area, and a large body of personal Folk Music, not just singing other peoples lyrics and songs.
Folk Music must come from the soul of person, labeling oneself a Folk musician one must prove their work. Babu Kishan is unique and rare because he has had a 40 year career in Indian Cinema and has also, been a Monk in the Ramakrishna Mission trained in both oral and classical Sanskrit and is an expert linguist and Indian Musician in all areas of Indian Music working with the top Musicians and Singers of India. He created Baul Fusion in the 1970 more than 2 decades before others are claiming. He is at the forefront as an expert in Folk Music of India and Bengal especially. He can not be shadow footprinted.
It can only be legitimately executed by an insider who possesses a lifetime of work in Folk Music, and an independently documented body of work spanning decades.
KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul) has been composing, producing Folk Music of India for some of the biggest singers in India.
He knows where the Folk Music comes from and he knows the difference between Baul and Folk Music. This is a must to anyone claiming mastery in folk music or regarding his indigenous of more than 13 generations of Vaishnava Sahajiya Baul poets. Who is the author of those songs regarding Baul and Folk Music the history behind the song is very important.
1. Living Mastery vs. Synthetic Claims
In an era dominated by digital misinformation, search engine manipulation, and AI-generated fabrications, the global public is frequently misled by individuals posing as "folk experts" and "Baul masters."
Exposing Synthetic Impersonation: Opportunistic performers, non-indigenous impostors, and digital personas frequently construct false identities as "Folk Experts" without having any genuine body of work or training.
The "Shadow Footprint" Scam: Many of these figures operate by shadow-footprinting Babu Kishan’s decades of documented work—copying his family's historical recordings, stage attire, dance, and arrangements, while misattributing his personal compositions without credit or authorization.
The Standard of Proof: A true master is defined by decades of primary archival evidence, recorded discographies, published literature, international university lectures, and first-hand lineage transmission. Posing for photographs or generating synthetic online bios does not equal 60 years of physical preservation on the ground.
2. Sixty Years of Documented Leadership
Why is KD Babu Kishan uniquely qualified—and solely equipped—to lead the preservation of this heritage through the Ektara Foundation? His authority is built upon four pillars of verifiable history:
Pillar Historical Foundation
1. 13-Generation Lineage
Raised directly in Birbhum by Sri Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi, carrying the global legacy of Purna Das Baul and Manju Dasi.
2. Scholar & Practitioner/ Baul Guru as taught by Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi
Combines native Oral Sanskrit fluency with an academic Master’s Degree in Folk Music from Calcutta University.
3. Archival Master
As a composer and producer across Mumbai (Bollywood) and Kolkata cinema, he categorized and archived the folk music spectrum for India's largest music labels.
4. Archival Legacy
Single-handedly funded, recorded, cataloged, and protected his family's vast repertoire of songs, mantras, Kirtans and esoteric teachings over 60 years.
3. The Mission of the Ektara Foundation
Any foundation attempting to preserve Baul or Indian Folk music without direct grounding in this lineage risks perpetuating cultural theft, watered-down revisions, and historical errors.
Under the leadership of KD Babu Kishan, the Ektara Foundation exists to:
Protect Indigenous Intellectual Property: Expose lyric theft, false copyright claims, and unauthorized re-recordings of ancient family compositions.
Set the Historical Record Straight: Correct decades of published academic errors, fake lineages, and fabricated origin stories.
Provide Ground-Level Authenticity: Ensure future generations receive the sacred soundscapes of India directly from its living source—pure, unadulterated, and complete.
Ancestral Lineage: The Authentic Bauls of Birbhum
The core spiritual foundation of the Ektara Foundation rests upon the indigenous, unbroken lineage of the Vaishnava Sahajiya Tantric Bauls of Birbhum, West Bengal—the pioneering lineage that first introduced Baul music and philosophy to India and the world (Das Baul and Dasi / Gosia Chand).
The Sacred Instrument:
The Ektara —also sacredly known as the Gopi Yantra or Gopi Chand—is the central focal point of this lineage. Unlike geometric Yantras used in other traditions, the Baul focal point in Tantric practice is the Gopi Yantra itself: an instrument infused with Shakti through sacred sound, Sanskrit Kirtans, and Birbhum vernacular songs. It stands as an enduring symbol of peace through the resonant, earthly sound of OM (AUM).
The Root of Baul (Vayu Tula):
True Baul tradition derives from the Sanskrit concepts Vayu (the divine wind) and Tula (balance). It represents the mastery of the senses and mind through Vayu Dharma (pranayama)—balancing the inner wind and breath. Contrary to modern misconceptions and academic misinterpretations, Baul does not mean "afflicted by wind disease" (Vatula). The indigenous Bauls hold the sole right to self-determination, preserving their sacred heritage against misrepresentation and appropriation.
The Authority & Legacy of Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul)With over 60 years dedicated to preserving his family's sacred songs, Kirtans, and spiritual practices, Babu Kishan (aka Krishnendu Das Baul) stands as a primary living authority on this indigenous lineage. He is the only Baul that is a Folk Music Composer, Folk Musician who has produced Folk Music for many top Folk Musician in India both in Bengal and in Indian Cinema. He has categorized all the Folk Music of India for all the top Music Companies in Bombay. When it comes to Folk Music Babu Kishan is a top expert and a first and last in the Folk Music Industry regarding Baul. He has been writing, composing Folk Music since the 1970s along with his being a Music Composer in Indian Cinema. There is no other Bauls ever in the history of Baul that is a expert on Folk Music or that is a Folk Musician.
Beyond his spiritual roots, Babu Kishan is an acclaimed Indian Music Composer, Lyricist, Producer, and Filmmaker whose work spans over four decades across Indian Cinema (Calcutta and Bombay/Bollywood):
Mastery Across All Genres:
Having earned an academic Master’s degree in the Folk Music of India and traveled the subcontinent since childhood absorbing its diverse languages and traditions, Babu Kishan possesses an unparalleled depth of expertise.
Architect of Folk Archiving:
As a trusted consultant for India’s largest music companies, he personally categorized and cataloged the immense universe of Indian Folk Music.
Distinct Distinction and authentic nuances:
Having composed music for Bengali folk singers since the age of 11, Babu Kishan clearly demarcates the vital line between regional Folk Music (cultural expressions) and Baul Music (a dedicated, esoteric spiritual path).
Core Mission & Key InitiativesThe Ektara Foundation operates through multiple dedicated branches to ensure India’s authentic musical and spiritual roots remain intact:
Indigenous Heritage Protection:
Restoring historical truth and reclaiming the narrative of the Birbhum Bauls against intellectual property theft, indigenous fraud, and cultural appropriation.
Comprehensive Music Archiving:
Cataloging and preserving rare recordings, oral traditions, and traditional compositions across Folk, Classical, Devotional, and Cinematic genres.
Education & Cultural Awareness:
Serving as a global resource for authentic education on Indian sound, philosophy, and traditional musicology.
Ektara: The Sacred Beacon of Peace
The Ektara stands as the central focal point of peace, harmony, and human unity for the Birbhum Bauls. It is an instrument designed to elevate humanity to its highest vision of peace through the resonant, earthly frequency of sound.
Setting the Record Straight: Protecting the UNESCO Heritage NarrativeIn 2005, Baul songs were recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. However, this recognition was procured under dubious circumstances and false narratives orchestrated by outside interests.
To protect the integrity of the tradition, the Ektara Foundation asserts these documented historical truths:
Geographic & Cultural Origin:
Baul tradition originates strictly from the villages of Birbhum, West Bengal, India. It does not originate from Persia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, or East Pakistan/Bangladesh, nor is it rooted in foreign traditions. It is inherently synergistic with Sanatan Dharma.
Authentic Oral & Textual Languages:
The true, unbroken Baul tradition relies exclusively on Oral Sanskrit(supported by ancient manuscripts), Vernacular Birbhum Bengali, Sandhya Bhasha (twilight language), and Braja Bhasha. Baul has no historical roots in Urdu or Pali.
Indigenous Self-Determination:
Over recent decades, intellectual property theft, false academic theses, and pretendian narratives have distorted the identity of the Bauls. The Ektara Foundation stands to dismantle these false accounts, reclaim the narrative, and defend the indigenous rights of the Birbhum lineage.
The Pioneer Lineage:
13 Generations of World RenownThe story of how the world came to know Baul music belongs to an unbroken ancestral lineage spanning at least 13 generations. It was this family alone that brought Baul out of the rural villages of Birbhum to global prominence:
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul:
The trailblazer who brought Baul music to public stages across India, performing as part of the Indian Freedom Movement and opening for Jawaharlal Nehru's speeches.
Baul Samrat, Padma Shree Purna Das Baul:
The legendary vocalist who popularized Baul and Indian folk singing globally, drawing millions to major stages worldwide as the first internationally recognized Baul performer.
Krishnendu Das Baul (Babu Kishan):
- The eldest son of Baul Samrat Purna Das Baul who created modern Baul and who for over 60 Years of Unrivaled Preservation Beyond his 40-year career in Indian Cinema (Calcutta and Bombay's Bollywood), Babu Kishan has dedicated over six decades to documenting, recording, and preserving his family's ancestral indigenous sacred heritage of more than 13 generations.
While fraudulent claims, copied styles, and appropriated works have proliferated in recent decades, every single accomplishment, historical timeline, composition, and archival record of this lineage is fully documented, verified, and preserved for future generations through the Ektara Foundation.
Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul): The eldest son of Purna Das Baul, who expanded the lineage’s global reach starting in the 1970s. As a composer, producer, and arranger, Babu Kishan was responsible for creating and producing over 80% of his father’s award-winning global recordings. He was also the first Baul to establish university educational programs and organized international cultural exchanges worldwide.
- 50 Years of Babu Kishan Music - 65 Years of preserving Baul Cultural History and Music
A Legacy of Innovation: World Music & Baul Fusion PioneerSince 1970, Babu Kishan (aka Krishnendu Das) has stood as a true visionary and original creator in the global music landscape. As the pioneer of Baul Fusion Music and a seminal trailblazer of the World Music movement, his expansive body of work bridges ancient spiritual roots with modern compositional excellence.
Babu Kishan is the first Baul to create Baul Fusion using the biggest names in Indian Cinema Singer and the Biggest Names in Western Rock and Roll including Bob Dylan, and The Band, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Brain Wilson of the Beach Boys, The Rolling Stone. He is the first and the last regarding Baul.
He is the fist and last Baul to compose Folk music, categorize the Folk Music of India, and the only Folk Musician that is Baul.
His musical catalog spans the entire spectrum of Indian sound:
Folk & World: Regional Indian Folk Traditions, Global World Music Collaborations
Spiritual Soundscapes: Devotional Bhajans, Sacred Kirtans, Mantras, and Chants
Modern Innovations: Groundbreaking Baul Fusion Compositions
Direct Cultural Support: All sales and proceeds from Babu Kishan’s music go directly to supporting the ongoing preservation initiatives of the Ektara Foundation.
The Ektara Foundation: Preserving the Heritage of Folk and the Spiritual musical legacy of the Bauls of Birbhum including restoring the roots of Kirtan.
Formally registered in Mumbai in 2007, the Ektara Foundation represents the culmination of Babu Kishan’s lifelong dedication—dating back to the 1990s—to preserve, protect, and document his family's sacred lineage:
The Vaishnava Sahajiya Tantric Bauls of Birbhum, West Bengal.
While Babu Kishan has spent over six decades preserving the musical arrangements, oral recordings, and core spiritual practices of his lineage, the Foundation is expanding its efforts to ensure this heritage remains un-compromised for generations to come.
- Priority Preservation Initiatives:
Accurate Literary Translations: Translating sacred Birbhum Baul vernacular texts, Sandhya Bhasha, and oral Sanskrit manuscripts into English and major global languages without diluting or watering down their esoteric meanings.
First-Hand Books & Publications: Publishing definitive accounts written from the inside out—reclaiming the true history from speculative academic theories and false narratives.
Archival Documentaries: Producing authentic documentary films featuring insider storytelling, primary historical archives, and direct lineage accounts.
Architectural Pioneer of World Music & Baul HeritageMaster Composer, Producer & Multi-InstrumentalistWith over five decades of creative mastery since 1970, Babu Kishan (aka Krishnendu Das Baul) is an award-winning Indian Music Composer, Music Producer, and master multi-instrumentalist adept at 13 traditional and modern instruments.
Having earned a Master’s degree in the Folk Music of India, Babu Kishan was brought in by Mumbai’s (Bombay’s) largest landmark music companies to single-handedly organize, archive, and categorize the vast spectrum of Indian Folk Music across the subcontinent.
13 Generations of Unbroken Lineage:
The True TrailblazersBaul songs are ancient spiritual soundscapes rising directly from the soil and soul of India. While modern pop culture often misclassifies them simply as "folk music," authentic Baul represents a sacred Tantric path.
The story of how this ancient tradition reached the modern world rests upon a single, continuous 13-generation family lineage from Birbhum, West Bengal:
1950s: First brought Baul music out of rural Birbhum to the national Indian stage.
1967: Introduced authentic Baul music to the United States.
1970: Pioneered the first European tours and global World Music festivals.
Authentic indigenous Bauls lead; they do not follow. Every contemporary artist using the style, attire, dance, and instrumentation of the Birbhum tradition is stepping into the blueprint created and lived by this single lineage.
Nabani Das Khyapa Baul ──► Purna Das Baul ──► Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das) (Initiated Tagore / Renamed Drum) (Baul Samrat) (Pioneered Fusion, Univ. & Cinema)
The Visionary Who Built the Global Platform for Baul Music
Long before the internet, search engines, or global streaming, Babu Kishan worked from the ground up for four decades to construct a permanent global infrastructure for Baul tradition:
Creator of Baul Fusion (1970s): Collaborated with legendary Indian Cinema vocalists and iconic Western folk/rock musicians to synthesize Baul Fusion two full decades before modern commercial iterations emerged.
First University Educator & Author: The first Baul to be educated in English and author authoritative texts on the tradition. He is currently completing his 4th published book on Baul heritage.
Stage & Media Icon: Brought Baul music from vinyl records and cassette tapes to the digital age, commanding chief attraction status at legendary venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and India's largest stadiums.
Organized Archival Work: Brought Baul culture into global media, universities, documentary film, cinema, and international literary drama.
Sacred Innovations: The Ananda Lahari & The Tagore Legacy
The profound historical impact of this lineage is anchored by two pivotal historical milestones:
1. The Naming of the Ananda Lahari
It was Babu Kishan’s legendary grandfather and Guru, Nabani Das Khyapa Baul, who perfected the signature two-stringed drum configuration worn with the Ektara, Baya, and Nupoor. Nabani Das sacredly named this drum the Ananda Lahari ("Waves of Joy"). Today, while many performers utilize the instrument and its name without knowing its origins, it remains a direct innovation of this specific Birbhum lineage.
2. The Rabindranath Tagore ConnectionNabani Das Khyapa Baul was the primary Baul master who initiated Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore into the philosophy and music of the Bauls—a historical connection that deeply inspired Tagore’s literary masterpieces and national anthems.
Historical Fact: A famous photograph of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul was personally captured by Rabindranath Tagore himself—the first Indian Nobel Prize recipient for Literature (1913).
Archiving & Producing the Voices of IndiaFor four decades, Babu Kishan (aka Krishnendu Das) has stood at the center of recording, producing, and preserving the vast folk and spiritual music heritage of India. Born into an ancient, unbroken Vaishnava Baul family in Birbhum, Bengal, and holding a Master’s Degree in Folk Music from Calcutta University, his credentials as a producer, composer, and musicologist are unmatched.
Through India’s premier music labels, Babu Kishan recorded, produced, and promoted many of the most legendary folk, devotional, and classical artists of the subcontinent, including:
Devotional Legacy & Temple SoundscapesBabu Kishan’s spiritual compositions are heard daily in temples, ashrams, and households across India and around the globe. He composed music for, produced, and recorded sacred music for prominent spiritual lineages and institutions, including Sita RamDas Omkarnath, Balak Brahmachari, Anandamayi Ma, Osho, Swami Narayan, the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, and the Jai Mataji Temple.
The Historic Hanuman Chalisa Milestone Babu Kishan was the visionary who first composed, arranged, funded, and produced the historic recording of the Hanuman Chalisa sung by Hari Om Sharan. Today, this iconic rendition stands as the most listened-to piece of Indian devotional music in history, surpassing 3 billion views/streams on YouTube.
Through India’s premier music labels, Babu Kishan recorded, produced, and promoted many of the most legendary folk, devotional, and classical artists of the subcontinent, including:
- Folk & Spiritual Legends: Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Purna Das Baul, Manju Das, Gostho Gopal, Amar Pal, Allan Fakir, Abida Parveen, Sharada Sinha, Daiyanti Bai, Baba Pagla, Monohar Khepa, Gopa Bose, Sapna Awasthi, Sapna Chakraborty, and Aarti Mukerjee.
- Master Classical & Devotional Vocalists: Lata Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar, Anup Jalota, Anuradha Paudwal, Sadhana Sargam, Mahendra Kapoor, Nitin Mukesh, Hemlata, Ravindra Jain, Falguni Pathak, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
Devotional Legacy & Temple SoundscapesBabu Kishan’s spiritual compositions are heard daily in temples, ashrams, and households across India and around the globe. He composed music for, produced, and recorded sacred music for prominent spiritual lineages and institutions, including Sita RamDas Omkarnath, Balak Brahmachari, Anandamayi Ma, Osho, Swami Narayan, the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, and the Jai Mataji Temple.
The Historic Hanuman Chalisa Milestone Babu Kishan was the visionary who first composed, arranged, funded, and produced the historic recording of the Hanuman Chalisa sung by Hari Om Sharan. Today, this iconic rendition stands as the most listened-to piece of Indian devotional music in history, surpassing 3 billion views/streams on YouTube.
Award-Winning World Music PioneerSpiritual Songs of India (Chandra Dhara, Germany)Composed, Recorded, and Produced by Babu Kishan (aka Krishnendu Das)
In the 1980s, this landmark release was awarded The Best World Music Award in Germany. Released through the prestigious record label Chandra Dhara in Germany, it stands as one of the very first official World Music albums in history.
Composed, recorded, arranged, and produced entirely by Babu Kishan, this award-winning album captures the deep spiritual soundscapes and authentic folk heritage of India, serving as a cornerstone of the global World Music movement.
The above album won 'The Best World Music Award' in Germany in the 1980's, it is one of the first World Music Albums, Music Composed, Recorded and Produced by
'Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das'
In the 1980s, this landmark release was awarded The Best World Music Award in Germany. Released through the prestigious record label Chandra Dhara in Germany, it stands as one of the very first official World Music albums in history.
Composed, recorded, arranged, and produced entirely by Babu Kishan, this award-winning album captures the deep spiritual soundscapes and authentic folk heritage of India, serving as a cornerstone of the global World Music movement.
The above album won 'The Best World Music Award' in Germany in the 1980's, it is one of the first World Music Albums, Music Composed, Recorded and Produced by
'Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das'
Why Support & Join the Ektara Foundation?
The Ektara Foundation exists to protect, restore, and honor the uncompromised living truth of India's authentic Folk and Spiritual Baul heritage. By supporting the Foundation, you become an active partner in defending a sacred 5,000-year-old tradition from erasure, commercial appropriation, and revisionist history.
Here is why your support of the Ektara Foundation is essential:
1. Preserving an Unbroken 5,000-Year Oral Sanskrit LineageAuthentic Baul is not a modern pop invention or a foreign import—it is a sacred, living oral path rooted directly in Oral Sanskrit and Birbhum Vernacular Bengali
:
Sacred Storytelling: From its origins with Radha and Krishna 5,000 years ago to esoteric oral teachings where entire texts like the Bhagavad Gita are preserved within sacred song, the true history of Baul is encoded exclusively within this lineage's repertoire.
The Last Living Scholar-Practitioner: As an insider raised in the tradition who also holds a Master's degree in Folk Music, Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das) is one of the very few living authentic Oral Sanskrit authorities capable of decoding and translating these ancient soundscapes without watering them down.
2. Honoring & Restoring the Legendary Women of BaulWhile outside revisionists and commercial fundraisers have erased the foundational role of women in Baul history, the Ektara Foundation stands to restore their names and legacies to their rightful place:
Manju Dasi (The Trailblazing Female Baul): The mother of Babu Kishan and wife of Purna Das Baul, Manju Dasi was an HMV/EMI and Polydor recording artist, the first female Baul ("A-Class" Baulini) to tour every corner of the globe from the 1960s to the 2010, the visionary who first introduced the Harmonium to Baul music, and the first to bring official Lalon Fakir compositions to mass media, television, and film.
Brajabala Dasi & Radharani Dasi: Babu Kishan's grandmother and aunt were respected Baul Women Gurus who trained generations of female practitioners in Birbhum.
Ending Erasure: There is no authentic Baul history without these women. The Foundation actively combats the cultural appropriation and systemic erasure of female lineage holders.
3. Defending Intellectual Property & Stopping Cultural TheftOver the past several decades, commercial performers, speculative academics, and self-titled "gurus" have built careers by copying the recordings, lyrics, attire, and styles established by this single family:
Systemic Copyright & Lyric Theft: Many contemporary performers sing songs recorded by Babu Kishan and his family in the 1950s and 1960s, falsely claiming authorship or misattributing them to other historical poets.
Complete Archival Legacy: Babu Kishan began systematically recording, organizing, and preserving his family's vast repertoire in the 1960s, completing a comprehensive preservation archive by 2007. Without this family's early recordings, today's performers would have no material to sing.
Speaking Truth to Misinformation: Babu Kishan is speaking out to correct decades of published academic errors, fake lineages, and commercial exploitation.
4. Supporting True Ground-Level Heritage & World MusicTrue knowledge of the soil and soul of the land cannot be learned through internet research, photologs, or outsider academic theories—it can only come from those who have lived the tradition from birth:
Empowering the Silent Voices: Beyond Baul, the Ektara Foundation serves as a platform for other hidden, authentic folk traditions across India that lack a voice in modern commercial media.
Bridging Grassroots Roots to Global Stages: Supporting the Foundation supports ground-level folk artists, authentic archival preservation, accurate literary translations, and first-hand documentary storytelling.
It Is Up to Us: Help us give a voice to authentic history, protect indigenous self-determination, and support the preservation of authentic Indian Folk and World Music at its true source.
The Ektara Foundation exists to protect, restore, and honor the uncompromised living truth of India's authentic Folk and Spiritual Baul heritage. By supporting the Foundation, you become an active partner in defending a sacred 5,000-year-old tradition from erasure, commercial appropriation, and revisionist history.
Here is why your support of the Ektara Foundation is essential:
1. Preserving an Unbroken 5,000-Year Oral Sanskrit LineageAuthentic Baul is not a modern pop invention or a foreign import—it is a sacred, living oral path rooted directly in Oral Sanskrit and Birbhum Vernacular Bengali
:
Sacred Storytelling: From its origins with Radha and Krishna 5,000 years ago to esoteric oral teachings where entire texts like the Bhagavad Gita are preserved within sacred song, the true history of Baul is encoded exclusively within this lineage's repertoire.
The Last Living Scholar-Practitioner: As an insider raised in the tradition who also holds a Master's degree in Folk Music, Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das) is one of the very few living authentic Oral Sanskrit authorities capable of decoding and translating these ancient soundscapes without watering them down.
2. Honoring & Restoring the Legendary Women of BaulWhile outside revisionists and commercial fundraisers have erased the foundational role of women in Baul history, the Ektara Foundation stands to restore their names and legacies to their rightful place:
Manju Dasi (The Trailblazing Female Baul): The mother of Babu Kishan and wife of Purna Das Baul, Manju Dasi was an HMV/EMI and Polydor recording artist, the first female Baul ("A-Class" Baulini) to tour every corner of the globe from the 1960s to the 2010, the visionary who first introduced the Harmonium to Baul music, and the first to bring official Lalon Fakir compositions to mass media, television, and film.
Brajabala Dasi & Radharani Dasi: Babu Kishan's grandmother and aunt were respected Baul Women Gurus who trained generations of female practitioners in Birbhum.
Ending Erasure: There is no authentic Baul history without these women. The Foundation actively combats the cultural appropriation and systemic erasure of female lineage holders.
3. Defending Intellectual Property & Stopping Cultural TheftOver the past several decades, commercial performers, speculative academics, and self-titled "gurus" have built careers by copying the recordings, lyrics, attire, and styles established by this single family:
Systemic Copyright & Lyric Theft: Many contemporary performers sing songs recorded by Babu Kishan and his family in the 1950s and 1960s, falsely claiming authorship or misattributing them to other historical poets.
Complete Archival Legacy: Babu Kishan began systematically recording, organizing, and preserving his family's vast repertoire in the 1960s, completing a comprehensive preservation archive by 2007. Without this family's early recordings, today's performers would have no material to sing.
Speaking Truth to Misinformation: Babu Kishan is speaking out to correct decades of published academic errors, fake lineages, and commercial exploitation.
4. Supporting True Ground-Level Heritage & World MusicTrue knowledge of the soil and soul of the land cannot be learned through internet research, photologs, or outsider academic theories—it can only come from those who have lived the tradition from birth:
Empowering the Silent Voices: Beyond Baul, the Ektara Foundation serves as a platform for other hidden, authentic folk traditions across India that lack a voice in modern commercial media.
Bridging Grassroots Roots to Global Stages: Supporting the Foundation supports ground-level folk artists, authentic archival preservation, accurate literary translations, and first-hand documentary storytelling.
It Is Up to Us: Help us give a voice to authentic history, protect indigenous self-determination, and support the preservation of authentic Indian Folk and World Music at its true source.
Rare recording of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul (1890-1969) singing a Baul song.
When the Roots World Music, Baul Music and Folk Music are cut the tree of these will die!
Krishnendu Das Baul aka Babu Kishan is an expert in the 'Folk Music of Bengal and India'. He was a Music consultant during the 1980 and 1990's for CBS India and Manager A&R, specifically hired to categorize all of India's Folk and Classical Music because of his expertise.
RELEASED 500 ALBUMS SUCCESSFULLY "PRIVATE AND INDIAN CINEMA"
RELEASED 300 Film ALL TOP LABELS AND FILM LABELS IN INDIA.
MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST PLAYING, Master of 15 INSTRUMENTS
Composed, Produced, Marketed Successfully 60 ALBUMS
200 or more of his poetry (lyrics) have produced super duper hit songs.
150 MUSICAL SCORES FOR INDIAN CINEMA
Babu Kishan has Composed- Profile - Principle - Live Background Music for more than 10 Bengali & Hindi Drama & Theatre Productions. The most popular Sri Chaitanya MahaPrabhu, Aposh, Marg, Amla Madhu and In Hindi Koi Nahi, Atma and more...
● He has Produced many successful TV series, documentaries for Indian National and other TV Stations.
Senior Management in Indian Cinema, Music Consultant, Major Bollywood Event Film and Music Release Event Planner. Lifetime friends with Senior Journalist of all Major News Sources and Connected Politically from a young age.
Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das has been a Cultural Representative of India for 45 years appointed by the Government of India, traveling through India and Worldwide for the Indian Government as a representative of Indian Culture AND MUSIC since 1970 through Sangeet Natak Akademi "Indian National Academy of Music Dance and Drama" & ICCR "Indian Council of Cultural Relations"
Krishnendu Das Baul aka Babu Kishan is an expert in the 'Folk Music of Bengal and India'. He was a Music consultant from the 1980's to 2000's for CBS India and other Music Companies and he was an Manager A&R, specifically hired to categorize all of India's Folk and Classical Music because of his expertise.
Babu Kishan is a Master of Indian Folk and Indian Classical as a Music Composer and Master of Indian Music.
Career History – Senior Management – Music & Film Industry India
1978 – 1990 HMV- Composer, Writer of Music for famous India singers.
1986 -1993 Venus/Tips/Music India, Music Producer, and Composer
1986-1993 CBS - Music Producer, Creative Director India, promoter, of artist such as Cindy Lauper, Micheal Jackson, New Kids on the Block, Pink Floyd, Gypsy Kings and others.
1991 -2004 Digital Music Studio – Owned, and Operated by Babukishan – Composer, Music Production for Film.
1994-1996 Time Audio Video – ABCL Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd - Quality Assurance Manager Film & Music Production/Marketing, and Event Management. Film, and Music Promotion.
1997-2004 Universal Music Label - Music Producer, Music Composer, Consultant
1996-1999 PEN Audio Video Film - Music Producer, Promoter, Consultant
1996-2001 T-series- Music Producer - Composer
Babu Kishan has profitably successful marketed and sold 300 Films and 500 Albums. Composed, Produced, Sold and Marketed at least 60 of his own albums. He is an expert at Creating Film from the start to the selling it successfully.
He is a Master Music Composer Producer from beginning to end sales and has been successful in the business of Film and Music for over 40 years.
Babu Kishan sold Film Rights More than 300 - Super Hit Albums & Films in the
1978 - 2008
Babu Kishan has traveled throughout India hundreds of times with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and his family singing Baul Mystic Music and playing on all the largest stages in India and around the world.
The Vaishnava Bauls are known as the wandering rural Bengali street singers. Babu Kishan and his pioneering family brought Baul out of the villages of Bengal to India and the world. Babu Kishan was born in Suri Bengal a village, into an ancient Lineage of Folk and Mystical Music. He was awarded the Youngest Music Composer of Bengal during the 1970's. He is a multi instrumentalist playing 15 instruments.
He has been recording and preserving the folk music of India for 40 years. Born on the soil and soul of Bengal into a ancient Vaishnava Baul family, with a Masters degree from Calcutta University in Folk Music.
He has recorded, produced, promoted
through India's top Music Labels the biggest Folk Musicians of India including,
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
Purna Das Baul
Manju Das
Gostho Gopal
Aarti Mukerjee
Sapna Awasthi
Sapna Chakroborty
Amar Pal
Allan Fakir
Abida Parveen
Sharada Sinha
Anuradha Paudwal
Hemlata
Mahendra Kapoor
Phalguni Pahak
Daiyanti Bai
Mshola
Baba Pagla
Monohar Khepa
Gopa Bose (UK) now
and many more.
'Click' - on the 2 links below to listen to Folk Music Composed, Produced by Babu Kishan then known as Krishnendu Das
Babu Kishan's spiritual music is heard in all temples of India he is the first person to record and produce the Hanuman Chalisa singing by Hari Om Sharan which is now the most listened to Indian Devotional music ever with over 3 billion listens on youtube.
Music Composed, Arranged and paid for by Babu Kishan
Babu Kishan has Composed Music for and recorded:
Anuradha Padwal,
Anup Jalota,
Suresh Wadkar,
Mahendra Kapoor,
Sadhana Sargam,
Ravindra Jain,
Ravi Shankar,
Ali Akbar Khan,
Kavita Krishnamurti,
Jai Mataji Temple,
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple,
Sita RamDas Omkarnath,
Balak Bramachari,
Anandamayi Ma,
Osho,
Swami Narayan,
Nitin Mukesh
Lata Mangeshkar,
Babu Kishan was one of the rare people that was allowed in Lata Mangeshkars music room.
Asha Bhosle is the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, she was married to RD Burman,
who was Babu Kishan's Indian Cinema Guru he spent 13 years as RD Burman's assistant.
and many more...
Babu Kishan has created more than 60 albums in: HINDI, BENGALI, SANSKRIT Oral and Classical, BHOJPURI, PUNJABI, GUJURATI, RAJASTANI & ENGLISH: with reputed music labels as, Universal Music, EMI, Polygram Music, CBS, Star Music, Sony, HMV,T-Series, and TIPS music and film labels, he has composed for feature film music and background music, private albums, Documentary films.
He has composed music for more than 150 musical film scores.
He has released over a thousand albums for others.
He toured with Bob Dylan’s & The Band in their 1985 that Babu Kishan called the East and West tour, a 40 city tour, Babu Kishan arranged to be in this tour and brought his parents along, although they did not participate in but a few, it was Babu who was friends of Bob Dylan and The Band.
He has performed and recorded with music industry greats such as George Harrison, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Chakka Khan, Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Tom Petty, Miles Davis, Allan Fakir, Herbie Mann, Third World, Bob Dylan's the Band Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Ziggy Marley, R.D.Burman, and many others independently.
R.D Burman was Babu's Bollywood Guru and friend for more than 13 years.
RD Burman's father SD Burman was a super fan of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul
Babu Kishan is rare, he has been to the top and has witnessed India through 6 decades though the eyes of all the top in Indian Music and Film he has met them, worked with them traveled with them. Politicians, singers, actors, and he was state singers for Indira Gandhi, Sanjiv Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as part of the family personally traveling all over India. His Grandfather Nabani Das Khyappa Baul was Baul Guru dance teacher to Indira Gandhi and state artist singer for Nehru during the Indian Independence movement. He has done hundreds and hundreds of travels throughout India performing.
Babu kishan has been a cultural ambassador of India for 40 years traveling worldwide recognized through the Government of India's Sangeet Natak Academi "Indian National Academy of Music Dance and Drama" and ICCR "Indian Council of Cultural Relations"
He has performed at The Royal Albert Hall in London to the Carnegie Hall and all Big Stadiums in India in front of millions of people.
Festivals (Mela's)
In Bengal he created the huge Gopal Nagar Festival for the Bauls in the 1980's, it was successful but when he started to work in Mumbia nobody could keep it up.
World Music New York, Los Angles, San Diego, San Francisco, Taiwan, Mauritius, Seattle, Woodstock, Washington, Chicago, London, Germany, all over Europe in the 1970's and 1980's for 20 years and into the 1990 and 2000's he continued.
Montreal Pop Music Festival 2010
Attended Fundraisers, stage performances in London 1972, 1974, 1975 with his family along with Ravi Shankar and others, they were the Indian Musicians who performed as part of the fundraiser for Bangladesh created and hosted by the Rolling Stones, Beatles ect..
This is when he first met the Mick Jagger and is the only one to continue any relationship with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and George Harrison over the years.
Babu Kishan Composed all the below Music, Produced, Recorded and Promoted all of these albums and more, he dedicated himself to Baul for decades. He used much of his own Baul poetry on these Albums, and they all have been a super duper hit. He worked with a determination like no other Archiving and Preserved Baul from the 1970's. Baul was Archived and Preserved decades ago, there is no need to remake the wheel, it has been done. All safe and when and after all this circus of Baul is over Babu Kishan will release all to the world.
As a taste of the already archived Baul history, Babu Kishan's 4th Book on the Das and Dasi Lineage of Baul, Historical Baul will be released in late 2018 or 2019, as only a taste of what is to come, after this the Authentic One and Only Baul Archive. After the book release the Archived Baul history will be further released with much caution and copyright. Babu feels after what he has seen being done with his families music and heritage and past cultural appropriation of the songs of this lineage, it is past time to step out of the shadow and it is time to speak out.
These songs are now going to be preserved with the correct poets names and if you want to record, if the correct poets name is not used there will be a copyright infringement made.
Sad to say but a true Baul does not use Baul for their own benefit making claims that are not true. Nobody wants to do this but because of the lack of respect this will be the future of Baul because it must be at least accurate. We are in the process of looking at legal action regarding Nabani Das Baul Poetry and this lineages poetry if Baul were not extinct it would not matter. Please Stay tuned.
Babu Kishan Composed all the above and below Music he Produced, Recorded and Promoted all of these albums and more, he dedicated himself to Baul for decades. He used many of his own Baul poetry on these Albums, and they all have been a super duper hit.
He worked with a determination like no other Archiving and Preserved Baul from the 1970's. Baul was Archived and Preserved decades ago, there is no need to remake the wheel, it has been done. All safe and when and after all this circus of Baul is over Babu Kishan will release all to the world.
Lila Roy Rabindranath Tagores personal English Translator and the Editor of my first English Book on Baul.
Remember Lila Roy, Rabindranath Tagore's English Translator and my English Editor of the English book I wrote on My Lineage, which was supported and sponsored by my great friends and well wishers George Harrison and Ravi Shankar. I had performed many times with Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan through Indian, Europe and America. Ravi Shankar and his family were our family friends. I have recored music with both George Harrison and Ravi Shankar.
Lila Roy was the only Western person who was a real Master of Bengali and understood the Soul and Soil of Bengal, she was a Legend and I do not want the world to forget her.
Babu Kishan designed the patchwork (Guduri) dress that now most Bauls wear today for performances, this is 'Baul History' if you wear or wore this dress or your GURU wore this dress, you follow this lineage.
If you sing the songs of this lineage you follow this lineage, if you dress as the women Baul from the film Tagori, Babu Kishan designed that style and dress too, it is the film about his aunt Radharani Dasi.
If you use Ektara Baya and Nagpur around your feet you are following Nabani Das Khyapa Baul (Period).
Babu Kishan Albums, Music Composed, Lyrics, Produced, Marketing on Top Labels by Babu Kishan
Some Past Lectures and Baul Performances @ Universities around the world.
UCLA, Columbia, Chicago University, Boston University, Pennsylvania Music College, Baltimore Music College, Philadelphia Arts and Music College, Kansas University Music, St Louis University, Washington and Lee, University of Washington, University of Toronto, Harvard, Mumbai University, Whistling Woods Film Institute in Mumbai, San Francisco College of Arts, Berkeley University Music School, Red Wood University, San Diego University, University of Victoria, Cambridge and Oxford in UK, Berlin Music College, Stuttgart University, Bremen University Germany, Hamburg University, Cologne University, University Germany, Zurich University, Geneva University, Brussels University, Rome University of Fine Arts, University of Honk Kong, University of Bangkok, University of Singapore, Delhi University, University of Mauritius, University of Johannesburg South Africa ... more to be listed
Web site created and written by Sandra Trishula Das
Copyright 2007 - 2030
All rights reserved
COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NOTICE (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED): All content, original lyrics, music, arrangements, photographs, historical documentation, and oral lineage archives published on this site are the exclusive intellectual property of KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul / Gosi Chandra) and Sandra Hirschkorn Das. Representing an unbroken, 13-generation ancestral Vaishnava Sahajiya Baul lineage, this work is protected under international copyright laws and Indigenous Cultural Heritage protections. Any unauthorized copying, reproduction, re-recording, public performance, AI training/scraping, or false attribution of this material, style, or disciplic heritage without explicit prior written authorization is strictly prohibited and subject to immediate legal action and copyright take-down notices.
Copyright 2007 - 2030
All rights reserved
COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NOTICE (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED): All content, original lyrics, music, arrangements, photographs, historical documentation, and oral lineage archives published on this site are the exclusive intellectual property of KD Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das Baul / Gosi Chandra) and Sandra Hirschkorn Das. Representing an unbroken, 13-generation ancestral Vaishnava Sahajiya Baul lineage, this work is protected under international copyright laws and Indigenous Cultural Heritage protections. Any unauthorized copying, reproduction, re-recording, public performance, AI training/scraping, or false attribution of this material, style, or disciplic heritage without explicit prior written authorization is strictly prohibited and subject to immediate legal action and copyright take-down notices.
