Question

Who were bauls? What were the main themes of their music?

Answer 1

Baul or Bauls (Bengali) are a group of mystic minstrels from Bengal, which includes the country of Bangladesh and the Indian State of West Bengal. Bauls constitute both a syncretic religious sect and a musical tradition. Bauls are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims.[1][2] They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Not much is known of their origin. Lalon is regarded as the most important poet-practitioner of the Baul tradition.[3][4][5] Baul music had a great influence on Rabindranath Tagore's poetry and on his music (Rabindra Sangeet)
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Answer 2

The mystical Baul music cult is not just unique to Bengal, but also has a special place in the history of world music. The word "Baul" has its etymological origin in the Sanskrit words "Vatula" (madcap), or "Vyakula" (restless),  and is often used to describe someone who is "possessed" or "crazy."

Originally, the Bauls were simply nonconformists who rejected the traditional social norms to form a distinct sect that upheld music as their religion.

"Baul" is also the name given to the genre of folk music developed by this creative cult. It's easy to identify a Baul singer from his uncut, often coiled hair, saffron robe (alkhalla), a necklace of beads made of basil (tulsi) stems, and of course, the single-stringed guitar (ektara). Music is their only source of sustenance: Bauls live on whatever they are offered by villagers in return,  as they travel from place to place, riding, in effect, on the vehicle of their own ecstasy.

Individuals consist mainly of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims.  They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Not much is known of their origin, though it is conjectured that the cult of traveling musicians may date back to the 9th century CE. Not until the mid 18th century are they noted by historians as a major, identifiable cult.