Being Instinctive

When instinct kicks in, the truth reveals— and it could be even after hiding for decades. The awakening of the impulse your nerve carries out every moment yet suppressed by the conscious self has to come to light one day. And if that happens, there is nothing more hilarious than that— especially, for people at their tertiary age.

As many of you are already aware, Baul's philosophy has lots of devotees far and near. Although it originated in the Indian subcontinent, it has spread over the world mostly because it’s different from conventional cultural practices and beliefs. The doctrine is based on humanity and love over gender, religion, and ethnicity.

We live considerably close to the mausoleum of one of the prominent Baul philosophers known to the world. So, naturally, the number of devotees is more frequent than in many other parts of the country. One of my relatives, who has been in the afterlife for many years, was a follower of this Baul doctrine and made his way up to a respectable position among his peers— “Fakir”, he is entitled with.

Every year on the 27th of February, on his death anniversary, his disciples arrange a mini festival to commemorate his contribution to the Baul community by doing the (un)holy things (smoking pot) together and passing the night with folk songs.

This long narration behind the scene is to highlight exactly what my father dislikes most. Spending time with junkies, listening to this sort of songs that involve being stoned, and whatnot— everything that this Baul doctrine suggests or the devotees do belong to my father’s disliking.

That’s what we used to know— we, the whole family never saw him joining the local disciples even after they are closely related t us. We haven’t seen him even appreciating the disciples, let alone following them.

And this is where things have become interesting. This year, he has donated 20kg of rice to the festival to contribute to the feast. Can you imagine that? A person who has hated all these all his life now helping them to succeed.

Not just that, he has bought other food items in case he has to invite a few of the visitors to the house.

None of us can believe our ears after hearing this. Neither we can ask him to step down as we all are in awe and wondering if he holds a soft corner for the doctrine but masked it with all those fuss and cuss.

Perhaps, he is too old to suppress the instincts any more. Or, he wants to explore why so many people accept the philosophy and make them look like shit. Whatever— now I am finding the reason why I am a bit in favour of this Baul belief; it’s a genetic thing, I guess.

_{My Amateur Click}