Gour Khyapa (15 August 1947 – 26 January 2013) was a Bengali Baul singer and a philosopher. His philosophy was related to Tattva. He was famous for his songs related to Radha-Krishna.[1] He taught philosophy at Vassar and Brown University.
Music[edit]
He had performed alongside Bob Dylan, Bob Marley and Janis Joplin at various concerts.[2][3] He also worked with Jerzy Grotowski, a Polish theatre director and theorist.[4] He refused to visit the United States to perform in Peter Brook’s 1989 film The Mahabharata, when told he couldn’t legally carry hemp with him.[4]
Death and legacy[edit]
On 22 January 2013, he was hospitalised after a street accident at Ilambazar near Shantiniketan.[1] He died on 26 January 2013. He is survived by his wife Parvati and daughter Lakshmi.[1] He has only one disciple, Sanat Das Baul.[2][3] On 15 September 2019 Indian politician and current Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee homage to Gour Khyapa on Twitter.[5]
