Biccheder Bazar
Ukil Munsi
Commemorative Programme
2026
Revisiting the Tradition of Longing and Contemporary Alienation
‘Biccheder Bazar: Revisiting the Tradition of Longing and Contemporary Alienation’ was an interdisciplinary cultural programme centred on the life, songs, philosophy, and cultural legacy of Ukil Munshi, the Baul mystic and lyricist of the Bhati region of Bengal. Organized to commemorate his birth anniversary, the programme sought to move beyond remembering him simply as a folk artist of the past, instead revisiting the idea of Bicched —separation, longing, and estrangement—through his songs and worldview.
Within the traditions of Baul and folk music in Bengal, 'biraha' is more than the emotional experience of a loved one’s absence; it also serves as a profound metaphor for spiritual, social, and existential conditions. The distance between the beloved and the lover, between the human being and the divine, or between the self and its inner being has found expression in countless forms through folk song. ‘Biccheder Bazar’ placed this tradition alongside contemporary experiences of displacement, cultural distance, and existential alienation, creating a dialogue between the past and the present.
One of the programme’s central components was the research-based reconstruction of Ukil Munshi’s lost likeness. For decades, the absence of a reliable portrait had left room for uncertainty and misrepresentation in how his identity was visually remembered. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, facial analysis of close relatives, family narratives, accounts of his life and physical appearance, and visual references of contemporary Baul practitioners, the artists developed a probable portrait of Ukil Munshi. The reconstructed image was subsequently reviewed and authenticated through the testimonies of his descendants, relatives, and eyewitnesses. Beyond making a lost cultural figure visible once again, the process raised important questions about the relationship between memory, evidence, and artistic reconstruction.
The programme brought together an exhibition of contemporary visual artworks, a discussion titled ‘Alap’, and performances of Ukil Munshi’s songs and the tradition of 'bhati biraha'. Researchers, lyricists, filmmakers, political thinkers, visual artists, and Baul practitioners of different generations contributed to the programme, creating a shared space where diverse forms of knowledge and artistic expression could intersect.
Held within KUN Creative Studio’s alternative art space in an abandoned tannery building, ‘Biccheder Bazar’ was more than a commemorative event. It was an attempt to revisit folk knowledge and cultural inheritance through the lens of contemporary art and thought. In speaking of separation, the programme ultimately returned to the possibility of reconnection—to reconnect memory with the present, people with their cultural roots, and inherited traditions with new forms of creative practice.
Gallery
Selected photographs capturing the atmosphere, gatherings, conversations, and intimate moments of ‘Biccheder Bazar’
