Kabir, Kabir: The Life and Work of the Early Modern Poet-Philosopher

by Purushottam Agrawal

As the right wing tries to claim Kabir for itself, while other conservatives disown him and yet others portray him as a secular idol beyond religion, the poet has never been so misunderstood.

Coming from the Nirgun bhakti tradition, the words of this fifteenth-century poet have the power to reach beyond time and speak to us today. Was he a Hindu or Muslim or was he beyond religion? Did he try to cultivate a new faith or did he eschew organised religion altogether? Was his modernity an exception or a reflection of the times he lived in? What does Kabir’s life and poetry tell us about this nation’s past and present?

In this rare appraisal of Kabir’s writings and his life, Purushottam Agarwal approaches this timeless poet-revolutionary with little preconceptions, presenting him the way the poet wanted to be seen, rather than what his followers and fans want to see in him.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Poetry, India

284 pages, Hardcover

Published June 14, 2021

About the author

Purushottam Agrawal (Hindi:हिंदी पुरुषोत्तम अग्रवाल, born 25 June, 1955) is an Indian writer and academic.

He was born and brought up in the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He has an MA (Political Science, 1977) from Jiwaji University, Gwalior and one in Hindi Literature, 1979 from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was awarded a Ph.D degree by Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1985 on the topic of '‘The Social Meaning of Kabir’s Bhakti’' under the supervision of Namwar Singh.

His academic interests include Bhakti poetry and its social context (especially that of Kabir), indigenous (“vernacular”) modernity, non-violence and cultural & literary criticism.

He has written many books including Kabir: Sakhi aur Sabad (A collection of Kabir’s poetry with an analytical introduction), Shivdan Singh Chauhan (A monograph in “Makers of Indian Literature” series published by Sahitya Akademi, Delhi), Majbooti Ka Naam Mahtma Gandhi (published version of annual Gandhi Lecture, organized by Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi), ‘Nij Brahma Vichhar: Dharma, Samaj aur Dharmetar Adhyatma’ (Essays on religion, spirituality and philosophy), Vichaar ka Ananta (a collection of theoretical and cultural essays), Teesra Rukh (A collection of literary and cultural essays), Sanskriti: Varchswa aur Pratiroadh (a collection of cultural and political essays) Hindi Nai chaal mein Dhali ( edited proceedings of the international symposium organized in Patna, India on the evolution of modern Hindi), Akath Kahani Prem Ki : Kabir ki Kavita aur Unka Samay (2009) and Hindi Saray: Astrakhan via Yerevan( 2012). He is also a poet and story writer. His short story Cheng Chui published in Pragatishil Vashudha (2012). His another short story is Chaurahe Par Putala published in Naya Gyanodaya (a Bharteey Gyanpeet Magazine). ""pan Patte ki Goth"" (appeared in ""Pakhi"") is a story about a renowned scientist and academician which is fighting upper-casteist professors and other stakeholder in an Indian university system. ""Pair Ghanti"" is a story about feudal minded polity and casteist bureaucracy. ""Nacohus"" (appeared in ""Pakhi"") is a short story by Agrawal which talks about mindless communal sentimentalism and irrational approach towards art and culture.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purusho...

http://www.purushottamagrawal.com/about/

Reviews

[raj dasani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an enlightening book about the world that Kabir was living in. It gives a historical perspective to his mystical persona. The book focuses on socio-political-cultural-religious elements of the society in which Kabir was born and lived. A great book for readers in general to get sense of India during that time, a bonus if you’re interested in Kabir.

[Trinanjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My discovery of Kabir started not with his dohas but from history textbook of class 6th or 7th along with other bhakti religious gurus. He never stood out to me beyond some 8 or 10 lines of the book. Kabir in my life has been very different, unappealing, because I never learned to see him beyond another topic that I need to study. I missed the very fact that he belongs to a very humble background, such as him taking pride in saying that he belongs from the weaver community of Varanasi, yet he dared to raise questions against social hierarchy, gender roles. He spearheaded a revolution without picking up any arms.
The author delicately peeled layer by layer as he unravels the mysterious life of 15th century Bhakti Poet Philosopher Kabir exploring his works and diving into the metaphorical meaning of Dohas written by him. The author didn’t restrict his views about Kabir only up to spirituality, he went on narrating the political scenarios of 15th century India. Even then he kept it factual rather than provoking any such conflicts.
He didn’t restrict himself just with Kabir’s teachings but also talked about the contemporary saints and time period. He shared the social structure of Medieval India and how it impacted one’s spiritual and religious beliefs. It's often taken that he is the epitome of Hindu Muslim unity, but he focused on the ritualistic nature, toxic Brahmanical society and the fact that spirituality is beyond religion.
He pointed out how saints weren’t free from vices either. The poetic battle between Tulsidas and Kabir found its place in the book. The two saints have two different perspectives about achieving moksha and how each of them saw God differently.
In subsequent chapters as he compares the writings and interpretations of Kabir’s teaching across different sub-sects, he also pointed out the flat binary interpretation of European scholars. Not getting into deeper meanings of spirituality but rather taking is as “discarding” his Muslim identity or stressing of the “constant tensions” between two religions. It's almost an irony that the bhakti saint always stressed on spirituality but he was weighted by the historians mostly as one of the leaders of religious movement. The book focuses on the self-evolution of Kabir. From a disciple to master, from sakta to Vaishnava, and how with time his teachings were modified into other sects including Sikhism.

[Mohit Pawnday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of rare scholarship which lays bare the truth that how the British /Colonial Protestant Historians sold us a story that India was decadent /wasted from medieval times and how the modern rationalism rescued India from intellectual and spiritual decadence. The response of Indian Nationalists(Hindu) was faulty in the underlying assumption that they agreed with the colonial diagnosis of medieval paralysis as this was a convenient way of feeding their prejudices that Mughal rule had caused a total paralysis of mind body and soul and the answer to this Western Pollution was to seek recourse in some mythical Sanskrit driven past .Where each Mantra/myth was hyperbole'd as the Ultimate truth

Both the approaches were faulty assumptions beacause they ignored the evolution of Native thought driven by native languages /dialects .The Author in this book dissects Kabir philosophy in extracts of deep scholarship and also dissects how various interpretations of Kabir thought were themselves tainted by their respective ideological leanings BUT more than that what the book showcases using Kabir as a example is the existence of a vibrant dynamic ecosystem in dialects of various philosophies which freely and fiercely engaged with each other . A India which was alive beyond the Sanskritised past. A India which was evolving and engaged with larger questions of our existence. Its essential that we understand that dynamism which was present in regional dialects as only then will be able to confront the current moral and social crisis overwhelming us as the cultural elites of various hues try to impose on this palimpsest which India their receptive simplified narratives which ignore the underlying truths which Indians over many years worked on unravelling. As with most cases the truth is not in SOME mythical past which competes every moment with the Marvel inspired Universe or a rationalist driven present which presents as itself as a savior of Man by challenging every Native wisdom which presents Modernity /Development as being possible by every steamrolling of Nature . The Answer to our spiritual emancipation lies in acknowledging and understand the iconoclasts of medieval ages and building up on their questions and understanding there are no easy answers and probably the answer is just discovering a better question . Deeply recommended reading .

[Anuradha Sarup · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable book with much food for thought. A refreshing insight into Indian society pre colonialism and into Indian thought.
I wish there were more books in English by Mr Purushottam Agarwal.

[Anshuman Swain · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rounded down to 4

Quite an extraordinary book about the life, poetry and philosophy of Kabir. The author goes above and beyond just the life of Kabir and his myths, and weighs on his years of immaculate research to present a larger picture of how Kabir fitted into the world of his and is important for that of today.

[Manvendra Shekhawat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lately there has been a paucity of such works in the Indian Context and this book has come at a time where things are changing for the better or worse depending on what side of the political spectrum you find yourself. But one thing everyone can agree with is that this change is really unsettling and for all of us.

This book is not just about Kabir, although Kabir is the lighthouse that keeps those ships depicting various topics and issues under its watchful protection and never loses sight of them.

I am a total newbie to the world of Kabir. Might have heard a couplet of his in some fleeting conversation. But nothing much other than that.

It is a shame to see Indians being colonized way beyond 200 years and such colonialism is much evil and shackling than what we had previously experienced although the earlier period looked more gruesome on paper and in reality but the modern tactics to enslave a large populace through some fiction and create strife among each other is so easily prevalent in today’s society.

Indians aren’t that proud of the past. They have been schooled by the west on the authenticity and importance of the past.

Indians need their own reawakening to discover for themselves who they were and what they stood for. Looking west is no evil deed but discarding the quest for your own truth might leave the modern day Indians identity less in the coming decades and the manner in which they begin looking for new identities might be something incredible to look out for.

It is far too convenient to dub the medieval past of our country as a period of ignorance and devoid of any progress on so many fronts. No benefit of doubt was given to the individuals or society of that period and they had been sentenced guilty of heinous offences some of which were uncalled without being ever given the opportunity of presenting their case. This book is a right step in that direction.

Also there has been a growing sense of irreligiousness among the modern generation which has discarded all morals and principles for their materialistic quest. Atheism and agnosticism are a part of everyone’s life and there comes a period when rationality and religion are placed against each other. This binary division of rationality and religion is inconclusive of the real picture and there are reasons in the book for that. The west looks at Indians as religious and we do everything in our power to prove them right even though more and more Indians are losing their spiritual side. It is high time Indians and especially individuals start doing some thinking on their own.

This book has historical, philosophical, biographical and political relevance for everyone.

Certain ideas in this book are extremely important for modern day Indians.

[Himanshu Dhiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

By looking at the cover, you might think that this book is an elucidation on Kabir’s dohas, but it’s a reflection on Kabir’s life and of his contemporaries, and the time that he lived in (15th century) and the time thereafter. The author connects dots across time and space and comes out with some really good observations.

While he sets up the stage for the reader to understand the Bhakti era, he also transports them to 16th-19th centuries to discuss how some rulers in early Mughal period invested back into their kingdom and respected different cultures unlike the British Raj that established a divided society based on the Brahmanical view of varnas and also based on religions. This set us back many centuries in terms of societal transformation.

He talks about the evolution of collective consciousness through ages by highlighting how human society has gone from scientists being executed for going against the then beliefs of the society to us advocating human rights. To think of our society as one collective mind might not have been a novel concept but it’s justified here with great examples.

He also disabuses the readers of the notion that modernisation came from the West by encouraging them to think about the meaning of the term ‘modern’ in terms of openness to new ideas rather than its sartorial and cultural connotations. Philosophy is not just a tool for the ones who have been educated in schools. Many Bhakti poets have spread philosophy out into their worlds by writing about it in the vernacular so that it becomes accessible to even the people who are supposed to keep away from Sanskrit.

In the end, he asks very important questions that bring the latent misogyny to light - latent to men but glaringly visible to women, because while men found peace in so many ancient texts, women rarely found texts which didn’t condemn them as obstacles to Sadhana or portray them as mute followers in a patriarchal world.

He adds an example of Mirabai here to call out that she never filled her verses with rancour towards men and reported even attempts on her life in a stolid manner. Surely the problem must be that men aren’t capable of controlling their sexual desires even when so many of their powers are shown to be based on the years of meditation that requires the same self-control that the former does.

Having discussed both the good and the bad, the author reminds us that Kabir expects “wise people to act like a willow basket that separates the wheat from the chaff” to question if there should be a total acceptance or total rejection of Kabir based on his spiritual contribution to society on one hand and his misogynistic references on the other. ‘Why should evidence of a strain of prejudice taint the entirety of his work?’

Overall, it’s a very well-researched book. It challenged a lot of my notions and spiritual affiliations. The only obstacle to being regularly engaged with it is the language which can get a bit complicated at times - both vocabulary and the sentence structure, especially when you’re reading translated dohas. But I was clearly able to take back a lot from it, if not everything! I’ll leave you with the below excerpt -

“Here is the essential paradox of being human: our desire for immortality alongside the certainty of death. There are other similar ironies: As humans, we must love ourselves but must make space to love others too. We desire freedom but need some bonds. We want desperately to be rooted but to be able, at will, to wander into the unknown. No wonder that as we live our mundane pragmatic lives, we long, too, for the sacred and mysterious.”

[Nandini · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

What started as a memoir of the saint-poet Kabirji, went on to become a journey of social, religious, cultural, political and spiritual reflection. Such an informative and enriching experience it was!

[Amit · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a lot more of author’s philosophy than Kabir’s and those in my reading are not worth most time.
And this is beyond a middle section completely on why ancient india was modern but Europe was not. But why go there.
It often uses translation from Granthavali by Gupta, which is unfortunate as it is full of errors and omissions (see pages 231,178,176, 96) and many more.

[Deepak Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book to read to understand Kabir !

[Pratibha Baveja · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book elucidates not just the life and work of Kabir but also the historical times which he lived in. Through meticulous research, the author offers compelling evidence that challenges the colonial narrative suggesting modernity was solely introduced to India by the British. Instead, he posits that Kabir was not an anomaly but rather a significant figure in a vibrant era of Indian history, characterized by the rise of individualism and rational thought

The author avoids romanticizing a nationalistic vision of India, while simultaneously contesting the colonial portrayal of a primitive society shackled by caste hierarchies and superstitions. He is firmly grounded in reality of an early modern and diverse India, drawing on vernacular works of poets that have often been overlooked or dismissed.

The author has truly imbibed Kabir's spirit, transcending simplistic binaries and weaving together social, political, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of Kabir's poetry. He provides a holistic picture of the poet, untainted by biases that lead to selective interpretations. He does not shy away from criticizing Kabir on his paradoxical stance on women.

The book is recommended for anyone interested in Kabir and the rich historical tapestry of his times.

[Mangelethe Sneha Menon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Kabir, Kabir” explores the life and times of Kabir Das, the 15th-century poet and a weaver from Kashi who connected with millions of people through his poems that mainly spoke of Ram, not a mythological prince but a force binding us to the universe.
This book is a kind of conversation where Purushottam Agrawal takes us through the thoughts and biases of various people (from the contemporaries of Kabir to British to modern-day liberals) and then shares his observations by describing his rationale and reasons for arriving at them.
One of the quotes from this book says, “In these increasingly insane times, a sane voice is in itself a miracle. To him, neither is the social superficial nor the spiritual a sham. Neither is rationality burdensome nor emotions futile. Kabir’s voice cautions against falling prey to binaries and irrational exclusion in all spheres of our life”, so what we think and make of Kabir is left to the reader (You and I).

[Akankshya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent insight into redefining modernity within the historical context of vernacular wisdom. This book was an enriching source that encompassed the portrayal of Kabir as the poet- philosopher he was with utmost cultural sensitivity and attention to it's time. I truly enjoyed the perspective of the author on how to go about reading Kabir, how to sift through the naunces in his poetry and discern his genius in interrogating organized religion with empirical rationality.
A lot of my unconscious biases and misconceptions were cleared away by this account of Kabir (as well as my opinion of mediaeval India has gained a whole new depth of clarity). I come out of this book much more enlightened about the historical processes that lead to progress and how the power of poetry contributes to making of the cultural fabric of a nation.

[Sushrut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first formal read on Kabir. Earlier I have read and listen many of his Dohas through various sources. Due to my familiarity with his teachings and his life, it was easy read for me. But some chapters have detailed information about related topics like modernism, Shakt Sect, opinions of other poets, etc which can be bit boring to read. Overall, I find this book illuminating, particularly with the concepts of Nirguni Bhakti movement, Kabir's views on love, devotion, Sansar, women, etc.

Author Purushottam Agrawal deserves appreciation for his attempt to organize Kabir's life and philosophy along with presenting thought-provoking facts and viewpoints. Due to frequent annotations throughout the book, it builds the trust on material we are reading.

Devdutt Patnaik's drawings are marvelous.

[Rahul Ralebhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one book that I read in recent time which took me long long time to read. Every single paragraph made me think and reflect and then connect to my own thoughts and thinking. A must read for every one who wants to understand underlining Indian culture and religious thoughts especially in relation to Bhakti movement and specifically Kabir. Simply loved it. :)

[Himanshu Pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really very enlightening book. Unlike its name, Book is not only about Kabir, but author is explaining various important concepts through Kabir like Nirgun Bhakti, Rational thinking, and concept of Modernity and Medieval India. I loved the chapter relating to Modernity the most….

Superb Book…..

[Anuradha Goyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hindi version of this book is much better, but if you do not read Hindi, you may read this https://www.anuradhagoyal.com/kabir-k...

[Bhanuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, a perfect piece for someone who wants to dive into medieval India's literary history with compassion of many contemporary philosophers