JanGopal & Bhakti tradition relevance in 21st Century India

This discussion is part of a new series named Book Baithak, a collaboration between The AIDEM and Ka The Art Cafe, Varanasi, which focuses on discussing books and authors relevant to contemporary India.

JanGopal was a 16th-century poet from the Bhakti tradition, known for his allegiance to the nirguni (formless divine) movement led by his guru, Dadu Dayal. His work, particularly the ‘Dadu Janam Lila’, celebrates the life of Dadu Dayal and reflects a strong anti-orthodox stance on social norms.

Purushottam Agrawal, along with David N Lorenzen, has co-authored a book titled “So Says Jan Gopal: The Life and Work of a Bhakti Poet of Early Modern India,” which explores JanGopal’s life and writings. In the interview, Agrawal discusses how JanGopal’s ideas and the Bhakti tradition can be relevant in contemporary India, emphasizing themes of liberation, social equality, and resistance to orthodoxy.