Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) founder Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has donned many influential political roles in life, and Senior Journalist Nalin Verma have come together once again to co-author a collection of stories titled “Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath”. The book, published by Penguin, was released globally on 28 July 2025.
“Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath” is a vivid resurrection of forgotten voices, ancient ballads, and mystical legends. Previews have hailed the book as a compelling new anthology. The book brings together four timeless folktales: Sorthi-Brijbhar, Bharthari-Pingla, Heer-Ranjha, and Saranga-Sadabrij. Rooted in the life and teachings of Yogi Gorakhnath, the revered eleventh-century mystic whose inclusive religious philosophy deeply influenced the Sufi and Bhakti movements in India, these stories were once sung by itinerant yogis of the Gorakhnath sect, accompanied by the melancholic notes of the sarangi. Originally preserved through oral tradition and rich with fantastical elements—genies, fairies, ghostly figures, and divine sages—the ballads have long been central to regional performance traditions across melas, weddings, and spiritual gatherings.
This anthology not only documents these stories with historical sensitivity and literary finesse but also offers a critical lens into their enduring social and philosophical resonance. At the heart of each tale lies the Gorakhnathi worldview—fluid, inclusive, and radically humanist—blurring the lines between religion, caste, and creed. Through a careful curation of narratives that combine magical realism with lived experiences, the book sheds light on how marginalised communities used folklore as a vehicle of resistance, transformation, and spiritual inquiry. More than just a compilation, it is a meditation on devotion, longing, identity, and the power of oral storytelling in shaping cultural memory.
This is the second book co-authored by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nalin Verma. Earlier, they had collaborated on the much-acclaimed autobiography of Lalu Prasad Yadav, “Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey.”
