As the political temperature rises ahead of the Assembly elections, the charged rhetoric of campaigns has found an unlikely counterpoint—not in slogans or speeches, but in song. Winding through the narrow lanes and bustling bylanes of Bhabanipur, National Award-winning Baul (folk) artist Swapan Dutta Baul is turning the electoral moment into a lyrical appeal for peace, urging citizens to vote with conscience, not conflict.
With an ektara (single-string instrument) in hand and conviction in his voice, Dutta’s refrain is simple yet striking: vote peacefully, vote personally, and above all, do not let your democratic right wither into apathy. His music — self-composed, both in verse and tune — carries a quiet urgency, cutting through the cacophony of campaign noise.
The choice of Bhabanipur is far from incidental. The constituency has become the epicentre of political attention, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces off against Leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari in what is widely anticipated to be a fiercely contested electoral duel. The high stakes have amplified anxieties, with memories of past electoral unrest still lingering in the state’s collective consciousness.
It is precisely this history — marred by sporadic violence, displacement, and loss — that Dutta seeks to challenge. As the Election Commission of India rolls out stringent measures to safeguard the 2026 polls, the Baul minstrel is waging his own grassroots campaign, one that leans not on authority but on art.
Hailing from Bardhaman, Dutta is no stranger to such journeys. He traversed the state during the 2021 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, wielding music as a vehicle for civic consciousness. Yet his repertoire extends beyond electoral awareness — his songs question blind faith, dismantle superstition, and speak against caste divisions, weaving social reform into melody.
“This is not merely an election; it is a festival of democracy,” he says, his tone firm yet unembellished. “Let it not be stained by bloodshed. Every vote carries weight, every voice matters. Peace must prevail over provocation.”
There is an almost ascetic detachment in his mission. Politics, for him, is neither allegiance nor opposition — it is a terrain where humanity must remain intact. “I am not concerned with those who indulge in conflict,” he remarks. “As an artist, my duty is singular — to spread peace.”
From Bhabanipur’s crowded streets, his journey is set to expand across all 23 districts of the state— across coasts lashed by tides, hills veiled in mist, and forests steeped in silence. His stage is wherever people gather; his audience, anyone willing to listen.
In an election season defined by spectacle and strategy, Dutta’s quiet, persistent song stands apart— a reminder that democracy, at its core, is not just about power, but about participation without fear.
Also read: TMC sets 60,000-vote margin target for Mamata
Follow us
