Music in South Asia

Bangladesh

Sufism also plays a big role in this predominantly Muslim land. Bauls travel throughout the country attending festivals and shrine ceremonies to make their living by singing and playing.

Melody is most important in Indian music, but the words are most important in music from Bangladesh. Therefore, one poet who was born inside Bangladesh’s present borders deserves special mention. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 and was a poet, essayist, and playwright. Musicians also set many of his poems to song. Two of his poems became the texts for the national anthems for India and Bangladesh.

Tagore was Hindu, but he called himself monotheistic, so he believed in one supreme deity instead of the pantheon of gods which most Hindus believe in. His poems show influences from Christianity and Islam as well. Some Indian churches have hymnals with some texts written by Tagore.

Use the menu to the left to learn more about
music in other South Asia countries.