Sahaj Ma's training in classical music started at the tender age of three. Her first music teacher was her mother, who taught her the Sargam when she was merely five years old. Afterward, she trained under Pandit M. R. Goutam for four years, followed by five years of training under Smt. Sunanda Patnaik of the Vishnudigamber gharana.

A significant turning point came in Sahaj Ma's life once she was married to Utpal Faqir. It was then that she decided to learn and dedicate herself to folk music with her husband, who was researching on folk music at that time. Her diksha gurus are Utpal Sadhan Das Bairagya and Guru Ma Maki Kazumi. Her siksha gurus include Subal Gosai and Sanatan Das Baul.

For a very long while, Utpal Faqir had been in search of the spiritual soul of the bauls and faqirs of Bengal, on whose basis, he had written a couple of books of poems. His acquisition of the music of the bauls came directly from the wandering minstrels of Bengal. He lived with the bauls, learned their music from them, and imbibed from them, their unique sense of spirituality. His training on the violin and flute was from the Senia gharana.

His diksha and siksha guru is Faqir Sadhan Das Bairagya. Subhol Gosai and Sanatan Gosai are also his siksha gurus. After obtaining diksha, he began writing original songs along the tradition of the Bauls and the Sufis. His unique life experiences bring a certain earthiness to his music that is not only charming, but quite rare as well.

Much later in life, Utpal Faqir established himself as a recording artiste and a composer of many popular folk songs on well known labels.

Sahaj Ma and Utpal Faqir are particularly well-known for their song Allah Meherban (with Bickram Ghosh) from the album Folktail, which used to play almost endlessly on MTV India not very long ago.

Press & Media

Times of India   ♦   Hindustan Times   ♦   Deccan Herald
Anandolok   ♦   Anandolok Media   ♦   The Telegraph Media

Video Segments

Hrid Majhare Rakhbo
Sundori Komola Nache
Chander Gaye Chand Legeche (with Bickram Ghosh)
Allah Meherban (with Bickram Ghosh)
Mon Baul Mon Re