Gagan Harkara

Gaganchandra Dash, mostly known as Gagan Harkara, was a Bengali Baul poet

Early life and background

Gagan Harkara resided in Kasba village of Kumarkhali Upazila in Kushtia, located in present-day Bangladesh. Employed as a postman at the Shelaidaha Post Office in Kumarkhali, he became popularly known as "Harkara"—a Bengali term that translates to "postman." During Rabindranath Tagore’s extended stays in Shelaidaha, Gagan regularly delivered and collected correspondence on his behalf. Tagore frequently mentioned Gagan in his letters, many of which were later compiled in Chinnapatra, addressed to his niece Indira Devi.
Rabindranath Tagore was also instrumental in introducing Gagan’s work to a broader audience. He first published one of Gagan’s songs in Prabashi Patra, a literary magazine, in the Bengali year 1322 . Furthermore, Tagore’s niece, Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, contributed an essay entitled Lalon Fakir and Gagan to Bharati, a journal affiliated with the Tagore family. In this piece, she included two of Gagan’s notable songs: Ami Kothai Pabo Tare and Asar Mayai Bhule Robe. Tagore is known to have collected Gagan’s songs as early as 1889.

Legacy

Rabindranath Tagore referred to Gagan and his songs in his article: An Indian Folk Religion, songs and speeches. Rabindranath Tagore wrote a short story too partly after his life. Based upon the story, Satyajit Ray made his film: The Postmaster.
Tagore mentioned the following about Gagan: