By Dr. S. K. Gopal
Lucknow, Oct 2026 : The moonlit night of Sharad Purnima, accompanied by the soulful melodies of Krishna devotion, naturally brings alive the memory of Mirabai. She was an extraordinary poetess of India’s Bhakti tradition, whose life reflected a remarkable blend of love, spiritual devotion and resistance. She gave greater importance to her devotion to Krishna than to the grandeur of royal palaces and the expectations of society. Her life is not merely a story of Krishna bhakti, but also a testament to self-respect, independent thinking and the courage to stand firm against social conventions.
Sudhakar Adeeb’s novel Rang Rachi provides an important literary foundation for understanding this multifaceted personality of Mirabai. The novel highlights her journey of struggle, her unwavering devotion to Krishna and her confrontation with the feudal system. Her rebellion did not arise from a desire for power, but from her determination to protect her faith and self-respect. Mirabai refused to bow before a system that sought to restrict a woman’s faith, desires and freedom of expression. This is why her personality has become a symbol not only of devotion but also of independent consciousness.
For Mirabai, becoming immersed in the colours of her beloved Shyam meant dedicating her entire existence to Krishna. Her devotion encompasses the pain of separation, the longing for union and the bliss of surrender. Krishna was not a distant deity to her, but an intimate presence in her life. This deep emotional connection lends extraordinary depth to her devotional poetry. Expressing her love for her beloved deity without worrying about social conventions was a courageous decision in the circumstances of her time. Through her life, Mirabai demonstrated that true faith cannot be governed by external pressures.
The greatest strength of Mirabai’s devotional compositions lies in their simplicity and universal appeal. Enriched by the sweetness of Rajasthani, Braj Bhasha and other folk languages, her songs have never remained confined to books. Folk singers, devotional music groups and singing traditions passed down through generations have kept them alive. Musical traditions across different regions have given their own interpretations to her compositions, making her poetry a part of the collective memory of ordinary people. This is why Mirabai continues to live in the consciousness of the masses, transcending the boundaries of literature.
Mirabai’s relevance extends far beyond religious faith. Her life encourages us to reflect on the relationship between social traditions and individual freedom. Respecting tradition does not mean accepting every old belief without question. Challenging beliefs that restrict human dignity is also an essential part of cultural awareness. Mirabai demonstrated this courage in her own time. Her poetry continues to inspire us to understand the values of love, self-respect and freedom of expression.
The widely observed tradition of celebrating Mirabai Jayanti on Sharad Purnima connects Krishna devotion with collective folk memory. Singing her devotional compositions on this occasion becomes a means of connecting cultural heritage with the present. Such celebrations become meaningful when they go beyond formal ceremonies and provide opportunities for serious discussions on Mirabai’s literature, her struggles and the traditions of folk music.
The Lok Sanskriti Shodh Sansthan, based in Lucknow, has been presenting the Mirabai Folk Music Award since 2020. The initiative began by honouring five distinguished personalities and subsequently expanded to recognise seven individuals every year. Its objective is to acknowledge practitioners of folk and devotional music and bring Mirabai’s cultural legacy closer to the public.
In 2020, Dr. Sudhakar Adeeb, Dr. Rambahadur Mishra, Dr. Amita Dubey, Dr. Bharti Singh, Parmanand Pandey, Jyoti Kiran Sinha and Adarsh Maurya were honoured. In 2021, Hashim Raza Jalalpuri, Shashilekha Singh, Vimal Pant, Padma Gidwani and Daya Chaturvedi received the honour. In 2022, the award was conferred upon Mukta Chatterjee, Vineet Sinha, Sharda Pandey, Aruna Upadhyay and Shashank Sharma.
In 2023, Indu Saraswat, Dr. Sarojini Saxena, Rashmi Upadhyay, Rekha Agarwal, Abha Shukla, Sarita Agarwal and Antara Bhattacharya were honoured. In 2024, the recipients were Bhavatarini Sundaram Iyer, Neeta Gupta, Soumya Goyal, Anjali Singh, Madhu Srivastava, Prof. Usha Vajpayee and Bhavana Garwal. In 2025, Dr. Mukta Varshney, Asha Srivastava, Manu Rai, Aparna Singh, Sushma Prakash, Shikha Srivastava and Deepali Sharma received the award. The names announced for the 2026 awards are Rekha Mishra, Anuj Srivastava, Alka Chaturvedi, Dr. Kusum Verma, Rupali Srivastava, Deveshwari Panwar and Babita Singh.
Among the award recipients, the work of Hashim Raza Jalalpuri deserves special mention. He translated Mirabai’s devotional compositions into Urdu poetry, attempting to take the literature of devotion beyond linguistic boundaries. He also rendered the verses of Kabir into Urdu poetry. His work exemplifies the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, the composite cultural tradition in which linguistic and religious differences do not become barriers to literary dialogue. Presenting the poetry of Mirabai and Kabir in Urdu reflects his creative commitment to India’s shared cultural heritage.
The award tradition of the Lok Sanskriti Shodh Sansthan gives public recognition to the contributions of cultural practitioners. Folk songs and devotional music can survive only when artists receive platforms to perform and younger generations connect with their traditions. Alongside award ceremonies, initiatives such as documenting folk music, organising workshops and providing training in traditional singing are equally important. Preserving culture is possible only through continuous practice and dialogue between generations.
Today, remembering Mirabai means much more than simply singing her devotional compositions. It also means drawing inspiration from her love, self-respect and independent spirit. The colours of her devotion have not faded even after centuries because they represent the deepest experiences of the human soul. They embody her unwavering love for Krishna, the courage to challenge unjust restrictions and the vibrant traditions of folk music.
When Mirabai’s devotional songs resonate on Sharad Purnima, they establish a meaningful dialogue between the past and the present. The true meaning of celebrating folk culture through Mirabai lies in understanding our heritage, honouring those who dedicate themselves to preserving it and passing it on to future generations.
