Drunk on Love: An Essential Introduction to the Life, Ideas and Poetry of Kabir

by Vipul Rikhi

KABIR is a name that has resounded powerfully in the Indic imagination for over 500 years. But who is Kabir? And what is it about his vision and his poetry that make him such a vital force, an irresistible voice? Drunk on Love argues that Kabir is not just one person but an idea that belongs to the people of India, who have preserved and nurtured it as a living tradition over an incredible span of time. In a flowing, conversational style, the book captures his life as told through popular legends, his poetry which has been quoted and translated extensively, and his vision, which it explores in depth through key concepts such as 'Jheeni', 'Raam', 'Guru', 'Sahaj', 'Shoonya', and others.

308 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2023

Reviews

[Rahul Vishnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-A little part of Kabir Lives on-
Review of 'Drunk on Love'

Quote Alert
"𝐊𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐣𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 ('𝐝𝐞𝐬') 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐲. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧. 𝐀𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬. 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞. 𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧."

My first introduction to Kabir was in Hindu textbook of ICSE. Two stories related to him are quite prominent - the one of his birth and another of his death. When he passes away, his followers, both Hindus and Muslims, fought over the right to put his remains to rest according to their rituals. When they went to lift the shroud, instead of Kabir's mortal remains, a pile of flowers was found. Hindus burned them. Muslims buried them. It is this spirit of Kabir that Vipul Rikhi calls upon in his book 'Drunk on Love'.


Rikhi says that 'Kabir' is not just the name of a person who lived in fifteenth-century Varanasi, by the banks of the river Ganga, who was a weaver by trade and a seeker and a poet by vocation. Instead Kabir is also the name of a whole stream of thought, philosophy, poetry and feeling. Kabir is the name of a whole tradition, flowing uninterrupted for over 500 years, that the people of this country have created for themselves, and have inhabited with inspiration, joy and ease.

Rikhi skillfully translates Kabir. Have a look-
'Yeh tan kaacha kumbh hai, liye phire the saath
Thapka laaga phooti gaya, kachhu nahin aaya haath '

'This body's like a brittle clay pot
We carry it around everywhere
One blow and it shatters!
Nothing to hold on to any more.'

A delight to read. Don't forget to pick it up.

[Prerna Shambhavee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading "Drunk on Love" by Vipul Rikhi. This book is about Kabir, a poet and mystic who has been a big influence in India for centuries. The author presents Kabir not just as a person, but as an idea that has been important to people in India for a long time.

The book is written in a way that feels like you're having a conversation with the author. It talks about Kabir's life, his poetry, and his ideas. The author uses stories and Kabir's own words to explain what he believed in.

What I liked about this book is that it's easy to understand. You don't need to know a lot about Kabir or his poetry to enjoy it. The book is a great introduction to Kabir's life and work.

Kabir's message is still relevant today. He talked about love, spirituality, and simplicity. The author shows how Kabir's ideas continue to inspire people.

All-in-all, "Drunk on Love" is a great book that helps you understand Kabir and his importance. If you're interested in learning more about Kabir or Indian culture, you'll enjoy this book.

[Shabana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful rendition that describes the essence of Kabir, Kabir-Vani, shabd, shoonya, oneness, Raam as divine consciousness beyond the barriers of religion and duality.