‘O lord, take me to shore,’ ‘If I would remember Him properly.’-all these songs still are sung by the people throughout the country. He used to speak about the unity among Hindus and Muslims through music. He became popular among all races, religions, castes without any discrimination. Through music he got spiritual enlightenment too.
Besides Marefati, he used to perform Murshidi and Kirtan also. Malek Dewan, son of Alefchan Dewan came to the world of music by inheritance. These singers have been creating a distinguished type of Gharana i.e ‘Dewani’ sect in between two other Baul-type sects like Murshidi and Fakir. Shakir Dewan, Azad Dewan, Uttam Dewan etc. Arif Dewan of this generation has become famous as a singer. Alefchan’s two sons- Malek Dewan and Khalek Dewan and his grand-grandson Khabiruddin Dewan inherit his songs and his spiritual meditation. But in Keraniganj area the singers of his Akhda (den) presents it in Murshidi melody. There is a Baul-effect in the lyrics of this song. He sings- ‘ The sailors sail away Bind the rope tightly O captain! Where Sriguru is! He goes to the other side of the sea merrily Alefchan says- one may go If Sriguru takes pity on one, He may go there with all! ( Gist:- In this song, the poet says that he is aimless if his guide does not show him the right path ). But he had a lot of followers who belonged to non-muslim especially Hindu religion.
It is also heard that during the last days of his life, he wanted to be a follower of the Naksbandya Tareeka. He became the follower of a spiritual guide and was a disciple of Chistiya Tareeka (way). Though belonging to the Baul Gharana, Alefchan’s songs are greatly influenced by Murshidi and Fakiri sects. But this is not true in case of all of their songs. I would like to uphold this matter here because there is such a close similarity between the thought and language of Lalon’s and Alefchan’s songs that it is really tough to bring out the difference from these songs. M Lutfur Rahman in his book Lalon Shah: Life and Songs” included three songs of Alefchan’s songs as Lalon’s songs. They are known to be Duddu Shah, Panchu Shah and Gopal Shah, they belonged to Kustia region while some others added the songs of Alefchan Dewan and Kalu Shah Fakir of Dhaka. To increase the number of the songs of Lalon Shah, some researchers added many songs which are composed by some other mystic poets or singers. In the prologue of his songs, he introduced himself through the words like- ‘Dayal’, ‘Dervish’, ‘Pagaal’, ‘Dewan’, ‘Gonshai’, ‘Fakir’ etc. Though he is known as the saint-singer of mystic and Murshidi songs, we find his talent in Baul songs also. This saying proves Alefchan’s talent in music. It is also heard that he had harmonized with the songs of Lalon Shah. He could play a number of folk musical instruments. It is heard that he had a close relation with Lalon Shah- a very popular and famous mystic singer of Bangladesh. He became famous by singing Marefati songs. He was a wandering mendicant and his songs there was a scene of myticism.
Alefchan Dewan hailed from the village Bamansur of Keraniganj upazilla in the district of Dhaka. WE find the influence of Sufism in the songs of the saints like Kalu Shah Fakir (1810-1905), Sha’nal (Shahlal) Shah Fakir. Individuality has been created in the language and lyrics of these songs according to and on the basis of regional and spiritual aim. which are also found in the mystic songs like Murshidi songs, Fakir Songs, Tarza songs and Bichar songs. In Baul songs there are some sects like- Attototto, Dehototto, Gurutotto, Premtotto, Srishtitotto, Gudhatotto, Poromtotto etc. greater Nadia, after that, ‘as a result of several saints’ efforts several schools (Gharana) have been spread in Jessore, Khulna, Faridpur, Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, and the western part of Sylhet.’(Habibur Rahman, The Folk Songs of Bangladesh and geographical environment, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, 1982, pg-144), that means this widely spread songs though obeyed the socio-economic condition and cultural and geographical encroachment, yet as it holds the main theme of Baul religion, so it is named as Baul songs. Though in Bangladesh, the mystic or Baul songs flourishes around the area of Kustia i.e.