From Santa Margalida to the World

Joan Mascaró i Fornés (1897-1987) is one of the most internationally renowned cultural figures born in Santa Margalida. A philologist, translator and thinker, he devoted his life to bringing some of the great spiritual texts of the East to Western audiences, including the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and the Dhammapada.

Born into a farming family, Mascaró grew up amid the peaceful landscapes of the Pla de Mallorca. His curiosity about languages and philosophy led him to the University of Cambridge, where he specialised in Sanskrit and Pali, two essential languages for understanding the great Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

The Connection with the Beatles

His work came to the attention of George Harrison, guitarist of the Beatles, during his spiritual exploration in the 1960s. Mascaró and Harrison exchanged letters, and the Mallorcan thinker encouraged the musician to convey messages of peace and inner light through his music.

This exchange gave rise to a very special connection: the song “The Inner Light”, released by the Beatles in 1968 as the B-side of Lady Madonna. The lyrics were inspired by a translation included in Mascaró’s book Lamps of Fire, based on the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching.

A Legacy with Mallorcan Roots

Although he spent much of his life in England, Joan Mascaró never lost his connection with Santa Margalida. His life and work demonstrate how someone from a Mallorcan village can engage with distant cultures and influence the cultural history of the 20th century.

Today, remembering Joan Mascaró means discovering a remarkable figure who brings together Mallorca, the East and the music of the Beatles in a shared story of knowledge, spirituality and universal understanding.