Hason Raja. File Photo

SUNAMGANJ, Dec 6, 2025 (BSS) - The 103rd death anniversary of celebrated Bengali mystic poet and philosopher Hason Raja was observed here today with tributes highlighting his lasting influence on Bengali literature and folk music.

The occasion was marked with cultural programmes, including renditions of his songs and discussions on his life and legacy. 

Speakers noted that his works, deeply rooted in Sufi philosophy, continue to inspire generations for their spiritual depth and simplicity.

Born on December 21, 1854, in Lakshmanshree village on the banks of the Surma River, Hason Raja devoted his life to spiritual reflection and emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in Bengali mystical music. 

He was the third son of landowner Dewan Ali Raja Chowdhury, and inherited vast estates across Sunamganj, Netrakona, Rampasha, Lakshmanshri and parts of Sylhet after the death of his elder brother in 1869.

According to National Professor Dewan Mohammad Azraf, Hason Raja owned about 5 lakh 27 thousand bighas of land, which included several notable parganas of Sylhet and Sunamganj. 

Despite his privileged background, he crossed social and religious boundaries through his songs, which expressed devotion, humanism and a yearning for the Creator.

Hason Raja is believed to have composed around 200 songs, though many remain orally preserved among the people of Sylhet-Sunamganj. 

His landmark collection "Hasan Udas," featuring 206 songs, was published in 1907, while other works appeared in various periodicals such as "Hasan Rajar Tinpurush" and "Al Islah."

Although Sunamganj is widely regarded as the land of Hason Raja, public observances of his birth and death anniversaries remain modest, reflecting the quiet and contemplative life he led.

Rabindranath Tagore praised his compositions on several occasions, including in Kolkata in 1925 and later during the Hibbert Lectures in London in 1933, recognising his role in blending philosophy with music after the tradition of Lalon Shah.

Hason Raja passed away on December 6, 1922. His songs, carrying the essence of Bengal's spiritual heritage, continue to resonate across generations.