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Hason
Raja literally Hason the king, was a mystical
poet and songwriter in Bengal, now Bangladesh.
Born at the end of the 19th century 1854
to a traditional Zamindar or landowner family
near Sunamganj, Sylhet, though his anchestral
home is in Rampasha, Biswanath, Sylhet.
Hason indulged himself in material pursuits
in his youth. Later, he came to believe
worldly pleasures are meaningless and wrote
songs that have been described as some of
the most thoughtful songs, touching the
deepest emotions of the human mind.
Hason's father, Dewan Ali Raja (Choudhury),
was a direct descendant of the Hindu king
Raja Birendra Singhdev, (who later converted
to Islam and became known as Babu Khan).
Hason's mother was Ali Raja's second wife,
Huramat Jahan Begum. As befitted Hason's
ancestry, he was tall, handsome and charming,
with a regal manner and dress sense.
Hason's elder half-brother, Ubeydur Raja,
died when Hason was a teenager. The death
of Ali Raja, about 40 days later, meant
Hason became responsible for overseeing
his father's vast property at an early age.
Despite his youth when taking on this responsibility,
he proved to be a very successful Zamindar,
acquiring acres of land and many properties
in Sylhet. Yet, despite his financially
privileged upbringing, Hason is credited
with setting up a number of local schools
and religious organisations, and is said
to have frequently provided for the poor
and needy of his community.
Hason Raja had four sons, Khan Bahadur Dewan
Ganiur Raja, Hasinur Raja, Khan Bahadur
Dewan Eklimur Raja Chowdhury (Kabbo Bisharod)
and Aftabur Raja. Dewan Eklimur Raja followed
in his footsteps and also wrote poetry and
songs; he was also known as the architect
of modern poetry of Sylhet area. Dewan Hason
Raja donated one third of his property as
Waqf in 1918 for the well being of the people
and offsprings of his beloved son Eklimur
Raja.
Hason Raja's songs are in the folk tradition
of Bengal that seeks the ultimate truth
beyond the material world. They include
songs such as 'Lokey bole', published in
his book of songs, Hason Udas. In recent
times, they have been modernised and are
very popular in both Bangladesh and West
Bengal. Many book has been published so
far on great mystic poet Hason Raja.
Hason Raja died in 1922, years before his
contribution to the poetry of Bengal was
mentioned in lectures at Oxford University
by Nobel poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Hason Raja is also known as Dewan Hasan
Raja. A beautiful museum namely, Museum
of Rajas' has been established in his anchestral
home at Raja - Kunjo, Sylhet, Bangladesh;
where historical exhibits of Hason Raja,
Eklimur Raja, Talibur Raja, (grandson) and
other respected Rajas' are displayed. The
sponsors of this spectacular Museum is 'Educationist
Dewan Talibur Raja Trust'.
Songs
These are some of the famous songs written
by Hason Raja:
Baula Ke Banailo re (Who made the Baul Singer)
Loke Bole Bole Re (People Say)
Matiro Pinjiri (Cage made of Clay)
Nisha Lagilo (Addiction Started)
Sona Bondhe (Dear Beloved)
Translation of Loke Bole Bole Re
People say, they say I have no house built.
What house will I build,
a palace in the sky?
I'll build a proper house,
But how long will I stay for?
I look in the mirror,
I see gray hair that I have.
Thinking of this,
Hason Raja hasn't built a house.
Where will Allah take and keep him,
For that reason he cries.
If Hason Raja knew,
how long he would live for,
then he would have built his house and rooms
in many colours.
People say, they say I have no house built.
What house will I build,
A palace in the sky?
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/
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