Hasan Raja (1854-1922) mystic poet and folk singer, whose full name was Dewan Hasan Raja Chowdhury, was born on 7 Paus 1261 (December 1854) in a zamindar family in the village of Lakshmansree in Sunamganj district. His father, Dewan Ali Raza Chowdhury, traced his ancestry to Ayodhya. Originally Hindus, they converted to Islam and moved permanently to Sunamganj.
Hasan Raja did not have any formal education. His father died when he was only 15, and the young lad had to assume the responsibility of managing the zamindari.
Hasan Raja did not have any formal education. His father died when he was only 15, and the young lad had to assume the responsibility of managing the zamindari.
He developed a taste for the good things of life, but, when he was older, he renounced the world. He founded Hasan M E School and set up a number of religious organisations and Akhdas. He also used to bear the expenses of many needy students of the school.
Hasan Raja composed about a thousand mystic songs in regional dialects and simple but engaging tunes. Local bauls and fakirs performed his songs which made him nationally famous. Like the songs of Lalon Shah, Hasan Raja's songs rise above communalism and are true for both Hindus and Muslims. In his songs, Hasan Raja calls himself 'pagla Hasan Raja' 'udasi', 'dewana', 'baula', etc, meaning mad or lost in his love for God. Hasan Raja's songs are collected in a number of books such as Hachhan Udas, Shaukhin Bahar, Hachhan Bahar, etc. He died on 7 December 1922.
