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

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.

Lalon Shah (1774-1890) Baul guru, singer and composer of baul songs. According to tradition, he was born into a Kayastha family in the village of Bhandara in Kushtia. As a young boy, Lalon caught smallpox and was abandoned in a critical condition. Siraj Sain, a Muslim fakir, picked up the child and nursed him back to health. Lalon was later inducted as a Baul fakir. He set up an Akhda at Chheuriya, where he lived with his wife and a few disciples.

Lalon Shah

Lalon was a humanist who completely rejected all distinctions of caste and creed. He was also a fine poet and lyricist, whose songs are sung not only by his followers but also by non-Bauls. In 1963, a mausoleum and a research centre were built at the site of his Akhda. Thousands of Bauls come to the Akhda twice a year, Dol-Purnima, in the month of Falgun (February-March) and in October, on the occasion of his death anniversary. During these three-day song melas, Bauls pay rich tributes to their spiritual leader.

Lalon Shah left no written copies of his songs, which were transmitted orally and only later transcribed by his followers. Kangal Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) was his direct disciple. Rabindranath Tagore was also inspired by his songs and published some of them in the monthly Prabasi of Kolkata. Lalon died at Chheuriya, at the age of 116 on 17 October 1890.