Hason Raja

Dewan Hason Raja Chowdhury was born on December 21, 1854, in Sunamganj into an immensely wealthy aristocratic feudal dynasty holding vast estates across Sylhet and Assam. After living an extravagant youth surrounded by horses, luxury boats, and dancers, a profound spiritual awakening transformed his life.

Giving away much of his wealth to charity, famine relief, and schools, Hason Raja turned to esoteric Sufi contemplation and songwriting. In 1914, he published Hason Udas, containing over 200 mystical songs exploring the impermanence of the physical body (the 'cage of bones') and love for the divine Creator. Rabindranath Tagore famously quoted Hason Raja's philosophy during his 1930 Hibbert Lectures at Oxford University.