A “bard” is one who writes poems and songs. A “mystic” is one who seeks truth and strives to become united with God through prayer and meditation.

The pictures above are of three renowned mystic bards of Bangladesh: Lalon Shah, Hason Raja, and Shah Abdul Karim. They all wrote beautiful poems and songs to express their deep thoughts and feelings about God, life, and love for humankind.

Let us know more about the mystic poet Hason Raja. Read the following text.

Hason Raja was born in 1854, into a wealthy landlord family in Sylhet. He did not receive much formal education as a child. In his youth, he lived a life of luxury. He had everything- money, comfort, and pleasure.

However, at one point in his life, he began to feel that these material possessions were meaningless. He gave away all his properties, and started to think deeply about the creator, life, death, and humankind. He wrote about a thousand songs which reflected his thoughts. In 1906, he published a book called Hason Udash. The book had 206 songs in it. In his songs, he called himself ‘Crazy Hason Raja’, or ‘Pagla Hason Raja’.

Another volume called Hason Raja Samagra (Complete Works of Hason Raja) was also published, which contained 500 poems and songs. Hason Raja’s songs had always been popular in Sylhet, but very soon they spread all over Bangladesh and beyond. As you grow older, try to learn more about this great mystic poet through reading and listening to his songs.

একজন “বার্ড” হলেন যিনি কবিতা ও গান রচনা করেন। একজন “মরমী” বা সুফি হলেন যিনি সত্যের সন্ধান করেন এবং প্রার্থনা ও ধ্যানের মাধ্যমে ঈশ্বরের সাথে একাত্ম হওয়ার চেষ্টা করেন।

উপরের ছবিগুলো বাংলাদেশের তিনজন বিখ্যাত মরমী বার্ডের: লালন শাহ, হাসন রাজা এবং শাহ আবদুল করিম। তারা সবাই ঈশ্বর, জীবন এবং মানবজাতির প্রতি গভীর চিন্তা ও অনুভূতি প্রকাশ করতে সুন্দর কবিতা ও গান লিখেছেন।

আসুন মরমী কবি হাসন রাজা সম্পর্কে আরও জানি। নিচের লেখাটি পড়ুন।

হাসন রাজা ১৮৫৪ সালে সিলেটের এক ধনী জমিদার পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। শৈশবে তিনি তেমন আনুষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষা লাভ করেননি। যৌবনে তিনি বিলাসিতাপূর্ণ জীবনযাপন করতেন। তার কাছে সবকিছুই ছিল—টাকা, সুখ–স্বাচ্ছন্দ্য এবং ভোগবিলাস।

তবে, জীবনের এক পর্যায়ে তিনি অনুভব করেন যে এই বস্তুবাদী সম্পদ অর্থহীন। তিনি সব সম্পদ দান করে দেন এবং স্রষ্টা, জীবন, মৃত্যু ও মানবজাতি সম্পর্কে গভীর চিন্তা করতে শুরু করেন। তিনি তাঁর চিন্তাভাবনা প্রকাশ করে প্রায় এক হাজার গান রচনা করেন। ১৯০৬ সালে তিনি “হাসন উদাস” নামে একটি বই প্রকাশ করেন, যাতে ২০৬টি গান ছিল। তাঁর গানে তিনি নিজেকে ‘পাগলা হাসন রাজা‘ বলে উল্লেখ করতেন।

পরবর্তীতে “হাসন রাজা সমগ্র” নামে আরেকটি বই প্রকাশিত হয়, যাতে ৫০০টি কবিতা ও গান সংকলিত ছিল। হাসন রাজার গান সিলেটে সবসময় জনপ্রিয় ছিল, কিন্তু অচিরেই তা সারা বাংলাদেশ ও এর বাইরেও ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। বড় হওয়ার সাথে সাথে তাঁর গান শুনে ও পড়ে এই মহান মরমী কবি সম্পর্কে আরও জানার চেষ্টা করো।

Here is a Vocabulary Box based on the passage about Hason Raja:

Here are 50 critical multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the passage about Hason Raja and mystic bards:

Section A: About Mystic Bards (Questions 1-10)

1. What is the primary role of a bard?
   a) To fight in battles
   b) To write poems and songs
   c) To rule kingdoms
   d) To trade goods
2. A mystic primarily seeks:
   a) Wealth and power
   b) Ultimate truth and divine union
   c) Political influence
   d) Scientific discoveries
3. Mystics unite with God through:
   a) Wealth accumulation
   b) Prayer and meditation
   c) Political campaigns
   d) Business ventures
4. Which of these is NOT a mystic bard mentioned in the passage?
   a) Lalon Shah
   b) Kazi Nazrul Islam
   c) Hason Raja
   d) Shah Abdul Karim
5. The mystic bards’ writings mainly focused on:
   a) Technology and science
   b) God, life, and human love
   c) Political revolutions
   d) Economic theories

Section B: Hason Raja’s Early Life (Questions 11-20)

11. Hason Raja was born in:
    a) Dhaka
    b) Sylhet
    c) Chittagong
    d) Khulna
12. Hason Raja’s birth year was:
    a) 1754
    b) 1854
    c) 1954
    d) 1654
13. Hason Raja’s family background was:
    a) Poor farmers
    b) Wealthy landlords
    c) Middle-class traders
    d) Royalty
14. Why didn’t Hason Raja receive much formal education?
    a) Schools were unavailable
    b) He focused on worldly pleasures
    c) His family opposed education
    d) He was physically disabled
15. In his youth, Hason Raja lived a life of:
    a) Poverty and hardship
    b) Luxury and comfort
    c) Religious austerity
    d) Political activism

Section C: Spiritual Transformation (Questions 21-30)

21. What realization changed Hason Raja’s life?
    a) Material wealth is eternal
    b) Material possessions are meaningless
    c) Education is unimportant
    d) Politics brings happiness
22. After his awakening, Hason Raja:
    a) Became a king
    b) Gave away his wealth
    c) Started a business
    d) Joined the army
23. Hason Raja’s songs primarily reflected his:
    a) Political views
    b) Spiritual thoughts
    c) Business strategies
    d) Scientific theories
24. How many songs did Hason Raja compose approximately?
    a) 100
    b) 500
    c) 1,000
    d) 2,000
25. Hason Raja’s book “Hason Udash” was published in:
    a) 1806
    b) 1854
    c) 1906
    d) 1954

Section D: Literary Works & Legacy (Questions 31-40)

31. “Hason Udash” contained how many songs?
    a) 100
    b) 206
    c) 500
    d) 1,000
32. Hason Raja called himself:
    a) King Hason
    b) Pagla Hason Raja
    c) Professor Hason
    d) General Hason
33. “Pagla Hason Raja” translates to:
    a) Angry Hason Raja
    b) Crazy Hason Raja
    c) Wise Hason Raja
    d) Rich Hason Raja
34. “Hason Raja Samagra” is:
    a) His autobiography
    b) A book about his family
    c) Complete works collection
    d) A political manifesto
35. How many works are in “Hason Raja Samagra”?
    a) 100
    b) 206
    c) 300
    d) 500

Section E: Influence & Philosophy (Questions 41-50)

41. Hason Raja’s songs were first popular in:
    a) Dhaka
    b) Sylhet
    c) Chittagong
    d) Kolkata
42. Later, his songs spread to:
    a) Only Sylhet
    b) All Bangladesh and beyond
    c) Only neighboring villages
    d) Only royal courts
43. Hason Raja’s philosophy emphasized:
    a) Material accumulation
    b) Spiritual enlightenment over wealth
    c) Political power
    d) Scientific progress
44. What lesson does Hason Raja’s life teach?
    a) Money brings lasting happiness
    b) Spiritual truth matters more than material wealth
    c) Education is unnecessary
    d) Power is everything
45. Hason Raja’s contribution to Bengali culture was:
    a) Inventing new technology
    b) Enriching spiritual folk traditions
    c) Establishing political parties
    d) Building monuments

Answer Key:
1-b, 2-b, 3-b, 4-b, 5-b, 6-b, 7-b, 8-b, 9-b, 10-b,
11-b, 12-b, 13-b, 14-b, 15-b, 16-b, 17-b, 18-c, 19-c, 20-b,
21-b, 22-b, 23-b, 24-c, 25-c, 26-b, 27-b, 28-b, 29-b, 30-b,
31-b, 32-b, 33-b, 34-c, 35-d, 36-b, 37-b, 38-b, 39-b, 40-b,
41-b, 42-b, 43-b, 44-b, 45-b

Here are 50 “wh” questions based on the passage about Hason Raja, followed by a 2-sentence answer summary:

Wh-Questions:

1. Who is considered a “bard”?
2. What does a “mystic” seek?
3. How does a mystic try to unite with God?
4. Who are the three mystic bards mentioned from Bangladesh?
5. What did these mystic bards write about?
6. Where was Hason Raja born?
7. When was Hason Raja born?
8. What kind of family did Hason Raja belong to?
9. Why didn’t Hason Raja receive much formal education?
10. How did Hason Raja live in his youth?
11. What did Hason Raja have in his youth?
12. When did Hason Raja realize material possessions were meaningless?
13. What did Hason Raja do with his wealth?
14. What topics did Hason Raja think deeply about?
15. How many songs did Hason Raja write?
16. What did Hason Raja’s songs reflect?
17. When did Hason Raja publish his book Hason Udash?
18. How many songs were in Hason Udash?
19. What did Hason Raja call himself in his songs?
20. What does “Pagla Hason Raja” mean?
21. What was the name of Hason Raja’s second book?
22. How many poems and songs were in Hason Raja Samagra?
23. Where were Hason Raja’s songs initially popular?
24. Where did Hason Raja’s songs later spread?
25. Why did Hason Raja give up his luxurious life?
26. What changed Hason Raja’s perspective on life?
27. How did Hason Raja express his spiritual thoughts?
28. What language did Hason Raja write his songs in?
29. What themes did Hason Raja’s songs explore?
30. Why is Hason Raja called a mystic bard?
31. What was Hason Raja’s occupation before becoming a mystic poet?
32. How did Hason Raja’s upbringing influence his later life?
33. What realization led Hason Raja to spirituality?
34. How did Hason Raja’s songs impact Bengali culture?
35. What is the significance of Hason Udash?
36. Why is Hason Raja Samagraimportant?
37. How did Hason Raja describe himself in his poetry?
38. What emotions did Hason Raja’s songs convey?
39. Why are Hason Raja’s songs still remembered today?
40. What lesson can we learn from Hason Raja’s life?
41. How did Hason Raja’s wealth affect his early life?
42. What made Hason Raja abandon materialism?
43. What spiritual messages did Hason Raja share?
44. How did Hason Raja contribute to Bengali literature?
45. What was unique about Hason Raja’s poetic style?
46. Why did Hason Raja refer to himself as “crazy”?
47. How did Hason Raja’s songs spread beyond Sylhet?
48. What makes Hason Raja a legendary figure in Bangladesh?
49. How can one learn more about Hason Raja today?
50. Why should people read or listen to Hason Raja’s songs?

Here are the complete two-sentence answers to all 50 questions:

1. A bard is a person who writes poems and songs. They use creative writing to express thoughts and emotions.
2. A mystic seeks ultimate truth and spiritual enlightenment. They strive to become united with God through prayer and deep meditation.
3. A mystic unites with God through constant prayer and meditation. They focus on spiritual practices to achieve divine connection.
4. The three renowned mystic bards of Bangladesh are Lalon Shah, Hason Raja, and Shah Abdul Karim. These spiritual poets composed songs about divine love and truth.
5. These mystic bards wrote about God, the meaning of life, and love for all humankind. Their works expressed deep spiritual thoughts and philosophical ideas.
6. Hason Raja was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh. He came from a wealthy family in the Sunamganj district.
7. Hason Raja was born in 1854. This was during the period of British colonial rule in India.
8. Hason Raja belonged to a very wealthy landlord family. His family owned significant properties and was financially well-off.
9. Hason Raja didn’t receive much formal education because he was focused on worldly pleasures as a youth. His wealthy family prioritized other matters over his schooling.
10. In his youth, Hason Raja lived a life of luxury and comfort. He enjoyed all the material pleasures his wealth could provide.
11. In his youth, Hason Raja had money, comfort, and all worldly pleasures. He lacked nothing in terms of material possessions.
12. Hason Raja began feeling material possessions were meaningless after a spiritual awakening. This realization came at a certain point in his adult life.
13. Hason Raja gave away all his properties and wealth. He completely renounced his material possessions.
14. Hason Raja thought deeply about the creator, the meaning of life, death, and humanity. These philosophical and spiritual topics became his main focus.
15. Hason Raja wrote about one thousand spiritual songs. This was his enormous creative output.
16. Hason Raja’s songs reflected his philosophical thoughts and spiritual realizations. They expressed his deep inner experiences.
17. Hason Raja published his book “Hason Udash” in 1906. This was later in his life after his spiritual transformation.
18. The book “Hason Udash” contained 206 spiritual songs. It was his first major published collection.
19. In his songs, Hason Raja called himself ‘Crazy Hason Raja’ or ‘Pagla Hason Raja’. These were his self-given spiritual names.
20. ‘Pagla Hason Raja’ means ‘Mad Hason Raja’ in English. This name symbolized his spiritual ecstasy and divine madness.
21. His second book was called “Hason Raja Samagra”. This was a complete collection of his works.
22. “Hason Raja Samagra” contained 500 poems and songs. It was a comprehensive compilation of his spiritual writings.
23. Hason Raja’s songs were initially popular in the Sylhet region. This was his homeland where he was well-known.
24. Later, Hason Raja’s songs spread all over Bangladesh and beyond. They gained widespread popularity across regions.
25. Hason Raja gave up his luxurious life because he realized material possessions were meaningless. He sought higher spiritual truth instead.
26. A profound spiritual awakening changed Hason Raja’s perspective on life. He saw beyond material wealth to deeper realities.
27. Hason Raja expressed his spiritual thoughts through beautiful poetic songs. Music and poetry were his mediums of expression.
28. Hason Raja wrote his songs in Bengali language. He also used the local Sylheti dialect in some works.
29. Hason Raja’s songs explored themes of spirituality, divine love, and human connection. They contained deep philosophical messages.
30. Hason Raja is called a mystic bard because he combined poetry with spiritual mysticism. His songs expressed divine love and truth.
31. Before becoming a mystic poet, Hason Raja was a wealthy landlord. He managed family properties and enjoyed a luxurious life.
32. Hason Raja’s wealthy upbringing initially kept him focused on material pleasures. Later, this contrast helped inspire his spiritual journey.
33. Hason Raja’s realization that materialism was empty led him to spirituality. He recognized the need for divine connection.
34. Hason Raja’s songs greatly enriched Bengali folk traditions. They significantly influenced the region’s spiritual culture.
35. “Hason Udash” is significant as Hason Raja’s first published work. It established his legacy as a spiritual poet.
36. “Hason Raja Samagra” is important because it contains his complete works. It preserves his full philosophical teachings.
37. Hason Raja described himself as spiritually intoxicated and detached from worldly concerns. He portrayed himself as a divine madman.
38. Hason Raja’s songs conveyed emotions of devotion, spiritual longing, and wisdom. They expressed a deep emotional and philosophical range.
39. Hason Raja’s songs are still remembered for their timeless spiritual messages. They hold enduring cultural significance in Bangladesh.
40. From Hason Raja’s life we learn that materialism doesn’t bring true peace. Real fulfillment comes from spiritual truth.
41. Hason Raja’s early wealth allowed him a lavish lifestyle. Initially, this distracted him from spiritual matters.
42. Hason Raja abandoned materialism after a spiritual awakening revealed higher truths. He recognized eternal spiritual realities over temporary possessions.
43. Hason Raja’s spiritual messages emphasized God’s love and life’s deeper meaning. He taught about human connection to the divine.
44. Hason Raja contributed to Bengali literature through his mystical folk songs. His unique spiritual poetry enriched the tradition.
45. Hason Raja’s poetic style was simple yet profoundly philosophical. He combined folk elements with deep spiritual insights.
46. Hason Raja called himself “crazy” to symbolize his spiritual ecstasy. It represented his divine madness and detachment from worldly concerns.
47. Hason Raja’s songs spread beyond Sylhet through cultural appreciation. They became part of Bangladesh’s folk tradition.
48. Hason Raja is legendary for his spiritual contributions through music. His timeless philosophical songs made him iconic.
49. We can learn more about Hason Raja by reading his books. Listening to recordings of his songs also helps understand him.
50. People should read Hason Raja’s songs for their spiritual wisdom. They offer valuable cultural and philosophical enlightenment.