The vision for the Hason Raja Centre is:
- To become the beating heart of the community in the Spitalfields and Banglatown area
- A designated space for enriched lifelong learning
- A Care Hub for intergenerational interaction and for vulnerable residents
- A specialist Food Hub through the community kitchen
- Prioritising health and wellbeing of the community
- A dedicated space for arts, crafts and architectural exploration
The vision for the centre has been co-produced in consultation with SHA residents, our volunteers and regular users of the centre.
Who was Hason Raja?
21 December 1854 – 6 December 1922
Hason Raja was a Bengali mystic poet, songwriter, and philosopher who lived in the 19th century. He was born in 1854 in Kusumgram (Sunamganj), a village in what is now Bangladesh. Hason Raja is celebrated for his mystical and philosophical poetry and songs. His work emphasises the idea of universal love and spirituality, transcending religious and social boundaries. His poetry and songs are an integral part of Bengali culture, and they continue to be widely appreciated and sung by people in Bangladesh, West Bengal in India and internationally.
Hason Raja’s life and work have had a profound influence on Bengali literature and culture, and his legacy endures through his poetry and the oral tradition of singing his songs, which are known as ‘Baul songs’. The Bauls are a mystical and philosophical sect in Bengal, and Hason Raja is often considered one of their most prominent figures. His writings and songs continue to inspire people seeking spiritual insight and artistic expression in the region.
Booking the Hason Raja Centre
Check for availability and hire prices for different events.
