Lalon

Lalon (Bengali: লালন, pronounced [ˈlalon] ; 1774 – 17 October 1890), also known as Lalon Shah, Lalon Fakir, Lalon Shai, and Shahji, was a Bengali spiritual leader, philosopher, mystic poet and social reformer. Born in what is now Khulna Division in Bangladesh, Lalon was a disciple of his father Malam Shah and Siraj Shah. He is regarded as an icon of Bengali culture, for inspiring and influencing many poets and social thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Allen Ginsberg. Lalon's philosophy of humanity rejects all distinctions of caste, class, and creed and takes a stand against theological conflicts and racism. It denies all worldly affairs in search of the soul and embodied the socially transformative role of sub-continental Sufism and Bhakti. Lalon founded the institute known as Lalon Akhra in Cheuriya, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Kushtia railway station in southwestern Bangladesh. His disciples dwell mostly in Bangladesh and Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam’s Barak Valley. Every year on the occasion of his death anniversary, thousands of his disciples and followers assemble at Lalon Akhra and pay homage to him through celebration and discussion of his songs and philosophy for three days. In 2004, Lalon was ranked 12 in BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time.