Radha Romon
Encyclopedia
Radha Raman Dutta (1833 - 1915), also spelt as Radharaman Dutta, was an influential Sylheti
folk music
composer and poet from the Sunamganj District
in Sylhet
, Bangladesh
. A prominent Baul
(mystic
minstrel), Romon's body of work has led him to be considered "the father of dhamail songs"; his music is widely performed by modern Bengali musicians.
Radha Madhab Dutta, Romon displayed a musical temperament
from childhood. The early death of his father led Romon to seek the approval of religious mentors throughout his life. Romon's Vaishnavism
(worship of Krishna
) shaped his musical work and led him to a life of asceticism
; he lived for some time in a house that amounted to little more than a seven-square-foot concrete box. Romon was also heavily influenced by the Sufism
that infuses Baul culture. Romon died in 1915.
tradition and was known in particular for his "Geets" and "Dhamail
" songs - compositions to traditional dance forms. He has been cited as the creator of the Dhamail art form. Romon's compositions are performed today in weddings all over Bangladesh. Many popular Bengali songs of today were written originally by Radha Romon and his songs are covered
by modern professional musicians in Bangladesh
and in West Bengal
, India.
Radha Romon most popular song, Bhromor Koio Giya, was copied by Romanian singer Liviu Mititelu for which it is called 'Vorbesc Cu tine Nu Ma Auzi'. This plagiarized version was also a copy of the composition by Armeen Musa's legal version of the original song.
Sylheti language
Sylheti is the language of Sylhet, which is also known as the Surma Valley and is located in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh, and also spoken in parts of the Northeast Indian states of Assam and Tripura...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
composer and poet from the Sunamganj District
Sunamganj District
The district of Sunamganj consists 3562 mosques, 560 temples and 61 churches.-History:The name Sunamganj is derived from its founder, Sipahi Sunamuddin, who established a bazaar on the bank of the river Surma. In the ancient period, Sunamganj was part of the Rarh Kingdom that included Sylhet,...
in Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. A prominent Baul
Baul
Baul .Though Bauls comprise only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable. In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.-Etymology:The origin of the word...
(mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
minstrel), Romon's body of work has led him to be considered "the father of dhamail songs"; his music is widely performed by modern Bengali musicians.
Personal life
Radha Romon was born in 1833 in the village of Keshobpur in Jagannathpur Upazila. The youngest son of poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Radha Madhab Dutta, Romon displayed a musical temperament
Temperament
In psychology, temperament refers to those aspects of an individual's personality, such as introversion or extroversion, that are often regarded as innate rather than learned...
from childhood. The early death of his father led Romon to seek the approval of religious mentors throughout his life. Romon's Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
(worship of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
) shaped his musical work and led him to a life of asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
; he lived for some time in a house that amounted to little more than a seven-square-foot concrete box. Romon was also heavily influenced by the Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
that infuses Baul culture. Romon died in 1915.
Cultural Influence
Radha Romon wrote and composed over 2,000 songs in the BaulBaul
Baul .Though Bauls comprise only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable. In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.-Etymology:The origin of the word...
tradition and was known in particular for his "Geets" and "Dhamail
Dhamail
A form of folk music and dance practiced in areas influenced by the Sylheti culture such as Cachar, Karimganj & Hailakandi Districts of Assam, parts of Tripura in India and in the erstwhile district of Sylhet in Bangladesh....
" songs - compositions to traditional dance forms. He has been cited as the creator of the Dhamail art form. Romon's compositions are performed today in weddings all over Bangladesh. Many popular Bengali songs of today were written originally by Radha Romon and his songs are covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by modern professional musicians in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, India.
Radha Romon most popular song, Bhromor Koio Giya, was copied by Romanian singer Liviu Mititelu for which it is called 'Vorbesc Cu tine Nu Ma Auzi'. This plagiarized version was also a copy of the composition by Armeen Musa's legal version of the original song.
Famous Songs by Radha Romon
- Bhromor Koio Giya
- Kare Dhekabo Moner Dhukko
- Sham Chikon Kalia
- Bologo Bologo Shoki
- Moneh nai Moneh nai
- Jole Jaio na Gho Rai
- Oh Bashi re
- Sham Na Ki Cholila
- Jole Gia Chilam Shoi
- Ami Robo na Robo na Grihe