29 Facts About Rajanikanta Sen

Rajanikanta Sen, known as Kantakobi, was a Bengali poet and composer, known for his devotional compositions, as well as his patriotic songs.

Rajanikanta Sen was the third child of Guruprasad Sen and Manomohini Debi.

Guruprasad, father of Rajanikanta Sen, passed LLB from Dacca university and became a sub-judge.

Rajanikanta Sen served as sub-judge in many parts of Bengal, such as Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bhagalpur, Munger, Kalna, and Katwa, and finally came to Krishnanagar and retired.

Rajanikanta Sen started his schooling at Boalia Zilla School.

Rajanikanta Sen learned Sanskrit from Rajnath Tarkaratna, a neighbour in his village Bhangakuthi during school vacations.

Rajanikanta Sen got Gopal Chandra Lahiri as his academic mentor.

Rajanikanta Sen completed BA degree in 1889 and BL degree in 1891 from Kolkata City College.

Rajanikanta Sen worked as a Munsif for some days in Natore and Naogaon.

Rajanikanta Sen's father Guruprasad was inclined to poetry and music, and was a composer of Vaishnab and Shiva-Durga songs.

Rajanikanta Sen got interested in music from Tarakeshwar Chakrabarty, his friend in Bhangabari.

Rajanikanta Sen was fluent in writing poems in Bengali and Sanskrit from childhood.

Rajanikanta Sen started composing music for his poems and singing those along with playing musical instruments later.

Rajanikanta Sen's poems were published in various local magazines such as Utsaha, Ashalata etc.

Rajanikanta Sen used to compose songs for inaugural and closing ceremonies for various assemblies in his college days even in very short notice.

One such song is stated below, which Rajanikanta Sen composed within a very short period of one hour for such an assembly in Rajshahi library:.

Rajanikanta Sen had to study and practice law to support the family.

Rajanikanta Sen married Hiranmayee Devi in 1883, who used to discuss with and encouraged Rajanikanta regarding his poetry and sometimes suggested themes for the poems.

Three books written by Rajanikanta Sen were published in his life time; they were Bani, Kalyani and Amrita.

Rajanikanta Sen started composing satirical songs being influenced by poet Dwijendralal Ray, who was befreiended with him during Ray's visit to Rajshahi.

Rajanikanta Sen's songs were set to Hindustani classical style, mixing Kirtan, Baul and Tappa.

Rajanikanta Sen became well known as Kantakabi and his songs are often called Kantageeti.

Rajanikanta Sen consulted various doctors in Calcutta but his condition did not improve.

Rajanikanta Sen had to sell off copyrights of his published books Vani and Kalyani to arrange for the trip.

Rajanikanta Sen had to return to Calcutta as his condition had worsened much.

Rajanikanta Sen underwent Tracheotomy operation by Captain Denham White on 10 February 1910 in Calcutta Medical College.

Rajanikanta Sen survived the operation but lost his voice forever.

Rajanikanta Sen used to write in his diary quite regularly during his stay in the hospital.

Rajanikanta Sen started writing an autobiography which was written only up to the first chapter.