In the verdant wetlands of Bhati—the heartland of Bengali mysticism—the melodies of timeless folk songs have echoed for over a century. Yet, a new documentary by Shakoor Majid reveals a poignant historical erasure: the true architect of these masterpieces, Baul Poet Rashid Uddin, has been stripped of his rightful credit.
The documentary, titled The Sovereign of Bhati: In Search of the Dispossessed Baul Poet Rashid Uddin, premiered on 21 January 2026, at the “View Finder” in Banani, Dhaka. The event, held on the poet’s 137th birth anniversary, served as a powerful indictment of the intellectual theft that has plagued Bengali folk heritage.
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The Mentor to Legends
Born in 1889 in Bahirchapra village, Netrokona, Rashid Uddin was the spiritual and musical cornerstone of the Bhati region. He was not merely a performer but a Murshid (mentor) to the giants of the genre. The documentary traces his lineage, showing that legends such as Shah Abdul Karim, Ukil Munshi, and Jalal Khan were his direct disciples. Despite this, while his students achieved national fame, Rashid Uddin’s name faded into the shadows of history.
Evidence of Intellectual Theft
During his research in November 2025, Shakoor Majid visited the poet’s ancestral home. There, the poet’s descendants presented original, hand-written manuscripts that tell a heartbreaking story. Over the decades, influential individuals and mainstream artists allegedly took Rashid Uddin’s lyrics and melodies, slightly altered them, and claimed them as their own.
The documentary provides compelling evidence that several songs, which are currently synonymous with other artists, actually belong to Rashid Uddin:
“Ei Je Dunya Kishero Lagiya” (The world’s most famous inquiry into mortality)
“Shua Chan Pakhi” (A haunting spiritual metaphor for the soul)
“Ma Go Ma Jhi Go Jhi”
“Dekbe Ki Shunbe Ki Ore O Mon Dhunda”
A Lineage of Discipleship
The following table illustrates the master-disciple relationship that defined the Netrokona-Sunamganj folk tradition:
| Poet/Baul | Relationship to Rashid Uddin | Legacy Standing |
| Rashid Uddin | The Root/Guru | Dispossessed & Forgotten |
| Shah Abdul Karim | Direct Disciple | National Legend (Ekushey Padak) |
| Ukil Munshi | Direct Disciple | Renowned Mystic Poet |
| Jalal Khan | Direct Disciple | Highly Celebrated Composer |
A Call for Historical Justice
The screening drew prominent figures, including Professor AKM Mazharul Islam of Shahjalal University, who called for a government-led initiative to screen the film across the country. Journalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza remarked that the media now bears the responsibility to correct the “historical errors” that have permeated the public consciousness for decades.
Shakoor Majid’s work is more than a film; it is a legal and moral document for intellectual property rights. It challenges the notion that folk music is “authorless” and demands that the credit for the soul-stirring verses that define Bengali identity be returned to the man who actually wrote them in the quietude of Bahirchapra.