Rajanikanta Sen, also known as Kantakobi, (26 July 1865 – 13 September 1910) was a Bengali poet and composer, known for his devotional (bhakti) compositions, as well as his patriotic songs.

[1] Rajanikanta was born in a Vaidya family in the village of Bhangabari, Sirajganj of Pabna district, presently situated at Bangladesh.

[3] Originally, his ancestors hailed from Sahadevpur village under Tangail Subdivision of Mymensingh District on right side of Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.

In this endeavor he received support from his friends such as historian Akshay Kumar Maitreya,[1] and also from his wife.

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

Guruprasad collected age old Vaishnava lyrics in Brajabuli dialect from Katwa-Kalna area and compiled them into a book titled Padachintamanimala.

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

[6] One such song is stated below, which Rajanikanta composed within a very short period of one hour for such an assembly in Rajshahi library: তব, চরণ নিম্নে, উৎসবময়ী শ্যাম-ধরনী সরসা; উর্দ্ধে চাহ অগণিত-মনি-রঞ্জিত নভো-নীলাঞ্চলা সৌম্য-মধুর-দিব্যাঙ্গনা শান্ত-কুশল-দরশা ৷ After the voluntary retirement of his father the family of Rajanikanta became financially dependent on Guruprasad's elder brother's sons Barada Gobinda and Kali Kumar.

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

The boycott of British goods and using Swadeshi (Indian) items were decided by eminent Bengali leaders.

The song was a major source of inspiration for the participants of the contemporary Swadeshi movement as well as for the Indian freedom fighters in the years to come.

Sen's major contribution towards Bengali literature and music was the immortal devotional songs which were written and composed by him.

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

It is noteworthy to mention that Hemendranath Bakshi and Bijitendra Nath Basu, students of 4th year, took personal initiative to attend and impart all medical assistance to the poet till his last breath.

On 11 June 1910 Rabindranath Tagore visited the hospital to meet Sen. Sen's son Kshitindranath and daughter Shantibala sung a song composed by him and he accompanied by playing harmonium.

This is reflected in the following song composed on the day Rabindranath met him: আমায় সকল রকমে কাঙ্গাল করেছে, গর্ব করিতে চূর, তাই যশ ও অর্থ, মান ও স্বাস্থ্য, সকলি করেছে দূর ৷ ঐ গুলো সব মায়াময় রূপে, ফেলেছিল মোরে অহমিকা-কূপে, তাই সব বাধা সরায়ে দয়াল করেছে দীন আতুর; As gratitude towards Tagore's for visit in the hospital, Rajanikanta wrote a letter and another poem, "এই মুক্ত প্রাণের দৃপ্ত বাসনা তৃপ্ত করিবে কে ", and sent to Bolpur.