Guwahati, Sep 8: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the birth centenary celebrations of eminent singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika will culminate on November 29 in New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to attend the event.
Speaking on the occasion of the singer’s 100th birth anniversary at the Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Tirtha here, the chief minister said that the culmination function will be held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.
“On November 29, his immortal voice and extraordinary journey will resonate at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as we mark the culmination of his birth centenary celebrations,” Sarma said.
He said this will be another opportunity to take Hazarika once again before the entire nation, and appealed to all to extend their support and cooperation towards making this event a great success.
“Bhupenda will always live among us through his timeless creations and we will strive to honour and preserve his legacy for years to come. His music belongs to Assam but his legacy belongs to the entire nation,” Sarma said.
He said that long before social media became the measure of popularity and “going viral” became a pursuit, Hazarika’s melodious voice had already captivated millions across India.
“His name is synonymous with the cultural identity of Assam. His work has not only left a lasting impression on our minds but has shaped how generations of Indians perceive Assam’s songs and culture,” the CM said.
Sarma claimed that for many, their first tryst with Assam has been through Bhupen Hazarika’s songs, which travelled across the banks of Brahmaputra, Ganga and Mississippi alike to reach people worldwide.
“Today, we are not only paying tribute to the Bharat Ratna awardee on his birth centenary but celebrating Assam’s beloved son, our very own Bhupenda. His legacy will continue to inspire us,” he added.
Regarding the maestro’s Kolkata residence and the state government’s efforts to preserve it, Sarma said he was in touch with his West Bengal counterpart and will take necessary steps as a part of the birth centenary celebrations to safeguard a precious piece of his creative legacy.
“Bhupenda had a deep connection with Kolkata during his lifetime. The city played a significant role in his creative life — both in music and film production,” Sarma said.
He spent a significant part of his life at this residence in Tollygunge, creating many timeless works there, but later he sold it and now that building has several owners, Sarma pointed out.
“The Assam government recently made efforts to purchase the particular floor of the residence where he lived as we cannot let that chapter fade away,” he said.
The Assamese Cultural Organisation of Kolkata celebrated Hazarika’s birth centenary at the metropolis on September 6 to keep his connection with the city alive, Sarma added.
The chief minister also virtually laid the foundation stone for the new Rs 35 crore Dr Bhupen Hazarika Museum at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra and appealed to people to contribute memorabilia associated with the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’, as the singer is popularly called, to the museum.
The chief minister, earlier in the day, said that Hazarika is an emotion that lives in the heart and soul of the people of the state.
Hazarika’s timeless music and profound words continue to inspire generations, the chief minister said in a social media post.
“The year-long nationwide celebrations of his life and timeless creations have reaffirmed the enduring legacy of the ‘Bard of the Brahmaputra’, whose voice carried Assam’s spirit, stories and dreams far beyond its shores,” he said.
The year-long birth centenary celebrations began last year with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending a special tribute meeting for the singer.
The prime minister had also released a commemorative coin of Rs 100 brought out by the Reserve Bank of India to honour him, and also a biography of the maestro, titled ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika’, on the occasion.
Hazarika was born on September 8, 1926, at Sadiya in Tinsukia district of Assam. He died on November 5, 2011, in Mumbai. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019.
