Nation mourns the death of ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’
Mumbai/Guwahati: A golden voice of Indian music fell silent on Saturday when legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika died of multiple organ failure at a Mumbai hospital, plunging millions of fans across the country, especially those in eastern India, into gloom. He was 85.
Hazarika, who was on the ventilator for four months and had been in and out of hospital, passed away at 4.37 pm at Kokilaben Hospital in India’s entertainment capital. His long time companion, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, his nephews and some well wishers from his home state of Assam were at his side when he died.
“I feel as if I lost my soul. It’s a loss for the entire country. I don’t have words,” Sudakshina Sharma, younger sister of Hazarika, said. She is also a singer and stays in Guwahati.
“Not only it is a personal loss, but his demise is surely the end of an era. He would however continue to live forever by way of his compositions,” said the maestro’s younger brother and singer Samar Hazarika.
The singer’s close friend and director Kalpana Lajmi said: “His spirit was great, but what to do, his body gave way. It is a very difficult time for all of us. The doctors did a wonderful job.”
“His loss is a great loss for the country. His music was universal,” said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
The singer’s body will be kept at the Mumbai hospital till Sunday before being flown to Guwahati for the last rites, a hospital official said quoting Hazarika’s family.
His body will be flown to Guwahati on Monday and kept at Judges’ Field for two days for the public to pay homage, Gogoi said.
The Assam government has taken the responsibility to fly the body from Mumbai to Guwahati and organise the last rites, expected to take place in Guwahati on Wednesday or Thursday.
Known for his haunting, resounding melodies like Dil hoom hoom kare and Ganga behti ho kyon, Hazarika was a Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner. His lyrics and voice lent a special flavour to several Bollywood songs and put the spotlight on music from Assam.
His death cast a pall of gloom over his millions of fans. Many in Assam were grief stricken as news of his death spread.
President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Vice President Hamid Ansari joined countless admirers in condoling Hazarika’s death, saying the passing away of one of the most gifted artist had left a void which will never be filled.
“A creative genius whose deep baritone voice was instantly recognised by poetry and music lovers across the nation. His use of folk music with a touch of contemporary made his composition unique in its own way,” Patil said.
Dr Singh in his condolence message said, “It is with great sorrow that I learnt of the passing away of Dr Bhupen Hazarika… On this sad occasion, I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and countless admirers of Dr Hazarika.
“In Hazarika’s sad demise, India has lost one of its most gifted artists”, he said. Paying tributes to Hazarika, Singh said his “extraordinary talent” encompassed not only music and literature but also cinema acting and direction. (Agencies)