By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The sudden and untimely death of music maestro Bhupen Hazarika has come as a shock to many of his fans in Shillong who had fond memories of his soulful voice that would be heard no more.
Hazarika, a Padmabhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee breathed his last at around 4.30 pm in a Mumbai hospital following multiple organ failure.
Soon after the news of his death spread, The Shillong Times spoke to several music aficionados of the State, who remembered the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’ with great affection and reverence.
Lou Majaw, one of the most well-known musician of the State, while commenting on the death of Hazarika said, “Even if he is no more with us, he will continue to remain in our hearts and souls forever.”
“Bhupenda has left many beautiful memories and writings,” Majaw said, while adding that he has been praying for the departed as soon as he received the unexpected news.
Amit Paul, of the Indian Idol fame, termed Hazarika’s death as a great loss for the music industry.
“I was a big fan of Bhupen Hazarika and it is indeed a tough time for us now that he in no more with us” Amit added.
Former Assamese actress Gyanada Kakati, a resident of Shillong, said, “Although I haven’t worked with him but we were very close family friends.” She also said that whenever the singer would visit Shillong, he stayed in her house at Oakland. “He was not only for the Assamese but for all the communities. He would bring together all communities and try to pick their way of music,” she said.
Mrs Kakati had represented India in the 1960 Berlin International Film Festival where her movie Puberun directed by Prabhat Mukherjee was showcased. The film was the first-ever Assamese film to be showcased at any international level.
Noted classical singer Pravin Sultana from Assam said that she and her Ustad, Dilshad Khan Saheb, were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Bhupen Hazarika.
“I have no words on his sudden death. He was a wonderful person besides being a brilliant singer,” she said, while recollecting the days when Bhupen Hazarika used to visit her house and the entire family used to have a great time together.
“He was a great stalwart and with him an era has come to an end,” she added.
Deputy Chief Minister and in charge Arts and Culture, Bindo M Lanong said that he was shattered to hear of the sudden news of Hazarika’s death.
“Bhupen Hazarika was known to all irrespective of states and during the seventies I had spent quality time with him. It’s a great loss for all of us today,” Lanong added.
Born in 1926 in Sadiya into a family of teachers, the academically-talented Hazarika completed his basic education from Guwahati in 1942, BA from Banaras Hindu University in 1944 and MA (Pol Sc) in 1946.
At the age of 12 he sang his first song Biswa nijoy nojowan (in the second Assamese film Indramalati) in 1939. He last lent his voice to the 2011 film Gandhi to Hitler where he sang Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan (devotional song) Vaishnava Jana.