From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: The mad rush of lakhs of people coming to pay their last respect to cultural icon Dr Bhupen Hazarika compelled Assam government in consultation with the family members of the legendary singer to defer the cremation till early Wednesday morning instead of Tuesday afternoon.
Lakhs of people from all over the region are making a continuous line at the historic Judges’ Field here since Tuesday night to have one last glimpse of their beloved maestro whose body has been kept inside a specially designed glass coffin for the people to pay their tributes.
Meanwhile, Dr Hazarika’s son Tez Hazarika arrived from New York to perform the last rites of his illustrious father who died on November 5 afternoon in Mumbai at the age of 86.
Seeing the ocean of humanity lining up to pay respect to his illustrious father, the son said,” I am deeply moved. I have no word to describe how I am feeling seeing all these people expressing their deep respect to my father. I am very proud of my father. I am also very proud of Assamese people and I strive to discover more about them. Thank you very much for showing such respect to my father.” He will be here for the next 14 days or so to be with the family of his father at this time of grief and also to carry out the duty of a son in performing religious rituals.
The last rites will be performed at the campus of Gauhati University ,where Dr Hazarika taught political science for a brief period during 1940s.
The government has shift the venue of cremation from the Bank of Brahmaputra River to Gauhati University campus under public pressure especially after the varsity authority announced to provide 62 acres of land within its campus for setting up of a study centre and archive of creation of Dr Hazarika.