By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Six cultural organizations paid tributes to Dr Bhupen Hazarika, who passed away in Mumbai on November 5, in the premises of Rilbong Sports and Cultural Club on Monday evening. Nikhil Bongo Sahitya Sammellan, Gandhar, Bourani, Bandhav Gosti, Nritya Malanchya and Rilbong Sports and Cultural Club are the six literary and cultural organizations that showered their love and respect to the balladeer.
Former principal, Government Girls’ HS School, Jail Road Uma Purkayastha said that an artist does not have any religion or race and it would be improper to confine Bhupenda to one as he was renowned all over the country and the world. “Bhupenda’s lyrics were deeply meaningful and were one of the greatest ambassadors of communal harmony and love for humankind,” she said.
“There is not one word that defines the balladeer and all our thoughts are with him,” said Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times adding we all are beneficiaries of his songs. She also said that the balladeer always carried a smile when he sang and he could sing at any given situation.
Local legislator and President, Rilbong Sports and Cultural Club Manas Chaudhuri spoke about the music of the balladeer that has impacted everyone’s life and also spoke about Bhupenda’s concern for humanity, his love for one and all. “A balladeer is a story teller and a poet who sings his lyrics,” said Mr Chaudhuri.
Former Assamese actress Gyanada Kakati, a resident of Shillong, said, “Today Bhupenda is no more and it pains my heart. He stayed in my house whenever he came to Shillong. I came to know through him great artists like Hemanta Mukherjee, Bishnu Rabha and others.”
Ex-MP, Rajya Sabha (Shillong) Dr BB Dutta, spoke about the balladeer’s achievements in culture and music saying that Dr Hazarika was considered the last of the great mass singers and the only great ballad singer of India. Dr Dutta said Dr Hazarika gave music and direction to Bengali cinema besides being a filmmaker who made “Ek Pal” in 1986 when the balladeer met Kalpana Lajmi for the first time and later produced and composed music for the award winning film Rudaali. Gandhar and Bandhav Gosti. Two city- based cultural organizations, presented songs on the occasion while another cultural organization,Nritya Malanchya presented a dance.
