From Our Correspondent
Guwahati:A year has passed since the legendary cultural icon Dr Bhupen Hazarika breathed his last on November 5, 2011 and Assam was bereaved of its most illustrious son in the recent times.
On his first death anniversary on Monday, a sense of melancholy grips his fans and common people in Assam who have paid rich tributes to the legendary singer that popularize this tiny state ticked away in the North East corner of the country in the global stage through his music that carries the message of universal brotherhood, eternal love, and vouches for a society sans discrimination.
Various government and non-government organisations in Assam have organised the death anniversary in various corners of the State in different styles to pay tribute to the colossal musician whose timeless music continues to be hummed far and wide even after his death.
The Cultural Affairs Department of Assam Government in collaboration with K K Handique Open University and Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has organised a lecture in the memory of Dr Hazarika besides a mega cultural programme to pay tribute to him.
This is just one of the numerous such functions organised all over the State today to mark the death anniversary of Dr Hazarika.
“It is an occasion for soul searching. His colossal presence as musician was soul stirring for all of us. Now in his worldly absence, we need to do some soul searching in his music that vouches for world brotherhood, national integration…” – says editorial in an Assam government’s periodical, “Assam Information’, that has run a special issue on Dr Hazarika.
“Bhupen Hazarika’s songs, if not, other creations, are too deeply ingrained in the collective psyche of the Assamese society to be so easily forgotten for at least the next 100 years,” says noted film critic Utpal Borpujari.
All-religion prayers, cultural shows and processions were organised across the state to pay tributes to Hazarika, often called the “bard of Brahmaputra”.
His songs were played in buses, ferries and homes as a mark of respect to the legend. A multi-faceted genius, Hazarika was a poet, music composer, singer, actor, journalist, author and film-maker. He pioneered Assam’s film industry and has been hailed as the uncrowned king of the northeast’s cultural world.
His family organised a day-long event at their residence in Nizarapar area of the city. The All Assam Students’ Union held an all-religion prayer meet at the maestro’s memorial at Jalukbari here. The student’s organisation lit 10,000 earthen lamps at the peace park at Dighali Pukhuri in memory of Hazarika.
Several social organisations and fans held a programme at Latasil playground in the city, formed a human chain and pledged to abide by his ideals by singing his songs.
The Assam government, which had earlier announced it would institute an international level music award in the Hazarika’s name, organised the first Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Lecture at the Rabindra Bhavan in the city.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Hazarika’s music would “continue to reverberate throughout the length and breadth of the state so long the mighty Brahmaputra flows”.
“His songs as well as his life would continue to inspire the people, especially the youths for generations to come through the rich musical legacy bequeathed by him,” Gogoi added.
The chief minister also hoped that the present generation inspired by his ideals would continue to work for the betterment of the society.
Meanwhile, the Information Technology department of Gauhati University where Dr Hazarika once used to teach, released a digital archive of Dr Hazarika’s song with a view to popularizing those further among the global audience.
“None but Bhupen da, who inspired generations to transcend political, cultural and linguistic boundaries and foster universal brotherhood and justice, can sing and at the same time feel, “Ganga aamar maa, padma amar maa”, says Syeda Hashnahana and diehard fan of the iconic musician and an officer in Assam’s IPR department. (With inputs from IANS)