From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: A day after the anti-talk faction of ULFA headed by Paresh Barua threatened noted singer and musician of Assam Zubeen Garg for singing Hindi songs during a cultural programme associated with Rongali Bihu celebrations, a host of musicians and artists of the state have not only stood firmly behind the singer but also condemned the diktat.
Noted filmmaker from Assam now based in Mumbai, Jahnu Barua has commented that music is something that appeals to all irrespective the language and a singer should be given the liberty to sing in the language of his choice Barua, who had made several Hindi films including “Maine Gandhi ko nahin mara” asked the ULFA to learn to respect culture.
“Culture and music have no language barriers. It is by way of cultural exchange that human civilization has emerged. One should also learn to pick up good things from others’ culture,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday not only congratulated the singer Garg for taking a stand against the militants’ diktat but also said the ULFA was on its wane and nobody in the state was bothered about them. “Bhupen Hazarika too sang Hindi songs in bihu functions. But did that harm Assamese culture?” Gogoi asked.
Noted singer Pulak Banerji said what songs an artist chooses to sing is up to him or her.
Another popular singer Manas Robin criticized the ULFA and said the people of Assam have the right to listen to Hindi songs.