Guwahati: Assam government on Wednesday reiterated its long standing demand before the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna to the legendary singer Dr Bhupen Hazarika for his timeless contribution towards the field of culture and human bonding on the occasion of his third death anniversary even as people all over the state paid rich tributes to the colossal musician.
Paying tributes to Dr Hazarika at his cremation ground at Jalukbari in the city, Assam chief minister
Tarun Gogoi said state government had already sent a reminder to the Central government for conferring Bharat Ratna to the cultural icon of the region.
Admitting to delay in starting construction of Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Ground at Jalukbari in Guwahati, the chief minister called upon the people of Assam too chip in generously to build a state-
of-the- art memorial ground after Dr Hazarika.“Bhupen Hazarika is a property and pride on people of Assam. The people can contribute at least 20 per cent of the fund required for construction of Bhupen Hazarika ‘samadhisthal’,” Gogoi said.
Earlier, Assam government had announced that it would construct the memorial ground and would allocate Rs 10 crore for the purpose.
Gogoi’s attempt to seek public contribution for the purpose evoked sharp reaction from the Opposition BJP which termed Gogoi’s comment unfortunate and critcised the state government’s failure to build the memorial ground during the last three years.
Asam Sahitya Sabha on Wednesday named noted filmmaker Adur Gopalakrishnan for conferring Dr Bhupen Hazarika International Integrity award for the year 2015.The rural development department in Assam government on Wednesday launched the project to build Bhupen Hazarika memorial open stage and park at 219 development blocks in the state.
The construction will be carried out under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Gogoi laid the ceremonial foundation of here project here on Wednesday.
The AASU’s adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya called upon the government to immediately start construction of Bhupen Hazarika memorial site at Jakukbari in Guwahati so that it is completed by the
next death anniversary of the legend.
The AASU in coordination with many other socio-cultural organizations today organised cultural functions to pay rich tributes to the Bard of Brahmaputra, Dr Hazarika
