Saturday, April 26, 2025

Attuned to the Bard

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 Aadrita Chakravorty on a musical tribute to Bhupen Hazarika

 On November 5 three years ago, the world lost a musical genius. The nation mourned the death of this great legend, Bhupen Hazarika. No one can forget that historic moment when millions of people from all over the world arrived in Guwahati to get the final glimpse of their beloved ‘Bhupenda’. And that day, the people of Assam decided that they would not mourn his death by shedding tears but would try to keep the bard alive through his work.

     We can still feel his presence everywhere. From an eight-year-old child to an octogenarian, everyone has succeeded in keeping him and his creations alive. Every year his death anniversary is celebrated to pay tributes to his artistic genius all over the world. Shillong too is not lagging behind. This year on the occasion of his third death anniversary, the members of the historic Assam Club organised a musical evening to pay homage to the legend at the club premises in Laban. People cutting across ethnic and cultural divides assembled for the purpose.

     The evening began with the lighting of the lamp by chief guest Sanbor Shullai. A bust of the bard, sculpted by Assam’s Biren Singha for Rs 80,000, was unveiled on the occasion.

     Rafael Warjri, Sumer Sing Sawian and Lou Majaw were the guests of honour. The cultural show began with a chorus by the male members of the club. This was followed by a dance performance and a few more chorus performances by the children and the ladies, a recitation and two solo performances. The evening was a blend of various different art forms which was the most befitting way of remembering this maestro. The chief guests shared their thoughts on the balladeer and the memories related to him. Shullai donated Rs 30,000 for the welfare of Assam Club, impressed by the efforts of the members to keep the club and Assamese culture alive and to encourage the club to come up with many such beautiful programmes in the future.

     The show-stealing performance, however, came from the guests of honour. Sawian played “Manuhe Manuhor Babe”, one of Bhupenda’s most famous compositions, on the piano. He mentioned about his close connection with Assam, Cotton College (Guwahati) and Bhupenda’s family. Another enchanting performance was by Majaw who sang Paul Robson’s famous number “We are in the same boat brother”. He used no other instrument except the guitar. His voice was enough to grab the attention of the audience. His song made everyone clap to the rhythm of the song. The two guests proved that an artist does not belong to any community but to his art and artists all over are in “the same boat”. The evening touched the heart of all so much so that towards the end of the programme someone from the audience too went up on the stage and sang a few beautiful numbers of Bhupenda.

     I would end by saying that Assam Club did a really good job by organising this programme as this would not only keep Bhupenda alive but would encourage the kids and the youth to take part in such events and contribute towards their community and pass on the cultural heritage. Looking forward to more such different and innovative events from them in the future.

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