GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced that Assam government would preserve the erstwhile residence of legendary musician and singer from the state Late (Dr) Bhupen Hazarika at Tollygunge (Kolkata) and a formal decision to that effect has been taken.
“The State government has decided to preserve Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s residence at Tollygunge, Kolkata,” Sonowal said while presenting the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Award to artiste, playwright and folklorist Ratna Ojah here during a Bihu celebration function.
Terming Dr Hazarika as an ideal for the masses to follow, Sonowal said that the diversity of the maestro’s songs was mindboggling and it reflected the Northeast’s kaleidoscopic mosaic besides touching the deeper recesses of the human heart through the emotions as revealed in his timeless numbers.
“Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s creations are an eternal fountainhead of inspiration for the generations to come as those were deeply embedded I the plurality and diversity of the society in Assam and the Northeast and hence will remain the guiding factor in the government’s efforts for facilitating all-encompassing development of the state, “Sonowal said.
Receiving the award Ratna Ojah said “Dr Hazarika has kept alive the Assamese ethos through his immortal creations and it is our duty to strive for strengthening the bond of amity and brotherhood among diverse sections of society – something always propounded by the great artiste. He was ignored for the Bharat Ratna but he would live forever in the hearts of the masses,”