Guwahati. July 3: Renowned singer Sudakshina Sarma passed away at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here on Monday morning after a prolonged illness. She was in her late eighties at the time of her demise.
According to sources, Sarma, who was admitted to GMCH for some time, was suffering from aspiration pneumonia with sepsis and pressure sores.
Born as Nirupama Hazarika in Guwahati, Sarma was given the name “Sudakshina” by her father-in-law after her marriage to poet and music composer Dileep Sarma.
Sarma, who was the younger sister of legendary singer, Bhupen Hazarika, is known for rendering popular Assamese songs such as Kotha Aru Xur, Jetuka Bolere and Xaratkalor Rati. Besides, she had also rendered songs in several Assamese films.
In the year 2002, she was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, along with her husband Dileep Sarma, for her contributions in the field of music,
In October last year, she had undergone a leg surgery at GMCH after sustaining severe injuries from a fall in her bathroom. According to doctors, her condition remained stable after the surgery. However, she had been unwell for some time and was admitted to the hospital for observation.
Notably, the singer had decided to donate all her organs to a city-based NGO.
In a condolence message, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the demise of the singer, who had enriched music with a number of heart-touching songs, has caused an irreparable loss to the state’s cultural and social spheres.