Assam on Tuesday marked the 100th birth anniversary of legendary singer, composer and filmmaker Dr Bhupen Hazarika with tributes at his memorial in Guwahati and the beginning of year-long celebrations highlighting his contribution to music, cinema and Indian culture.
People from different walks of life gathered at Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Tirtha, the memorial at the place where the cultural icon was cremated in November 2011. School and college students, office-goers, music lovers, political leaders and public representatives joined the observance and paid tribute to the artiste widely known as the ‘Bard of the Brahmaputra’.
Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi were among those who paid homage at the memorial.
The centenary programme has been planned as a year-long observance of Hazarika’s life, music and cultural contribution. His songs and compositions, deeply influenced by the social life, traditions and cultural landscape of Assam, have remained popular across generations and continue to connect with audiences beyond the state.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also remembered Hazarika in a post on X on his birth anniversary.
“Dr Bhupen Hazarika is more than a name; he is an emotion that lives in the heart and soul of Assam. His timeless music and profound words continue to inspire generations,” Sarma wrote.
The Chief Minister said the nationwide year-long celebrations reaffirmed Hazarika’s enduring legacy and recognised his role in taking Assam’s stories, aspirations and cultural identity to audiences across the country and beyond.
“On his birth anniversary, I pay my humble tributes to the legendary Sudhakantha,” Sarma said.
Hazarika’s artistic work extended beyond Assamese music, with his songs, compositions and films contributing to cultural traditions in several Indian languages. His work also brought themes of humanity, social life and the experiences of ordinary people into the mainstream of Indian cultural expression.