Bhupen Hazarika remembered on 9th death anniversary

Glowing tributes were offered across the state to legendary Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika on his ninth death anniversary on Thursday. Hazarika passed away on November 5, 2011.

Bhupen Hazarika, called with endearment as Bhupen Da was born on September 8, 1926. The self-proclaimed ‘Jajabor’ travelled length and breadth of the world and perceived the universal features of mankind. His evergreen songs on love, humanity and brotherhood continue to reverberate in the hearts of the millions generation after generation across the world.

In 1949, Bhupen Hazarika went to the US to pursue PhD at Columbia University. The worst scenes of racism and slavery saddened the legendary singer which led to the birth of several immortal songs.

In one of his popular lyrics, he sings, “Mississippir parote/ Kopahor khetite/ Nigro John-e binaale/ Koi manuhar baranar kotha” (In the cotton cultivation on the bank of the river Mississippi, Negro John grieves over the problem of racism).

The musical maestro was honoured with the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019. The legendary singer was the receipient of multiple awards and accolades including Sangeet Natak Akdemi Award and Dada Saheb Phalke Award.

On his death anniversary, Ministry of Culture paid tribute to the bard on Twitter.

“Remembering the legendary music maestro, the bard of Brahmaputra, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his death anniversary, whose immortal creations will continue to reverberate in our hearts forever. #BhupenHazarika,” Ministry of Culture wrote.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also paid their rich tribute to the legendary singer his death anniversary.

Quoting the famous lyrics of Dr. Hazarika “Sagar sangamat kotona saturilo,” Sonowal recalled the music maestro.

Himanta Biswa Sarma also recalled Bhupen da with one of his immortal songs—“Mor gaan howk/ Bohu aasthaheenotar biporite/ gabhir aasthar gaan.”

“I remember Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his death anniversary. His famous songs will always continue to inspire us,” Sarma wrote on Twitter.