Bhupen Hazarika's 87th birthday
By: Team Ifairer | Posted: 08-09-2014
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GUWAHATI: From Dhubri to Sadiya, the state celebrated Bhupen Hazarika's 87th birth anniversary on Sunday with a host of musical soirees and tributes to the Bard of Assam organized by ardent fans, Hazarika's family members and various organizations involved in the preservation of his legacy.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said from next year, the state will observe Hazarika's birth anniversary as 'Sangathi & Sampriti Divas' in view of the music doyen's contribution and work towards human integration and unity.
People flocked to his memorial site in Gauhati University to pay floral tributes.Some of them even inscribed some lines from his immortal song, 'Manuhe Manohor Babe', on a rock beside the flame burning at the cremation site.
In Lakhimpur, a three-day commemorative event concluded on Sunday with Usha Mangeshkar, the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, taking part. The event was organized by the Bhupen Hazarika Smriti Rakhya Samiti in association with the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust. 'Bhupenda was like a family member and a brother to me. He was supposed to get the Bharat Ratna and I do hope that one day it is conferred on him,' said Mangeshkar.
Manisha Hazarika, Hazarika's sister-in-law, also participated in the programme. 'We miss Bhupenda immensely. The three-day event is a celebration of his contribution and his legacy. The day was observed as Integration Day. The void that he has left will never be filled and there will be no one who can take his place,' said Manisha.
Aasu observed the day with a cultural event at Dighalipukhuri where singers and musicians sang Bhupenda's songs. A statue of the doyen stands tall here and people paid their tributes by lighting earthen lamps. The emphasis was on unity among ethnic communities, especially because Assam is currently witnessing demands for division of the state on ethnic lines.
'Unity is the need of the hour and Bhupenda always spread the message of peace and unity. So, we chose to focus on unity on his birthday,' said Bedanta Sarmah of the Bhupen Hazarika Culture and Literary Forum.