From Assam, his voice flowed like a timeless river, crossing borders and cultures, carrying with it the spirit of humanity. Hazarika travelled the world, however he remained deeply related to his roots. Assam’s wealthy oral traditions, people melodies, and group storytelling practices formed his formative years. These experiences fashioned the bedrock of his inventive vocabulary.
At 5, he caught the eye of Lakshminath Bezbaruah, the pioneering determine of Assamese literature. By the point he was a teen, he had recorded his first tune. However music was just one a part of his character. Hazarika was curious, articulate and pushed by an insatiable want to grasp the world. Legends like Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha left a deep impression in him. It was this want to be taught that made him excel at Cotton Faculty, Banaras Hindu College, and took him to the US, the place he met Paul Robeson. Robeson’s 1927 tune ‘Ol’ Man River’ concerning the struggles and hardships of African Individuals and the infinite circulate of the Mississippi River turned the inspiration for Hazarika’s iconic composition, ‘Bistirno Parore,’ his tribute to the mighty Brahmaputra
Hazarika returned to India and immersed himself in music. From radio to theatre, characteristic movies to documentaries, he practised his artwork. Wherever he went, he supported younger expertise. His works mixed lyrical aptitude and social messages. By means of his music, he gave voice to the aspirations of boatmen, tea backyard employees, girls, farmers, and the widespread man. He held up a robust lens to modernity. Lots of people, particularly from the socially backward courses like him, dervived energy and hope from his music.
The spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ discovered highly effective expression in Hazarika’s life journey. His music transcended linguistic and regional boundaries. He composed for movies in Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi and made Assam audible to the remainder of India. It is no exaggeration to say he helped form the cultural identification of recent Assam, each for these inside the state and the Assamese diaspora throughout the globe.
Although not a political individual, Hazarika was related to public service. In 1967, he was elected as an unbiased MLA from Nauboicha constituency, Assam. He was conferred the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Dadasaheb Phalke Award. In 2019, he was conferred the Bharat Ratna.I keep in mind the time Bhupen Da handed away in 2011. Lakhs attended his funeral. Even in dying, he introduced individuals collectively. It was becoming that he was cremated on the Jalukbari hillock overlooking the Brahmaputra, the very river that had been the lifeline of his music, metaphors and recollections. Hazarika’s life teaches us the facility of empathy, of listening to individuals, and of staying rooted. His songs proceed to be sung by younger and previous alike. His music teaches us to be compassionate and brave. It asks us to recollect our rivers, employees, girls and kids.As we have a good time the beginning of his centenary 12 months, allow us to reiterate our dedication to spreading Hazarika’s message far and broad.
It is solely becoming that one in every of India’s most important infratructure initiatives, the bridge connecting Dhola and Sadiya, bears the identify of Bhupen Hazarika – simply as his songs related hearts throughout areas, this bridge connects lands and other people.
(The author is Prime Minister of India)
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