Assam kicks off year-long birth centenary celebrations of Bhupen Hazarika with grand tribute

As 50,000 people across Assam recite his iconic poem in unison, the centenary celebrations of Bhupen Hazarika begin with a documentary premiere, musical events, and high-profile participation—including PM Modi set to attend.

Guwahati/ Tezpur: The year-long birth centenary celebrations of legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika will commence on Monday, with the Assam government and various other organisations set to pay tributes to the maestro.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the celebrations on September 13, on the first day of his two-day visit to Assam.

Hazarika's only son Tez Hazarika, along with the latter's wife and son, have arrived here from the US to attend the centenary celebrations.

A 65-minute-long documentary, 'Bhupen da Uncut', directed by Bobbeeta Sharma, was released here on Sunday.

The documentary is a candid first-person account of Hazarika while he was on a visit to England in 1999 to participate in a cultural programme organised by the Assam Medical College Doctors Alumni Group.

"In the documentary, Bhupen da, as he is fondly referred to by all, spoke at length about his childhood -- the influence and interaction with cultural stalwarts like Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, the pioneer of Assamese cinema," Sharma said.

He also talks about his pursuit of higher studies in New York, how he met his wife, Priyamvada Patel, the dynamics of their relationship, as well as his philosophy of life and ideology. His son Tez Hazarika, brother Samar Hazarika and other family members were also present on the occasion.

Nearly 50,000 people gathered in different parts of the state at 11.31 am to recite the poem, ‘Mrityu Jinar Gaan, Eta Gaan Ses Hol’, in an initiative by Asom Abriti aru Sanskriti Parishad. The poem was composed by noted academician Amarjyoti Choudhury in memory of Hazarika.

In Tezpur, a place where Hazarika had spent much time, over 300 people came together to recite the poem in unison, along with a similar endeavour in 32 districts of the state.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, said Hazarika remains an inspiration for all.

“Just 1 day to go for the beginning of the birth centenary celebrations of our beloved Bhupen Da. His life and times are an example in itself. His love for Assam and Bharat is one to take inspiration from by all,” Sarma said.

He said that from bestowing the Bharat Ratna on Hazarika posthumously by the BJP-led government to renaming the Dibrugarh Airport after him and issuing a commemorative coin, the legendary singer-music composer is being honoured like never before.

Sarma also shared a video clip of Samar Hazarika, the younger brother of Bhupen Hazarika.

Samar Hazarika appreciated the initiative of the state government to celebrate his brother’s birth centenary on such a grand scale and maintained that it is for the first time that an Assamese artiste is being honoured on such a scale across the nation.

He also thanked other non-governmental organisations and institutions, which have also lined up different events to mark the year-long celebrations.

On Monday, the inaugural ceremony of the centenary celebrations will be held at the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Tirtha in Guwahati, the place where he was cremated in November 2011.

Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora and other ministers and senior officials will be present on the occasion, a government official said.

The Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust, founded by him during his lifetime, will also organise events at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra on Monday.

The programmes include musical events and lighting lamps in front of the museum dedicated to the maestro on the premises.

The Nagaon district administration organised a musical programme titled 'Shatabarshar Sandhya' at Hazarika's former home, which was recently purchased by the state government, at Kuthori near Kaziranga National Park.

The musical doyen had composed several of his evergreen Assamese songs in this house, Nagaon District Commissioner Devashis Sarma said. Sarma said the house will soon be turned into a cultural complex and a museum displaying several possessions of the legend will be established.

The Nagaon district administration will organise a musical programme on September 10 to create a record where 15,000 students of universities, colleges and schools of the district will sing his evergreen song 'Manuhe Manuher babe' (If humans do not care for humans) at the Nurul Amin Stadium.

Officials of 'India Book of Records' (IBR) will be present on that day to record the event, the DC said.

The immortal works of the Bharat Ratna awardee were also presented before a global audience at the ongoing World Expo in Japan, an official statement had said earlier.

To commemorate the birth centenary of the legendary artiste, a special event was organised at the multi-purpose hall in the India Pavilion last week.

Cultural artistes from Assam highlighted the depth of his songs, the distinctive style of his compositions, and his artistic vision, reflecting the state's natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and universal humanism.

A cultural troupe also presented dance interpretations of some of his most iconic songs, including 'Mahabahu Brahmaputra', 'Moi Eti Zazabor' and 'Manuhe Manuhor Babe'.

Hazarika, popularly called 'Sudhakanta', was born at Sadiya in Tinsukia district on September 8, 1926.

The Kamrup Metro District Transport organised a programme on Sunday in collaboration with the Guwahati Auto Rickshaw Coordination Committee on the theme of Hazarika's popular song 'Ami dui bhai Autorickshaw cholau' (We two brothers drive an auto), highlighting the theme of dignity of labour.