Chandigarh, November 5
Those who had known Bhupen Hazarika would find it difficult to confine him to one slot in their memory. As a singer, composer, lyricist, film director, academic, actor, writer and as chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi (1998-2003), he played many roles to enrich the cultural stream of Assam, and of the rest of the country.

Born in a small town Sadiya in 1926 in interior Assam, he recorded his first playback song at the age of 12 for an Assamese film ‘Biswa Bijoy No Jowan’. And by the time he reached his forties, his name came to be classified as Bhupen Sangeet in Assam, Bihar and Bengal, just as Rabindra Sangeet is known in Bengal.

From Assam, his journey to Bollywood opened regional boundary lines of his art for the benefit of music lovers of the entire country.

Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika being greeted by renowned painter MF Hussain on his 75th birthday in Mumbai in July 200. PTI file photos

Who can ever forget the haunting notes of “Dil Hum Hum Kare” from “Rudaali”, which has the power to envelope the soul in the loneliness of desert? Or, the resonance of a bamboo reed in his voice when he sang the famous “Ganga” song!

“In Assam, they treated him next only to Mahaprabhu Shankar Dev. The respect and love he received from the people there was unparalleled. As chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi, his biggest contribution was to get Sattriya dance, music and theatre of Assam get recognised as classical art form of Assam,” says Jayant Kastuar, secretary, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi. Kastuar, who was appointed secretary of the Akademi by Hazarika, says he was a leader of the masses from the interiors of Assam to Columbia University, from where he did his PhD in mass communication.

His artistic journey through Assamese films to Mumbai made him feel the pulse of the people across regions. And then, there was his music - soothing, haunting and enveloping in a warm hug.

He wrote hundreds of songs with the flavour of the earth and his voice had them waft into the skies.

GS Channi, who received Sangeet Natak Akademi award for his contribution to theatre in Punjab during Hazarika’s tenure, recalls his unique ability to decentralise the Akademi.

“Before him, the working of the Akademi was limited to Delhi, and it was largely headed either by bureaucrats or by favourites of politicians. He was the first artiste to head the Akademi and he opened it to regional centres. He started having meetings in Chennai or Guwahati. He recognised artistes and art forms from the North-east and from other regions of India. Thus, he expanded the role of the Akademi,” says the thespian.

“His voice touched the listener. One could actually feel what he rendered - His deep, vibrant voice was so profound that it entered the deepest recesses of one’s heart,” says Kamal Tewari, chairperson of Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi.

For him, the loss is personal. “That is not only because he was a great artist. Our association dates back to several years. To find a figure with such multi-faceted talent to head the cultural academy of the country is now almost impossible. His diverse talent gave him deep understanding of many genres of art and he respected and recognised them all,” says Tewari, who also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award when Hazarika was heading the Akademi.

For his multi-dimensional contribution to the field of music, art and cinema, he was conferred with several awards. His Assamese films were conferred with Best Regional Film Award many times.

He received the Padma Bhushan in 2001, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1992, Asom Ratna and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2009. He was elected as Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi. The reach of his music was not confined to Assam alone.

He was the first Indian music director to be honoured with the best music award on an international platform for the film ‘Rudaali’, at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival, Japan, in 1993. For his notable contribution to literature, he was made the president of the Asom Sahitya Sabha. His songs have immortalised him. 

Guwahati, November 5
Bhupen Hazarika is no more - the sad news stopped life here this evening as people rushed home to get to know from media about the last hours of their beloved Bhupen Da (elder brother), whose departure has left a big void.

The legendary artiste, who was a poet, philosopher, litterateur, lyricist, singer, musician, film director and actor all moulded into one, dominated the cultural and socio-political landscape of the region for decades. He was decorated with Dadasaheb Phalke Award and was chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

As the news of his death spread, his fans flocked to his statue on the banks of Dighalipukhuri in the city to pay floral tributes. Hundreds of lamps were lighted to illuminate the place while a pall of gloom descended on his residence at Nizarapar in the city. His mortal remains will be flown to the city on Monday and will be kept at Judges Field for two days.

Noted filmmaker Jahnu Barua has said, “With the death of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, we have lost the Dronacharya of Indian music.”

“He was a true leader of people. I have seen no other person who is popular among all the sections of people through all age-groups, castes, creeds and tribes. His loss cannot be compensated. It is a loss not only to Assam, but also to the world as he was a champion of world brotherhood,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

Born on September 8, 1926 in Sadiya in Eastern-most Assam to the family of teacher Nilakanta Hazarika, ‘the Bard of the Brahmaputra’ carved a niche for himself in the global cultural fora for his philosophy of world brotherhood, that is reflected well in thousands of his popular songs that are hummed in the region by people from all ages, castes, creeds and tribes.

Most of his colleagues in the cultural arena were speechless in reacting to the death of the legendary artiste.