Remembering Sudhakantha Bhupen Hazarika on his 12th Death Anniversary

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• Nov 5, 2023 | Poonam Nath

Bhupen Hazarika, often known as the Bard of Brahmaputra, was born on September 8, 1926...

Digital Desk: Bhupen Hazarika, widely known as Sudhakantha, one of the country's most beloved musicians, died on November 5th. Hazarika, often known as the Bard of Brahmaputra, was born on September 8, 1926, in the Assam village of Sadiya. 

Today, 5th November, 2023 marks the 12th Death Anniversary, Bhupen Hazarika and his voice both will be remembered by every person.

At the age of 85, the Bharat Ratna recipient died on November 5, 2011, at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai of old age ailments.

Here are some Lesser-Known things about the legend-

• Bhupen Hazarika was born into an artistic family and was the eldest of ten siblings.

• His mother, who presented him with Assamese folk music, taught him to sing.

• With music in his life since childhood, it's no wonder that Hazarika became a musical prodigy and developed his first original piece of art at the age of 13.

• When Hazarika was a teenager, he wrote his first song, which drew the attention of famed Assamese lyricist Jyotiprasad Agarwala and artist Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Hazarika's talent only improved with professional and artistic instruction.

• Hazarika graduated from Banaras Hindu University with a BA in 1944 and an MA in political science in 1946.

• Before pursuing his musical career, he received his doctorate from Columbia University in New York, USA, in 1952.

• In the early 1950s, while studying in New York, Hazarika became acquainted with Paul Robeson, a renowned civil rights activist, whose influence inspired him to compose the famous song 'Bistirno Parore', based on the imagery and theme of Robeson's Ol' Man River, which highlighted the country's rampant racial discrimination. The song became one of Hazarika's defining moments and is now regarded as one of his epic masterpieces, having been translated into several Indian languages.

• Hazarika broadened his artistic horizons by directing award-winning Assamese films such as Shakuntala Sur (1961) and Pratidhwani (1964).

• Hazarika also contributed significantly to Hindi cinema, creating music for films such as Arop, Ek Pal, and Rudaali.

• He received the National Award for Best Music Director for Rudaali in 1993 and served as chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi from 1998 to 2003.

Apart from this, On his death anniversary, the Assamese community in Chennai will conduct a tribute ceremony for late composer, songwriter, and scholar Bhupen Hazarika.

Since the musician died in 2011, the community has held the event every year.

"Bhupen brings us together, and every year we have a small celebration dedicated to his art through music, dance, discussions, quizzes, and more," Gautam Deori, general secretary of the Assam Association, Chennai, states. 

The event will take place at Assam Bhawan in Pallikaranai.