GUWAHATI, Nov 5 � The State rose in unison in remembering its most beloved music icon, Dr Bhupen Hazarika, on his third death anniversary today. The occasion was marked by homage-paying ceremonies and cultural functions all over the State.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while attending the memorial function at the cremation site (Samadhi Kshetra) of Dr Hazarika at Jalukbari, announced that each of the 219 development blocks in the State would have an open-air stage and a park in the memory of the Bard of the Brahmaputra.
�Our Government will set up open-air stages and parks in all the 219 development blocks to perpetuate the hallowed memory of music maestro Dr Bhupen Hazarika,� Gogoi said. He also said that the Government would again take up the matter with the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna posthumously on the legendary singer.
Addressing the gathering, Gogoi said that the minstrel celebrated various facets of humanity in his creations. �Love of humanity is the essence of his creations. He also wove tradition and modernity through a common thread besides celebrating nature in its myriad hues,� he said.
Singing paeans on the contributions of the maestro, Gogoi said that he not only enriched Assamese art and culture, but also propagated it throughout the world through his creations. �We are fortunate enough that he was the son of the soil who made us proud through his matchless creations. It is for the invaluable contributions of the bard in the realm of culture that Assam�s art and culture flourish. Dr Hazarika will remain forever alive as he was an artist of the masses who sang and glorified life in all its facets,� he said.
Gogoi added that Dr Hazarika endeared all with his radiant personality. Whoever came into contact with the legend, he left an indelible imprint on his mind. Such was the power of the many-sided personality that he was,� he said.
Asserting that the Government would do everything to perpetuate his legacy and uphold the lofty ideals of humanism he stood for, the Chief Minister said that he used to take up cudgels against all forms of oppression and subjugation and tried to do away with all the evils plaguing the society.
�He transcended the barriers of caste, creed and religion and wanted to build a society where everyone can live in peaceful co-existence. A lasting tribute to him would be to build a new and prosperous Assam where every community lives in harmony,� he added.
Later, the Chief Minister took part in an all-prayer meet held on the occasion.
At Dighalipukhuri, with 10,000 earthen lamps reflecting on its serene waters and the Bard�s timeless numbers resonating in the background, it was a magical and elevating atmosphere that hung over the evening. The occasion was the All Assam Students� Union (AASU)-organised function that drew crowds in their hordes. Earlier, tributes were paid to Dr Hazarika�s statue in the morning.
The Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Samaj organised the Sudhakantha Divas at the Kalakshetra campus. The proceedings began at 9 am with a homage-paying ceremony at the Bhupen Hazarika Museum, followed by the screening of a documentary based on the maestro�s life. A musical evening was another highlight.
At another function titled �Manuhe Manuhar Babe,� organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle and Universal Village Development Society at the Shraddhanjali Kanan in the city, the Chief Minister announced Rs 50 crore for the welfare of differently-abled children.
