TEZPUR, Nov 6 � �Music legend Dr Bhupen Hazarika was not the son of Assam, he was the son of Arunachal Pradesh, if he has any motherland, then it must be Arunachal Pradesh. He was born in a NEFA village, breastfed by Arunachali mothers for days together on being away from home. His hard-learned wisdom later made him a link between the isolated North-East and the mainland India, before he became the east-west cultural bridge.� This was said by prominent litterateur from Arunachal Pradesh, Yese Dorje Thongshi at the Balipara Higher Secondary School.
The renowned litterateur of the region, was addressing a mass gathering on the occasion of the open session of first death anniversary of music maestro Dr Bhupen Hazarika centrally organised by the Asam Sahitya Sabha with a two-day-long programme.
Thongshi further said that he was lovingly called Bhupenda� Dr Bhupen Hazarika, one of the greatest cultural icons, the universe gave birth to. He sang the hearts of the masses. He referred to rivers, hills, cruelty, reflected the naked truth of life, the degeneration of human values and greed destroying the humanity.
He said, �He has disappeared into the sun, leaving behind a legacy that would continue to echo across the length and breadth of the nation, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh hills. From the non-descriptive Bolung village in the present Lower Dibang valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, his journey across the globe is unique. Very few know that he had a PhD for his thesis �Proposal for India�s basic education to use audio visual techniques in adult education� from Columbia University in 1952,� he maintained adding that though he was India�s one of the highest decorated personalities with Biswa Ratna by Asam Sahitya Sabha, Mukti Yuddha Padak, the highest civilian award by Bangladesh government conferred posthumously in 2011 and Padma Vibhusan, second highest civilian award in India conferred posthumously in 2012, but politics overshadowed the great humanist for which the nation failed to utilise his great influence on the masses, particularly in winning over the NE insurgents to give up gun-culture and join the national mainstream.
Expressing his annoyance over the irritating attitude towards the worldly figure by a section across the country, the prominent literateur further stated that his immortal song koto jwanor mrityu hol� sung during the Chinese aggression in 1962 depicted how he loved his country. He said that a unique statue would be made in Arunchal Pradesh as a mark of honour to the music legend. The prominent litterateur also released the souvenir of the organising committee �Snehei aamar��
Meanwhile, in the presidential speech Asam Sahitya Sabha president, Rong Bong Terang said Bhupen Hazarika has given us a lot, but in return we have not being able to give him anything. �He was a multifaceted genius, he was poet par excellence, a scholar, music composer, singer actor, journalist, author and a film-maker of the very highest order. He was the, uncrowned king of North-East India�s cultural world. We must keep him in our heart.
The open session presided over by the Sabha president, Rong Bong Terang, was attended by Tokong Partin, ex-state education minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Ripun Bora, Tezpur MP, Josheph Toppa, Sudakhshina Sarma, sister of late Dr Bhupen Hazarika among others. Prior to it Sudakhshina Sarma, unveiling a full size statue constructed at Balipara HS School Campus said that the music legend would remain in the heart of people from across the country as well as the globe.
In the morning, a colourful cultural procession participated by different cultural troupes passed through the greater area reflecting the communal harmony in society. Meanwhile, to commemorate the cultural icon, various programmes were organised at different places including Tezpur Ban theatre and Dhekiajuli Trimurty Bhawan.
