GUWAHATI, Sept 6 � Voluntary organisation Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) has called upon Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to confer Bharat Ratna title on music maestro Dr Bhupen Hazarika in recognition to his contributions to the Indian society.
In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the SGBG said that as Dr Singh is a representative of Assam, he should immediately take necessary steps to confer the highest civilian award of the country on Dr Hazarika, who is now undergoing treatment in a hospital in Mumbai.
The SGBG pointed out that Dr Hazarika, the lone Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner from Assam, has made immense contribution in the fields of music and film and over the years, he made tremendous contribution for the integrity of the nation.
The memorandum said that Dr Hazarika visited the barracks of the Indian soldiers during the Chinese aggression of 1962 to boost the moral of the troops. After his return from the battlefield he played a great role in arousing patriotism among the masses with his songs. He also wrote and sung some of his best songs during the 1965 war with Pakistan and 1971 Bangladesh liberation battle.
With his contribution to the fields of music and literature, Dr Hazarika has become a living legend and he also contributed to the literature of the State as the president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha. The Assam Government has already honoured him with the Assam Ratna award and it is high time the government of India recognizes the contributions of Dr Hazarika by conferring the Bharat Ratna Award on him, the memorandum said.
