GUWAHATI, Sept 8 - Cultural icon Dr Bhupen Hazarika was fondly remembered across Assam on the occasion of his 94th birth anniversary today. Even amid restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people paid their rich tribute to the bard of Brahmaputra, lovingly recalling his matchless contributions in the cultural sphere of Assam.
Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu remembered the legendary singer, lyricist and composer on his birth anniversary. In his Twitter message, Naidu said the music maestro enthralled millions of people through his melodious songs and that his baritone voice and poetic compositions still leave listeners spellbound.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to micro blogging site Twitter to pay his tribute to the music maestro. �As a music maestro and multifaceted personality, Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika enriched the lives of millions with his music compositions strengthening social harmony and universal brotherhood,� Shah stated.
In Guwahati, rich tributes were paid to the music maestro at the Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Kshetra at Jalukbari. Floral tributes were paid and earthen lamps were lit in memory of Dr Hazarika, who left for his heavenly abode on November 5, 2011.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika, lovingly called Sudhakantha, was posthumously conferred the highest civilian honour of the country Bharat Ratna in 2019.
Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi, while remembering the contributions of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, said that his valuable creations transcend geographical boundaries and are loved and admired by not just the people of Assam and India, but people from across the globe.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also paid rich tributes to Dr Bhupen Hazarika in Jorhat where he inaugurated Sri Sri Uttar Kamalabari Sakha Satra and Cultural Research Centre. Sonowal said Dr Hazarika�s message of harmony and love resonates in every soul of Assam. �His creations bind the humanity and help people to spread the message of life across the world,� he added.
Like every year, the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) offered its floral tributes to Dr Hazarika at Dighalipukhuripar, near the life-size statue of the maestro. However, Uddipana, an annual singing event organised by the AASU in his memory, was called off this year due to the COVID pandemic. Earthen lamps were lit in memory of Dr Hazarika.
In the morning, an AASU delegation led by its president Dipanka Kumar Nath visited the Sudhakantha�s Samadhi Kshetra at Jalukbari to offer their tribute.
