GUWAHATI, Nov 9 � State Governor JB Patnaik, himself a man of letters, was moved by the scenes he witnessed during the cremation of Dr Bhupen Hazarika. He headed the list of dignitaries who sat close to the funeral pyre, and was visibly touched when the flames enveloped it around 10.30 this morning.
In an exclusive phone talk with this correspondent, he expressed his grief over the passing away of the legendary artiste after attending the funeral at the Gauhati University campus.
The Governor, in a measured tone, described the iconic artiste as an extraordinary individual in touch with the masses, and who loved Assam very dearly.
�It was a sea of humanity which poured out sentiments of love and affection on the great son of Assam,� he remarked.
According to Patnaik, Dr Hazarika was an outstanding lyricist, singer and poet who immortalised himself by singing the songs of suffering, grief and joy of the common person, the poor and the deprived of the society.
�He loved Assam deeply and through his songs and the films he made, he revealed the glory and greatness of his homeland� He was Assam�s identification to the rest of India and the world,� the Governor noted.
Patnaik, a connoisseur of art and literature, pointed out that Dr Hazarika�s music was filled with natural elements and scenes of the North East. �A lover of the mighty Brahmaputra, the outpourings of love and affection for him flowed like a river from one part of Assam to the other,� he added.
