GUWAHATI, Nov 15 � People of Assam joined the State government today in offering prayers for the singer, poet, lyricist and above all a great humanist Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
On the occasion of the adyashraddha of the cultural icon today, all-faith prayer functions were organized in all the district headquarters including Guwahati, by the government.
Revenue Minister Prithibi Majhi lit the ceremonial lamp of the all-faith prayer held at the Veterinary College playground at Khanapara as a mark of respect to the maestro who inspired the people of Assam with his soulful voice and music that reflected the aspirations of the masses.
The kind outpouring of people�s emotion that the State has witnessed since the demise of the legend was seen on this day too as cross-section of citizens thronged the Khanapara playground with posters of their beloved bard. Every individual present at the playground either carried a poster of the artiste or a copy of a newspaper that carried a special supplement on the singer. The legacy will live on � and that was affirmed by fans of Bhupenda again.
Some fans expressed their love for Bhupenda through brush and colours at the playground. Artist Rabin Bar and his students painted Bhupenda on a 22 x 14 canvas as a tribute to the music legend. This piece of work will be presented to the family of Bhupenda, informed Bar. �I want to involve the people of Assam in my forthcoming work on Bhupenda,� said Bar.
It needs to be mentioned here that Bar has decided to make a portrait of Bhupenda on a 100 x 80 canvas at the North East Book Fair at Chandmari Assam Engineering Institute field. Bar will invite the visitors to leave an imprint of their palm on his canvas which will take the form of Bhupenda.
The programme was attended by a host of dignitaries and family members of Bhupenda. Governor of Meghalaya RS Mooshahary, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita, Cultural Affairs Minister Pranati Phukan, PWD Minister Ajanta Neog, Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and other officials were present at the function. The functionaries of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) including its adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya attended the community prayer.
The Government of Assam presented typography of the songs of the legend to his family which will be included in the collection at the museum dedicated to Dr Bhupen Hazarika at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here.
All faith prayers were recited in different languages. The solemn occasion became more poignant when son of the music maestro Tej Hazarika addressed the public on behalf of his extended family. Taking the dais with all the members of his family, Tej expressed his gratitude to the people of Assam for the spontaneous outpouring of love for his father.
�On behalf of my extended family, I would like to thank the people for the amazing and profound outpouring of feeling, the love and condolence that came on a daily basis,� said Tej acknowledging that he along with his family was extremely humbled by the people�s intense expression of love for his father.
Tej also said that he was thankful to the Government of Assam for supporting his father through his difficult period.
�I am surprised and speechless by what is going on here. I thank the people of the North East because this region with its unique culture and heritage inspired my father to create such works that will always be contemporary and modern,� said Tej, adding that his father will always live through his invaluable contribution to the society.
Bhupenda�s long-time companion Kalpana Lajmi in her speech said, �I do not represent anyone, only Bhupen Hazarika.�
Lajmi remarked that all the people of Assam and anywhere across the world were members of the family of Bhupen Hazarika as their love for the popular bard was unparalleled. She described the mass grief of the people of Assam as phenomenal and said that now the people of Assam were on top of the world because they know how to love and respect a great soul.
�I pray and hope that the dreams and works of Bhupen Hazarika are disseminated to the world community through translations and promotion. I expect that the government will support the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust to keep his legacy alive,� said Lajmi.
Lajmi said that she will continue to serve Bhupen Hazarika even in death through the people of Assam and promised to learn the Assamese language.
�I have cried much at my loss, a deep and private loss, and this void will never be filled up,� she concluded.
