GUWAHATI, Aug 18 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday evening inaugurated Khagen Mahanta Udyan � the park set up by the State government in memory of cultural doyen Khagen Mahanta at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in the city.
The programme was organised by Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society and the Cultural Directorate, Government of Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Khagen Mahanta, as a people�s artiste, had created evergreen songs that would keep inspiring the younger generations of the State. He said that Mahanta�s creations spoke about human sensibilities and universal brotherhood. The artiste could popularise folk music of the State through radio and films and his songs resonated with the people throughout Assam�s length and breadth and even beyond.
The young generation of the State must keep in mind the human values propagated by Khagen Mahanta through his creations and only imbibing those values in one�s life would pay true respect to the artiste, he said.
Saying that Mahanta had deep ties with the State�s public life, Sonowal stated that the artiste had dedicated his entire life to propagate and popularise folk music of Assam. He made tremendous contribution to the cultural life of the State, he said.
Sonowal said that not only the picture of the State�s rural life got depicted in his songs, Mahanta�s songs had also reflected the natural beauty of Assam. Saying that Khagen Mahanta�s son Angarag (Papon) Mahanta had been able to establish himself as an artiste of repute at the national and international stage, Sonowal referred to the example of athlete Hima Das who has brought laurels to the State through hard work and perseverance.
Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameswar Teli, Cultural Minister Naba Kumar Doley and noted singer and Khagen Mahanta�s son Angarag Mahanta also spoke on the occasion.
MP Queen Ojha and Media Adviser to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami were also present among other dignitaries in the programme.
