GUWAHATI, Nov 13 � Voices are emerging about the design and spirit that would go into shaping the final resting place of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, with many agreeing that the public, the Gauhati University community, and the State Government must join hands to create a memorial that would stand the test of time.
A senior civil servant, who wished not to be named, said that left alone to the Government, the proposed memorial might not be a true honour to an iconic figure like Dr Hazarika. 'It is important that some serious brainstorming takes place before the design of the commemorative structure and the adjoining area is accepted, he remarked.
Students and teachers of Gauhati University, when contacted said that it should be unique, a place that will commemorate the remarkably versatile artiste, and inspire visitors to realize his peerless contributions. 'He was an Assamese, but he was also a citizen of the world�the memorial should embody this,' said Kandarpa Sarma, an alumnus of Gauhati University.
A collaboration of qualified people would be necessary to create a place that would reflect Dr Bhupan Hazarika's life and work, believes, Prof J Tamuli, an academic of the university. 'He was an extraordinary individual, whose range was immense. The plans for his final resting place should take this fact into account,' he mentioned.
Many public spaces in Assam are still not accessible to the physically challenged. In this context, Arman Ali, executive director of Shishu Sarothi, an NGO working in the disability sector said, 'The day Bhupenda was cremated it was impossible for a wheelchair user to have a glimpse�I hope the memorial in his honour becomes accessible to all. His life and message was all about inclusivity, his samadhi should not be an exception,' Ali opined.
Amit Saini, a resident of New Delhi, and a connoisseur of Dr Hazarika's songs, said that the memorial structure should mirror the natural facets typical of Assam. 'It should not be just marble and granite. Materials used should represent Assam and her material culture in a way that visitors get a feel of things which are there in Bhupenda's songs'. There should be ample greenery in and around the structures, instead of only steel and concrete, he added.
