Page 36 - NIS English 01-15 October, 2025
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Bhupen Da...
A gem of India
The birth centenary of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the recipient of
the Bharat Ratna award, is being celebrated with reverence
and enthusiasm across the country. On this occasion, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi remembered his cultural legacy
and social contributions through a heartfelt article. Bhupen
Hazarika, who shaped the cultural identity of modern
Assam and brought it global recognition, will always be
remembered for his invaluable contributions to Indian
culture and music. Here is his article...
Born: September 8, 1926 | Died: November 5, 2011
oday, 8th September, is a very special day for all those who are passion-
ate about Indian culture and music. It is particularly more special for my
sisters and brothers of Assam. After all, it is the birth anniversary of Dr.
TBhupen Hazarika, one of the most extraordinary voices India has ever
known. As you are all aware, this year marks the beginning of his birth cente-
nary celebrations. It is an occasion to revisit his monumental contributions to
Indian artistic expression and public consciousness.
What Bhupen Da gave us extends far beyond music. His works embodied
emotions that transcended melody. More than just a voice, he was the heartbeat
of the people. Generations have grown up listening to his songs, each word reso-
nating with themes of kindness, social justice, unity and deep-rooted belonging.
From Assam emerged a voice that flowed like a timeless river, crossing
borders and cultures, carrying with it the spirit of humanity. Bhupen Da trav-
elled the globe, rubbed shoulders with the who’s who across all spectrums of
society, but he remained deeply connected to his roots in Assam. The rich oral
traditions, folk melodies and community storytelling practices of Assam deeply
shaped his early childhood. These experiences formed the bedrock of his artis-
Narendra Modi tic vocabulary. He always carried the spirit of Assam’s indigenous identity and
Prime Minister the ethos of its people.
Brilliance came to Bhupen Da at a very young age. At the age of just five,
he sang at a public event and quickly caught the attention of none other than
“The spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Lakshminath Bezbaruah, the pioneering figure of Assamese literature. By the
Shreshtha Bharat’ found time he was a teenager, he had recorded his first song. But music was only
powerful expression in one part of his personality. Bhupen Da was as much an intellectual at heart...
Bhupen Da’s life journey. His curious, articulate and driven by an insatiable desire to understand the world.
works transcended linguistic Cultural legends like Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha left a
and regional boundaries, deep impression on his mind and also deepened his spirit of enquiry. It was
also this desire to learn that made him excel at Cotton College, Banaras Hindu
fostering unity. University and took him to the United States, where he interacted with leading
34 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || October 1-15, 2025
