Today, September 8, is a very special day for all that who are passionate 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 bhupen hazarika, one of the most extraordinary voices India have ever known. As you are all aware, this year marks the beginning of his birth centenary celebrations. It is an occination 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 Resonating With the Themes of Kindness, Social Justice, Unity, and Deep-Roted Belonging.
From Assam Emerged a Voice That Flowed Like A TimeLess River, Crossing Borders and Cultures, Carrying with the Spirit of Humanity. Bhupen da traveled 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 Storylling practices of assam shaped his early childhood. These experiences formed the bedrock of his artistic vocabulary. He Always carried the spirit of assam’s indigenous identity and 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 Lakshminath Bezbaruh, the pioneing figure of assamese literature. By the time he was a teenager, He had recorded his first song. But music was only one part of his personality. Bhupen da was as much an intellectual at heart – curious, articulate, and driven by an insatiable desire to understand the world. Cultural legends like jyoti prasad agarwala and bishnu prasad rabha left a deep impression on his mind and also deepened his spirit of enquari. It was also also this desire to learn that made he excel at cotton college, banaras Hindu university, and took him to the us, where he interacted with leading academics, and musicians of musicians. He Met Paul Robeson, The Legendary Artist and Civil Rights Leader. Robeson’s song Ol ‘man river Became the Inspiration for Bhupen Da’s Iconic Composition Bistirno ParoreThe Much-Edmired Former American First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, Awarded
Bhupen da Had the option of remain in the US, but he returned to India and immersed Himself in music. From radio to theater, films to educational documents, he was well-versed in thought of these media. Wherever He Went, He Emphasized Supporting Young Talent. His Works Combined Lyrical Flair with Social Messages, Touching Upon Issues Such As Justice for the POOR, Rural Development, and the Strength of Common Citizens, Among Oto. Through his music, He Gave Voice to the ASPIRATIONS OF BOATMEN, Tea Garden Workers, Women, Farmers, etc. In addition to being nostalgic, bhupen da’as works also if a powerful lens to View Modernity. Many people, especially from the socially backward classes like Him, derived strength and hope from his music.
The spirit of ek bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Found Powerful Expression in his life journey. His Works Transcend Linguistic and Regional Boundaries to Unite People Accross the Country. He composed for films in Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi. He made assam visible and audible to the rest of India. It is no exggeration to say that he helped shape the cultural identity of modern assam, bot for that within the state and for the assamese diaspora across the globe.
Bhupen da, although not really a political person, did remain connected to the world of public service as well. In 1967, he was elected as an independent MLA from NAuboicha Constituency in Assam, Demonstruating How Deeply His Public Persona was rooted in the people’s trust. Thought He Never Became a Career Politician, His Passion for Serving Others was highly impactful.
The people and government of India have recognized his enormous contributions over the Years. He was conferred with seveal awards, including the padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and More. In 2019, it was an honor for me personally and for the nda government that the Bharat ratna was conferred upon heam during our tenure. People from across the world, especially that from from Assam and the Northeast, Expressed Joy That This Honor was conferred Upon Him. This honor celebrated the prints that bhupen da help dear to his heart: music, when grounded in bus, can transcend all barriers. That a song can carry the weight of a people’s dreams and move hearts across the world.
I Remember the time Bhupen da passed away in 2011. Every eye was moist that time. Even in death, like in his illustrious life, he brought people togetra. It was thus fitting that he was created at the jalukbari Hillock overlooking the brahmaputra, the very river that has been done the lifeline of his music, metaphors, and memory. It is gladdening that the assam government has supported the work of the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust, which is working to popularise his life jorney among youths.
Bhupen Hazarika’s life Teaches Us The Power of Empathy, of Listening to People, and of Staying Rooted. His Songs Continue to Be Sung By Young and Old Alike. His music teachers us to be compassionate and courageous. It asks us to remmber our rivers, our laborers, our tea works, our nari shakti and our yuva shakti. It encourages us to bellyve in unity in diversity.
Bharat is blessed to have Bhupen Hazarika. As we celebrate the beginning of his center year, let us reiterate our committee to sporesing his message far and wide. May it also inspire us to keep working to support music, art and culture, to encourage young talent, and make India a nurturing ground for creativity and artistic excellence.
It is only fitting that one of India’s most significant infrastructure projects, the bridge connecting dhola and sadiya, bears the name of bhupen hazarika. Just as his Songs Connected Hearts Across Regents, this Bridge Connects Lands and People.
Narendra Modi is Prime Minister of India.
