Death Anniversary of Dr Bhupen Hazarika falls on November 5.
Background
- Birth: September 8, 1926, in Sadiya, Assam.
- Education:
- Attended schools in Guwahati, Dhubri, and Tezpur.
- Completed intermediate studies at Cotton College; pursued BA and MA in Political Science at Banaras Hindu University.
- PhD from Columbia University, with a thesis on using audio-visual tools in adult education for India’s foundational learning.
Career Highlights:
- Brief stint with All India Radio.
- Joined Guwahati University as a teacher before relocating to Kolkata, where he became a celebrated singer and music director.
- Elected President of Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1993 (held in Sibsagar).
- Represented the Naoboicha constituency as an independent member of the Assam Assembly in 1967.
Passing: Died on November 5, 2011, from multi-organ failure in Mumbai.
Cultural Contributions
- Early exposure to Assamese cultural legends Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha greatly influenced him.
- At just 12, he sang Kaxote Kolosi Loi and Biswo Bijoyi Naujawan in Indramalati, directed by Agarwala.
- Developed a friendship with civil rights advocate Paul Robeson while in New York, inspiring his song Bistirno Parore, echoing themes from Robeson’s Ol’ Man River.
- On returning to India in 1953, he joined the Indian People’s Theatre Association.
- Directed several acclaimed Assamese films, including Shakuntala and Pratidhwani, and created music for notable films such as Chameli Memsaab.
- Collaborated with Kalpana Lajmi, scoring music for her films like Ek Pal (1986), Rudaali (1993), and Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001).
- In Bangladesh, his song Manush Manusher Jonno was voted as the second most cherished song after the national anthem.
Film Career & Honors
- Debut as Playback Singer: Indramalati (1939).
- First Directorial Venture: Era Bator Xur (1956).
- Music Composition Debut: Shakuntala.
- Awards:
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- Shakuntala received the Best Feature Film award in Assamese at the 9th National Film Awards (1961).
- National Award for Best Music Director for Chameli Memsaab (1975).
- Additional National Award-winning films: Pratidhwani and Lotighoti.
- Notable honors:
- Padma Shri (1977)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987)
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992)
- Padma Bhushan (2001)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2008)
- Asom Ratna (2009)
- Padma Vibhushan (2012, posthumously)
- Bharat Ratna (2019, posthumously)
Additional Facts
- Hazarika was the first Indian to receive the Best Music award at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival in Japan (1993) for Rudaali.
- Moi Eti Zazabor, a biopic on his life, has been in production since 1986.
- Awarded the title “Biswa Ratna” by the Asom Sahitya Sabha.
- Honorary degree conferred by Tezpur University (2001).
- Fondly referred to as the “Sudha Kontho” and the “Bard of Brahmaputra”.
