85th birthday of Dr Bhupen Hazarika celebrated – joy as well as tragedy
By- Correspondent| Date- September 8, 2011
The 85th birthday of living legend Bhupen Hazarika was celebrated across the state on September 8th, by various socio-cultural organizations across the State even amidst a day that saw huge sparks of protests across Assam against the India-Bangladesh land swap deal.
Artists, veteran and renowned as well as aspiring singers came out to join the celebration by participating in various cultural shows hosted across the state. The TV channels did their bit by broadcasting special musical shows in honor of Bhupen Hazarika.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), celebrated the occasion with a special cultural show called Uddipana at Dighalipukhuri, where singers from colleges across the state performed. In the special programme, a cake was jointly cut by Gyanshree Pathak, daughter of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Prithviraj Rabha, son of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha near the life-size statue of Bhupen Hazarika. Nripen Chandra Hazarika, brother of Dr Hazarika, was also present on the occasion.
However none of groups and organizations seemed to remember the allegations against editor-in-chief of a satellite channel where he was claimed to recently have called Bhupen Hazarika as a thief (a comment made in social networking site Tweeter). The topic has been just buried under various other media hot topics, without proper investigation, proving the vandalism of a section of media as well as some of music & artists communities that shows only false respect for Dr Bhupen Hazarika. These artist and musical community never demanded or requested a proper enquiry about the issue so that respect for the stalwart of Assam, is held high. Likewise, there was no strong voice against the fact that Bhupen Hazarika is showed as a person from Maharashtra and not from Assam, in the Government of India website.
On the other hand, various groups celebrating Dr Hazarika’s birthday also called upon the centre to confer Dr Hazarika with a Bharat Ratna award.
There were also prayers for a quick recovery of the Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee, as he is presently undergoing treatment in a Mumbai hospital.
The day also marked a tragedy in the form of the sad demise of Pranabi Ram Baruah, who passed away after falling sick during a musical show at a TV channel hoisted in honor of Dr Bhupen Hazarika. Pranabi Ram Baruah, son of Geeti Kavi Parbati Prasad Baruah, had wished Dr Hazarika long life, praying that his own years be added to Dr Hazarika’s. This probably was destiny as Baruah passed away moments after his statement leaving the musical and cultural fraternity of Assam shocked and saddened.
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