HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Sept 7: Asam Sahitya Sabha will celebrate the birth centenary of legendary Dr Bhupen Hazarika across the world with grand events beginning on September 8 and continuing throughout the year.
The celebrations will be carried out through its 33 district committees and nearly one thousand affiliated branches across the state.
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Branches located in various parts of the world will also organize year-long events in honour of the maestro.
Addressing a press conference at the Radha Gobinda Baruah auditorium of the Bhagawati Prasad Barua Bhawan in Guwahati on Sunday, Principal Secretary of the Sabha Debojit Bora announced the centenary celebrations.
He said that in line with the Sabha’s initiative, the North America branch will celebrate the centenary in August 2026, Russia’s Moscow branch in July 2026, Great Britain in June 2026, Switzerland in March 2026, Germany in April 2026, Singapore in September 2026, South Africa’s Ramdhenu branch in January 2026, and Kuwait’s branch in March 2026.
The branches have already begun preparations.
He further stated that branches across India will also observe the centenary with great enthusiasm.
“Ahmedabad’s branch will organise events in October, Delhi’s in November, Shillong’s Mukul Sangha in December, Tripura in November, Arunachal’s Kameng in December this year, Nagaland’s Kohima branch in January, Mumbai’s Swarna branch in January, Kolkata’s in February, and Odisha’s branch in March of 2026.”
All 33 district committees within the state will hold year-round programmes.
Among them, the Sivasagar district will organise a programme on November 5 in association with the Dichangmukh Samannoy branch.
Similarly, district committees in Jorhat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Nagaon, Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Baksa, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Hailakandi, Sri Bhumi, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Darrang, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Dimahachao, Hojai, Tinsukia, Morigaon, Goalpara, and Kokrajhar are preparing major events, he added.
Mentioning the grand opening ceremony in Kalaigaon on September 8 and 9, Principal Secretary Bora said that under the leadership of Asam Sahitya Sabha and with the support of the Shree Shree Govinda Mishra Shatadal branch in Udalguri district, a two-day opening ceremony will be held at the Pragatisheel Janamancha auditorium in Kalaigaon.
The event is scheduled to begin at 7:00 AM with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by social worker Premeswar Nath. At 8:30 AM, the Sabha’s flag will be hoisted by Tankeswar Deka, president of the branch.
A series of events will follow, including the unveiling of a memorial plaque by Upendra Chandra Deka, executive president of the reception committee; garlanding by Priyanka Bania, Circle Officer, Kalaigaon; and the tribute-paying programme led by Dibakar Bora, district secretary.
A tree plantation will be carried out by retired teacher Guneswari Deka and Dr Gunamani Deka.
A book fair will be held for the occasion and inaugurated by Md Tazar Ali Ahmed, president of Udalguri Zila Sahitya Sabha. Noted artist Dhiraj Kalita and dancer Kushal Deka will inaugurate the Bhupendra Sangeet and dance competition.
In the evening, the altar for lighting a hundred ceremonial lamps will be inaugurated by Sarat Chandra Bora, president of the senior citizen forum.
The lamp lighting ceremony will be led by Akhil Kalita, convener of the Asam Sahitya Sabha’s Mangalchandi Brahma Language Learning and Research Center.
On September 9, Bhupen Hazarika’s portrait drawing contest will be inaugurated by artist Putul Nath, and Diganta Barua, president of the reception committee, will inaugurate the cultural procession led by the Sabha’s president Dr Basanta Kumar Goswami.
The open session chaired by Dr Goswami will be inaugurated by BTC chief Pramod Boro.
Distinguished writer and artist Loknath Goswami will attend as chief guest, while artist Kamal Kataki will be the keynote speaker.
MP Dilip Saikia and MLA Durgadas Boro will attend as guests of honour.
Meanwhile, President of Asam Sahitya Sabha Dr Basanta Kumar Goswami, Vice President Padum Rajkhowa, and Principal Secretary Debojit Bora have called upon all office bearers, members, families of members, and Assamese people across the world to light lamps at their homes at 6:30 PM on September 8 to mark the centenary celebrations.
People of Udalguri district are requested to light lamps in front of their homes and decorate various locations with continuous lamp lighting in front of the statue of Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
