Google pays tribute to Bard of Brahmaputra with doodle
HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 8: Chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma joined people from across the State to pay tributes to the late music legend Bhupen Hazarika on the 96th birth anniversary of the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’ at his Samadhi Khetra at Jalukbari on Thursday.
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Paying tributes to the late music legend at the official event organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, the chief minister stated that Bharat Ratna Dr Hazarika’s life is an inspiration for the people of Assam. Dr. Hazarika will continue to flow like a perennial stream in the hearts and minds of the young generation forever, the chief minister added.
“Sudhakantha Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s immortal tunes still rule the hearts and minds of millions and his ideals of humanism hold true today, despite the fast-changing moral dynamics,” the chief minister tweeted.
The chief minister also thanked Google for paying a tribute to the legend with a #GoogleDoodle.
“Good to see @Google joining Assam in celebrating the birth anniversary of the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’ Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika by paying a tribute to the legend with a #GoogleDoodle,” Sarma tweeted.
The Dr Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust also launched a two-day cultural event by hoisting 96 flags by prominent personalities of the State to mark the icon’s birthday.
Eminent cultural personalities of the State will pay their tribute to the bard through music and art during the two-day event.
Programmes were organised across the State to pay tribute to the maestro on his birthday.
Hazarika, also a Dada Saheb Phalke award winner, was born on this day in 1926 at Sadiya.
Considered an Assamese icon who popularised the state’s culture through his music and films in a career spanning over six decades, Hazarika was the recipient of several awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award. He was given the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019. Hazarika died on November 5, 2011.
Thursday’s event was also attended by Cultural Affairs minister Bimal Borah, PHE minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, Rajya Sabha MP and Political secretary to chief minister Pabitra Margherita, MLA Manab Deka and host of senior officials of the Government.
Meanwhile, Union Home minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and other leaders on Thursday paid tributes to singer Bhupen Hazarika on his birth anniversary, recalling his ‘amazing’ contribution to music and art.
“I bow to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika, an amazing musician with an exceptional voice, on his jayanti. With his versatile and mesmerising songs, he popularised Indian music and Assamese folk culture across the world. His contribution to the world of music and art is commendable,” Shah tweeted.
In his tweet, Nadda said Hazarika was the “voice of many hearts” with his brilliant compositions.
“I pay my tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his Jayanti. He was a legendary musician who will always be remembered for his indelible contribution to Indian and Assamese music. He became the voice of many hearts with his brilliant compositions that are now immortal,” Nadda said in a tweet.
Union minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said Hazarika’s everlasting songs had carried the message of humanity and brotherhood across borders.
“…My tributes to the Bard of Brahmaputra, Bharat Ratna, Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his birth anniversary,” he tweeted.
Union minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju said Hazarika would forever live with the people.
“I pay my tribute to the great music legend Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his birth anniversary. Bhupen da will forever live with us. This is one of those many beautiful songs created by Bhupen da about Arunachal Pradesh,” he tweeted, along with a song of Hazarika on Arunachal Pradesh.
Jorhat correspondent adds: On the occasion of 96th birth anniversary of Sudhakanta, noted singer Jayanta Nath along with a group of artistes went on an open mini truck singing songs of the great bard as a form of tribute.
The initiative titled Prabhat Faery was taken out early on Thursday morning under the banner of Bhupen Hazarika Foundation and the troupe covered 15 km passing through the main thoroughfares of the town.
A huge portrait of Dr Hazarika was put atop the vehicle.
Later in the evening a cultural programme was organised at the Sri Sri Pitambar Deva Goswami Auditorium in memory of the maestro.
About 100 school children from different schools sang songs of Dr Bhupen Hazarika on stage.
Secretary of the Foundation Jayanta Nath said that school children had been given the opportunity to perform so that upcoming generation carries on the legacy of Sudhakanta. (With PTI inputs)
