HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 26: The 106th birth anniversary of legendary Assamese musician Purushottam Das was celebrated in a grand function organised by the Amguri Puberun Cultural Organisation and Sangeet Khanikor Purushottam Das Smriti Raksha Samiti in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam. The event took place at the Amguri Auniatia Hemchandra Dev Higher Secondary School.
The ceremony began with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the school’s principal, Amarjyoti Borthakur. Ramen Choudhury, an eminent music director and composer, laid a wreath at the portrait of Purushottam Das. Various dignitaries and members of the organising committee were present, including Kumar Deepak Das, president of Smriti Raksha Samiti, and actor and director Prashant Sharma.
The event featured speeches and reminiscences about Purushottam Das by notable personalities who had personal and professional connections with him. The legendary figures of Radiology in Assam, Prof G. G. Ahmed, Prof M. M. Deka, and Prof T. R. Borborah, were honoured with the lifetime achievement award during the program.
The evening continued with cultural performances, including a chorus performance by a group of artists from Amguri Nabin Library and renditions of Purushottam Das’ timeless creations by various singers. The cultural event also saw the release of an audio-visual song composed by Purushottam Das, performed by Kabin Das and Dhritishree Devi.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Sangeet Khanikor Purushottam Das Smriti Raksha Samiti Award for the year 2023 to Umananda Dowerah. Umananda Dowerah, a renowned archivist of Assam’s musical heritage, was honoured for his extensive collection and preservation of old and rare records. The award was presented by Jogesh Kishor Phukan.
The event concluded with Umananda Dowerah playing several old records on a hand-cranked gramophone, captivating the audience with the nostalgic tunes of yesteryears.