PM Modi attends birth centenary celebrations of Bhupen Hazarika

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the birth centenary celebrations of Bhupen Hazarika in Guwahati on September 13.

• On the occasion, PM Modi released a biography on the legendary singer and a Rs 100 commemorative coin.

• The book titled ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika’ was written by Sahitya Akademi awardee Anuradha Sarma Pujari.

Who was Bhupen Hazarika?

• Bhupen Hazarika was popularly known as “Sudhakontho” (the nectar-voiced) and the “Bard of Brahmaputra”.

• He inspired millions across generations with the power and passion of his voice.

• A singer, poet, composer, filmmaker and political thinker, Hazarika’s works carried strong messages of humanity, communal harmony and social justice, earning him national and international acclaim.

• Hazarika was born on September 8, 1926 at Sadiya in Tinsukia district of Assam.

• He completed his basic education from Guwahati in 1942, BA from Banaras Hindu University in 1944 and MA in 1946. He did his PhD in Mass Communication from Columbia University. 

• He produced and directed, composed music and sang for Assamese films like ‘Era Batar Sur’, ‘Shakuntala’, ‘Lotighoti’, ‘Pratidhwani’, ‘Chick Mick Bijuli’, ‘Swikarokti’ and ‘Siraj’. 

• His most famous Hindi films include his long-time companion Kalpana Lajmi’s ‘Rudaali’, ‘Ek Pal’, ‘Darmiyaan’, ‘Daman’ and ‘Kyon’, Sai Paranjpe’s ‘Papeeha’ and ‘Saaz’, and M.F. Husain’s ‘Gajagamini’.

• He was a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1967-72.

• He unsuccessfully contested the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket in 2004. 

• He passed away in 2011. 

• He was conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, posthumously in 2019.

• A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Padma Shri (1977), Padma Bhushan (2001) and Padma Vibhushan (2012-posthumously), Hazarika was also awarded with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1992.