Guwahati, Assam: The year-long celebrations marking the birth centenary of legendary musician and cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika will conclude with a grand function at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 29, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday.
The closing ceremony is expected to bring together artists, performers and cultural figures from Assam and various parts of the country to pay tribute to Hazarika’s enduring contribution to Indian music, cinema and culture. The Chief Minister said the occasion would celebrate the timeless legacy of the celebrated singer, whose songs continue to resonate across generations.
The centenary observances began last year with a special commemorative programme attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the event, a commemorative ₹100 coin was unveiled in honour of Hazarika, along with the release of a biography chronicling his life and achievements.
Born on September 8, 1926, in Sadiya in present-day Tinsukia district, Bhupen Hazarika emerged as one of India’s most influential cultural figures. A prolific singer, composer, lyricist, poet and filmmaker, he left a lasting imprint on Assamese, Bengali and Hindi music while using his art to promote social harmony, humanism and national integration.
Hazarika passed away in Mumbai on November 5, 2011, at the age of 85. In recognition of his immense contribution to Indian culture and the arts, he was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, in 2019.
The November 29 event is expected to serve as the grand finale to a series of programmes held throughout the centenary year, celebrating the life, music and legacy of the man fondly remembered as Sudhakantha, or the Nightingale of Assam.
