Assam Association, Delhi, organized a cultural evening “A Legend’s Nite – Musical Journey from Brahmaputra to Mississippi” by the legendary masestro Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on 16 October 2005 in Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi. The proceeds of the cultural evening would be used for the construction of a cultural and educational center named after the revered Srimanta Sankaradev in Qutab Institutional Area. The contributions of that great genius to the literature, culture and society of Assam and its share in the pan-Indian identity and the Mahapurusha’s preaching of human dignity, an attitude of devotion to the Almighty and an un-acquisitive material pursuit in life is still relevant in today’s life of high-tech glitz and at times confused interpersonal relations. That Dr. Bhupen Hazarika helped the Association in its effort by kindly consenting to hold a musical evening with some of his timeless numbers after many years in Delhi is also an indicator of the continuum of the tradition Sankaradeva set.
The proposed cultural and educational Centre would create a nurturing environment that would strengthen the sense of belonging, pride and appreciation of Assamese cultural, heritage and history. By organizing a great cultural show, Assam association, Delhi, realized its long cherished dream of having a cultural complex of its own.
The event was sponsored by ONGC and Oil India. GAIL, HAL NEEPCO were the cosponsors while Indian Airlines was the travel partners. Smt. Julie Dutta, wife of Shri RK Dutta, CMD, OIL, was the Chief Guest. Noted filmmaker Kallpana Lajmi ably anchored the musical journey which was attended by over 1,500 people. Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the multifaceted genius has been hailed as the cultural ambassador of Assam to the rest of the world. He is one of the stalwarts of Indian music today. There are many facets to Bhupen Hazarika’s personality –singer, lyricist, musician, writer, filmmaker and a social crusader through his songs. Bhupenda’s name itself is musical for the people of eastern India; his Dil Hum Hum Kare won the hearts of millions of Indians.
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was born in the year 1926. After his schooling in Tezpur and collegiate education in Guwahati, he receieved an MA Degree from Banaras Hindu University. Then he left for the Columbia University, New York where he received his doctorate in Mass Communication. He also received the Lisle Fellowship from the Chicago University. It was during this period that he was awarded a gold medallion in NewYork as the best interpreter of India’s folk songs by Eleanor Roosevelt. He met Paul Robeson, the legendry black singer in the USA and was greatly influenced by his idea that “music is an instrument of social change”. On his return to his homeland, he joined the Gauhati University as a lecture and went abroad in a cultural exchange program where he overstayed by a few days. The bold Bhupen tendered his resignation when some disciplinary action was initiated against him. He decided to take music as a livelihood and thereafter never looked back. He has been awarded the Padmashree (1977), Padmabhushan (2001), and Dadasaheb Phalke Award the highest honour for cinematic achievement, for his Lifetime Contribution Indian cinema in 1993. With his multifarious talent Bhupen hazarika has proved himself as a thoughtful writer by writing fifteen books on various subjects such as fiction, travelogues, essays and an autobiography.
Manoj Kumar Das
General Secretary
Assam Association Delhi
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