News: Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his birth anniversary.
About Bhupen Hazarika
- Bhupen Hazarika was a cultural icon from Assam and Northeast India.
- He was born in 1926 in Sadiya, Assam.
- He was a singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker, and cultural activist.
- He is popularly known as the “Bard of Brahmaputra” and “Sudhakantho” (Pure Voice).
- He received the Bharat Ratna posthumously, fulfilling a long-standing demand from his fans and cultural community.
- The award recognizes his contribution to music, culture, and society.
- He also received many prestigious awards before: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Posthumous Padma Vibhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1992).
- His songs and lyrics were in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, and other languages.
- Focused on important themes: Internationalism, Peace and equality, Unity across religions and languages and struggles of the working class
- He used his art to support marginalized communities and promote social reform.
- His famous song “Manuhe Manuhar Babe” (For Man) expresses humanistic values: “If man would not think for man with a little sympathy, who will?”
- He also composed music for the Hindi film Rudali, which brought him fame all over India.
- Bhupen Hazarika is remembered as a humanitarian who worshipped humanity.
- He remains an inspiration for promoting secularism, equality, and social justice through music and culture.
