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How did one man’s voice become the conscience of a nation? On his death anniversary, we revisit Bhupen Hazarika’s timeless journey as a singer, poet, and filmmaker who turned music into a movement for humanity and hope.
He used music as a tool for equality, empathy, and protest against injustice.
Guwahati: For Assam and much of India, Bhupen Hazarika’s voice was more than melody, it was the sound of the Brahmaputra itself, flowing with compassion and strength. On his death anniversary, November 8, the nation remembers the man who gave art a moral soul. His songs like Manuhe Manuhor Babe and Bistirno Parore still echo across generations, embodying the universal message that “humans must care for humans.”
Born in 1926 in Sadiya, Assam, Bhupen Hazarika was a child prodigy shaped by the state’s rich cultural traditions. His family’s frequent moves brought him to Tezpur, where he met legends like Bishnu Prasad Rava and Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, mentors who recognized his genius early. At just nine, he recorded his first song in Kolkata, marking the beginning of a remarkable artistic journey that spanned over seven decades.
Hazarika was not just a singer; he was a visionary storyteller. His directorial debut Era Bator Sur in 1956 redefined Assamese cinema, blending music, emotion, and realism. His later films such as Shakuntala and Chameli Memsaab carried themes of love, struggle, and human dignity. In Bollywood, his compositions like Dil Hoom Hoom Kare and Ganga Behti Hai Kyon captured hearts across linguistic barriers, translating Assamese sensibility into global appeal.
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Bhupen Hazarika believed that art was not just for entertainment but for awakening society. His songs became instruments of social reform, addressing poverty, inequality, and communal harmony. Through lines filled with empathy and resistance, he stood for the voiceless and the forgotten. His music became both protest and prayer, teaching generations that compassion was the highest form of strength.
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Hazarika’s influence extended far beyond India’s borders. As a cultural ambassador, he represented Indian music globally, performing in the United States, Japan, and Europe. His ability to weave Assamese folk with world rhythms earned him international respect. His collaborations and friendships with artists like Lata Mangeshkar and Hemanta Kumar reflected his open spirit and cross-cultural vision.
Honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and posthumously the Bharat Ratna, Bhupen Hazarika’s contributions are immeasurable. Yet, for millions of his admirers, the true tribute lies in how his songs continue to unite hearts and preserve cultural identity. In Assam, he is not merely remembered — he is revered as the voice of conscience.
Even today, his music flows through Assam like the river he loved so deeply. Bhupen Da taught that culture is not confined by geography but carried forward by humanity. His words and melodies continue to inspire people to live with empathy, courage, and purpose.
As his immortal verse “Asom Amar Jononi, Ami Tarun Senani…” reminds us, Bhupen Hazarika did not just sing for Assam — he sang for all humankind.
