It was relevant when he first wrote and lent it his rich baritone. It is relevant now when that voice has fallen still, been digitalised for the archives and put online for the world.
A chorus, running into thousands across the hills and valleys of Assam, sang Manuhe Manuhar Babe. They sang the song in several languages, holding hands and forming human chains or groups, in a tribute to its creator, Bhupen Hazarika, on his first death anniversary today.
Indeed, the immortal Manuhe Manuhar Babe turned into the theme song for the occasion as the music maestro’s death anniversary came close on the heels of the BTAD violence. The song’s yearning for humanity had been forgotten in a two-month-long frenzy of violence and death.
It was only fitting and poignant then that the song was played over and over through the day in Kokrajhar. Disturbed Dhubri, too, remembered the significance of the song as its residents took out a peace procession.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi spoke of the immortality of Bhupenda’s songs. “So long the mighty Brahmaputra flows, Bhupen Hazarika’s music would continue to reverberate throughout the length and breadth of the state,” he said at Latasil ground in Guwahati.
Gogoi said Hazarika would continue to inspire people, especially the youth, for generations to come through the rich musical legacy bequeathed by him. Thousands of school students and people from all walks of life attended the function organised by Dr Bhupen Hazarika Literary and Cultural Forum with support from Shree Gujarat Welfare Society to spread his eternal message on universal peace, harmony and solidarity with the soul-stirring Manuhe Manuhar Babe.
Earlier, Gogoi, on his arrival from New Delhi in the morning, went straight to the samadhisthal on the premises of the Gauhati University to pay homage to the icon.
The state government paid its tributes by deciding to rename the Regional Government Film and Television as Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.
If possessiveness can be termed as tribute then it poured in from neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, too.
“Music legend Bhupen Hazarika was not a son of Assam but of Arunachal Pradesh. If he has any motherland, then it must be Arunachal. He was born in a NEFA village, nurtured by Arunachali mothers for days. His hard-learned wisdom later made him a link between the isolated Northeast and mainland India, before he became the East-West cultural bridge,” said litterateur Yese Dorje Thongshi at a function organised by the Asam Sahitya Sabha to mark the occasion at Balipara Higher Secondary school in Sonitpur district.
Sabha president Rong Bong Terang said Hazarika gave the people a lot but received little in return.
In Jorhat, a huge colourful procession comprising school students and the public was taken out. It was accompanied by artistes of seven indigenous communities of Assam dressed in traditional attire and singing Manuhe Manuhar Babe in their respective mother tongues, thus sending the message of humanity to a larger audience.
The procession organised by the Sanskritik Mahasabha, Assam, started from Court Field and passed through the main thoroughfares of the town.
The hills did not forget Hazarika either with functions being organised. Diphu in Karbi Anglong and Umrangsu in Dima Hasao find mentioned in his songs.
However, there was a touch of gloom to the day.
Much like Hazarika, falling ill while performing at a function in Guwahati and never to return to the stage again, 50-year-old Ghana Kanta Medhi, head of the physics department in Birjhora College of Bongaigaon, died while singing the maestro’s songs at the college auditorium today.
A chorus, running into thousands across the hills and valleys of Assam, sang Manuhe Manuhar Babe. They sang the song in several languages, holding hands and forming human chains or groups, in a tribute to its creator, Bhupen Hazarika, on his first death anniversary today.
Indeed, the immortal Manuhe Manuhar Babe turned into the theme song for the occasion as the music maestro’s death anniversary came close on the heels of the BTAD violence. The song’s yearning for humanity had been forgotten in a two-month-long frenzy of violence and death.
It was only fitting and poignant then that the song was played over and over through the day in Kokrajhar. Disturbed Dhubri, too, remembered the significance of the song as its residents took out a peace procession.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi spoke of the immortality of Bhupenda’s songs. “So long the mighty Brahmaputra flows, Bhupen Hazarika’s music would continue to reverberate throughout the length and breadth of the state,” he said at Latasil ground in Guwahati.
Gogoi said Hazarika would continue to inspire people, especially the youth, for generations to come through the rich musical legacy bequeathed by him. Thousands of school students and people from all walks of life attended the function organised by Dr Bhupen Hazarika Literary and Cultural Forum with support from Shree Gujarat Welfare Society to spread his eternal message on universal peace, harmony and solidarity with the soul-stirring Manuhe Manuhar Babe.
Earlier, Gogoi, on his arrival from New Delhi in the morning, went straight to the samadhisthal on the premises of the Gauhati University to pay homage to the icon.
The state government paid its tributes by deciding to rename the Regional Government Film and Television as Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.
If possessiveness can be termed as tribute then it poured in from neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, too.
“Music legend Bhupen Hazarika was not a son of Assam but of Arunachal Pradesh. If he has any motherland, then it must be Arunachal. He was born in a NEFA village, nurtured by Arunachali mothers for days. His hard-learned wisdom later made him a link between the isolated Northeast and mainland India, before he became the East-West cultural bridge,” said litterateur Yese Dorje Thongshi at a function organised by the Asam Sahitya Sabha to mark the occasion at Balipara Higher Secondary school in Sonitpur district.
Sabha president Rong Bong Terang said Hazarika gave the people a lot but received little in return.
In Jorhat, a huge colourful procession comprising school students and the public was taken out. It was accompanied by artistes of seven indigenous communities of Assam dressed in traditional attire and singing Manuhe Manuhar Babe in their respective mother tongues, thus sending the message of humanity to a larger audience.
The procession organised by the Sanskritik Mahasabha, Assam, started from Court Field and passed through the main thoroughfares of the town.
The hills did not forget Hazarika either with functions being organised. Diphu in Karbi Anglong and Umrangsu in Dima Hasao find mentioned in his songs.
However, there was a touch of gloom to the day.
Much like Hazarika, falling ill while performing at a function in Guwahati and never to return to the stage again, 50-year-old Ghana Kanta Medhi, head of the physics department in Birjhora College of Bongaigaon, died while singing the maestro’s songs at the college auditorium today.
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