Kune Koy, Moi Akolkhoria..(...who says, I am a loner...)
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika........,
The name itself bears the charisma! From our childhood, we have been fascinating by this name. We had always been fascinated by his writing styles, by his lyrics, the way he used beautiful and pure Assamese or Bengali words in his songs, poems and of course we have always been mesmerizing by his deep, yet sweet, sonorous voice by which he has gifted us numerous touching songs, adored by all.
The name itself bears the charisma! From our childhood, we have been fascinating by this name. We had always been fascinated by his writing styles, by his lyrics, the way he used beautiful and pure Assamese or Bengali words in his songs, poems and of course we have always been mesmerizing by his deep, yet sweet, sonorous voice by which he has gifted us numerous touching songs, adored by all.
He was a genius, a multifaceted genius indeed! He was a poet, music composer, singer, actor, social worker, journalist, documentary maker, author and also a successful film-maker. His gigantic personality attracted everybody towards him as fire attracts flies. Whenever he performed in any cultural show, people thronged to him and got amused by his titbits equally as his songs which enthralled, spell bounded everybody. He was an example of a perfect entertaining package on and off stage.
HIS BIRTH & EDUCATION:
Dr. Hazarika was born on 8 September 1926 to Nilakanta and Shantipriya Hazarika in Sadiya, Assam. His father was originally from Nazira, a town located in Sivasagar district. He was the eldest of ten children. He studied at Sonaram High School at Guwahati, Dhubri Government High School and matriculated from Tezpur High School in 1940. He completed his Intermediate Arts from Cotton College in 1942 and went to Banaras Hindu University to complete his B. A. in 1944 and M. A. in Political Science in 1946.
While he was working in All India Radio, Guwahati(for a brief period), he won a scholarship from Columbia University and set sail for New York in 1949. He lived there for five years and received his doctorate (PhD) in Mass Communication from Columbia University in 1952 on his thesis "Proposals for Preparing India's Basic Education to use Audio-Visual Techniques in Adult Education". He also received the Lisle Fellowship from Chicago University, USA, to study the use of educational project development through cinema.
EARLY LIFE:
When he was about 5 years of his age, he got, may be, the greatest blessings of his life in the form of a kiss from Sahityarathi Lakhminath Bejbaruah while in a cultural programme at Govt. High School Gauhati (now Cotton Collegiate HS School). At 10 years of his age, he was noticed by Rupkunwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala in a cultural function at Tezpur, the noted Assamese lyricist, playwright and the first Assames Filmmaker. There he also met Kala Guru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, renowned Assamese artist and revolutionary poet. He sang a Borgeet (the traditional classical Assamese devotional songs written by Srimanta Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhabdeva) in that function, taught by his mother Shantipriya. Along with them, with their guidance, he recorded his first song at the Aurora Studio for the Selona Company in 1939 in Kolkata. Later, he sang two songs in Agarwala's film Indramalati (1939): Kakhote Kolosi Loi and Biswo Bijoyi Naujawan when he was about 12. He wrote his first song, ‘Kushumbar Putra Sri Shankar Guruye ………’ at the age of about 11 years in Tezpur. His second song was ‘Agnijugar Firingati moi……..’, which he wrote in 1939.
LATER LIFE:
In New York Bhupen Hazarika met Paul Robeson, a legendary singer and civil rights activist, who influenced him a lot in his thoughts and believes. His song Bistirno parore is based on the imagery and theme of Robeson's Ol' Man River(lyrics by- Oscar Hammerstein II, sang by Paul Robeson and others). Later, his We are in the Same Boat Brother(By Huddie Ledbetter, known as “LeadBelly”) became a regular feature in his stage performance.
Two ladies:
At Columbia University, he met Priyamvada Patel, eventually both locked in nuptial tie in 1950. Their only son is Tez Hazarika, who lives in USA and Pryamvada Patel lives in Canada.
In Kolkata Kalpana Lajmi met him in the 1970s and they made the first film Ek Pal altogether(1986). Later this couple made few films like - Rudaali, Daman, Darmiyaan: n between etc. Subsequently, Lajmi began assisting him professionally and personally until the end of his life.
HIS LEGACY:
Soon after returning from the USA in 1953, Hazarika got the associated with Bharatya Gananatya Sangha and there he met great personalities like Balraj Sahni, Hemanga Bishwas etc. He also associated with Indian People's Theatre Association and became the Secretary of the Reception Committee of the Third All Assam Conference of IPTA, held in Guwahati in 1955. However, far before that, the seed of socialism deeply rooted in his young, but alert mind when he saw the inequality, deprivation, torture, extortion in pre independent India. Like most other people, he was also against all these. He strictly believed in egalitarianism and these thoughts and ideologies blossomed up by the close affiliations of the person like Bishnu Rabha, Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Phani Sharma etc. For all these reasons most of his songs and write ups were on these critical issues(seditiousness, humanity and love). Some of these songs are – Agnijugar Firingati……, Tapta Tikhare, Agni Shaki…., Dola Dola…., Jhak Jhak Rel Sole…., Pratidhwani Suno Moi……., Bhang Bhang…., Muktikami Lakkhajanag…., Endhar Katir Nikhate….., Raij Aji Bhawria…, Bistirna Parore….. etc. etc.
As mentioned earlier he was a great humanist. Humanism is quite distinct in his songs. He believed that through love and amity one can conquer somebody’s heart. Like other Assamese, he also blessed with the philosophy and ideology of Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardeva and Shri Shri Madhabdeva. From his childhood, directly or indirectly, Dr. Hazarika came into the influence of these two great saints through his mother. Now he knows to love others. Therefore, we can see the that his many songs are only meant for blossoming of love into somebody’s heart for somebody else. His aptitude in portraying peoples sorrows, grieves, worries, tears through songs is just astonishing! We can get the glimpses of these in these songs – Manuhe Manuhar Babe…, Koto Jowanor Mrityu Hol…., Khitore khemeka Rati…, Hejar Janar Bejar Dekhi…Jadi Jibane Kande…., Moi Eti Jajabar…, Pratham Nohoy Dwitiya Nohoy…, Atitor Burangi Likhoke…, etc, etc. For these same reason, when he sang the highly admired and famous song - Ganga Amar Maa…….., the people of Bangladesh shaded tears, and he was given Bangladesh’s highest civilian award, Muktijoddha Padak(posthumously, in 2011).
He is incredibly genius in translating his feelings into his songs, poems or other write-ups using beautiful yet strong words. His romantic songs are just awesome. Even the greatest personalities in the field of literature also get astonished seeing his use of words in his songs. They are so pure Assamese and so simple! Since he was a great romantic person (umm.. as people say), his romantic songs are absolutely delighting. Some of the most popular songs are - Moi Jetia Eai Jiyanar…., Akakhi Ganga Bisora Nai…., Sahasra Jone Mok Prashna Kore…, Tomar Dekho Naam Patra Lekha…, Mor Morome Morom Bisari Jai, Natun Nimati…, Moi Jen Aajiban…, Shhilangare Monalisa Lingdoh… etc. few to be named.
The person, whose name is Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, was a great lover of this land which is called Assam. For that very reason, we got some beautiful songs penned from him like – Akhom Amaar Rupahi…, Jonakore Rati.., Jilikabo Luitore Par, Akashi Janere, Bohag Matho Eti…, Buku Hom Hom Kore, Siyangore Gaalong, Mising Dekati… etc.
He used to encompass all the socio-economic, cultural, political, geographical, demographical contexts of Assam and its people along with his songs for children. Some of those songs are – Rang Kiniba Kone…, Rong Rong NaNa Rong…., Kajiranga Kajiranga, O AA Ko Kho…, Aami Bhyti Bhonti.., Aami Okoni Olamei … etc.
His expertise and excellence does not stop here. All we know that he was also a politician, journalist, an editor, a documentary maker and a successful filmmaker. However, we will discuss all these in our next posts one by one.
DEATH:
This legendary singer, who achieved Padamshree, Padma Bhushan, Padma Bibhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke award, Assam Ratna etc. was hospitalized in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute in Mumbai in 2011. But very sadly, because of multi-organ failure, he took his heavenly abode on 5 November 2011. He was cremated on 9 November 2011 near the Brahmaputra river in a plot of land donated by Gauhati University. His funeral was attended by an estimated half a million people from around India & neibouring countries.
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
Award for the Best Feature Film in Assamese (Shakuntala; Directed by Bhupen Hazarika) in the 9th National Film Awards (1961)
Award for the Best Feature Film in Assamese (Chameli Memsaab; music by Bhupen Hazarika) in the 23rd National Film Awards (1975)
Padma Shri - the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India (1977)
Gold medal from the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh for "outstanding contribution towards tribal welfare, and uplift of tribal culture through cinema and music."(1979)
All India Critic Association Award for best performing folk artist (1979)
All India Critic Association Award for best performing folk artist (1979)
In 1979 and 1980 he won the Ritwik Ghatak Award as best music director for two theatre plays, Mohua Sundari, and Nagini Kanyar Kahini
Bengal Journalist's Association Indira Gandhi Smriti Puraskar in (1987)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987)
Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992)
First Indian to win Best Music for the film Rudaali at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival in Japan (1993)
Padma Bhushan - the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India (2001)
Honorary Degree from Tezpur University (2001)
10th Kalakar Award for Lifetime Achievement in the year 2002, Kolkata.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2008)
Asom Ratna - the highest civilian award in the State of Assam, India (2009)
In February 2009, the All Assam Students Union erected a life size statue of Hazarika on the banks of Digholi Pukhuri in Guwahati.
Muktijoddha Padak - the highest civilian award by Bangladesh Government (posthumously, 2011)
Asom Sahitya Sabha has honoured him with the title "Biswa Ratna".
Padma Vibhushan - second highest civilian award in the Republic of India (2012)
Today, on the occasion of 89th birthday of musical maestro, Assam Ratna, Padma Bibhshan Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, we are remembering him with utmost respect and lot of love with defying expression.
Originally posted same day in 2013, in this same platform.
Reference:
Google image
http://www.bhupenhazarika.com/bio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhupen_Hazarika
