Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an iconic Indian singer, composer, lyricist, music director, poet, author, journalist, and filmmaker from Assam, India. Revered as the "Bard of the Brahmaputra," he was a pioneer in Assamese cinema and one of the most powerful voices for cultural integration and national unity in India.
Early Life and Education of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
Born in Sadiya, Assam, Hazarika was a child prodigy who composed and sang his first song at the age of 10 for Jyoti Prasad Agarwala’s landmark Assamese film Joymoti. By age 12, he contributed to Indramalati (1939) and performed the song Biswa Bijoy No Jowan.
He completed his Intermediate Arts from Cotton College, Guwahati in 1942, earned his B.A. from Banaras Hindu University in 1944, and his M.A. in Political Science in 1946. He later obtained a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Columbia University, New York, in 1954, with a dissertation focused on using audio-visual techniques for adult education. He also received the Lisle Fellowship from the University of Chicago for cinema-based educational development.
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's Contribution to Cinema and Culture
Dr. Hazarika is hailed as one of India’s greatest cultural ambassadors and film personalities. He single-handedly brought Assamese cinema to national and international recognition. Over a span of four decades, he promoted cinema as a tool for cultural integration across the seven northeastern states.
From 1967 to 1972, he served as an Independent MLA in the Assam Legislative Assembly, where he was instrumental in establishing India’s first state-owned film studio in Guwahati.
National and International Awards won by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika received numerous awards and honors throughout his life, including:
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Padma Shri (1977) – India’s fourth-highest civilian award
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Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1993) – India’s highest honor in cinema
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Padma Bhushan (2001) – Third-highest civilian award
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Gold Disc by The Gramophone Company of India (1978)
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Ritwik Ghatak Awards (1979–80) – Best music director for theatre
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Indira Gandhi Smriti Purashkar (1987)
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Lata Mangeshkar Award (2001) – Madhya Pradesh Government
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Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) – Tezpur University (2001)
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Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi (1999–2004)
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Trustee roles in ICCR and Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts
He also received prestigious recognition from Bangladesh for his contributions to music in the film Simana Periye and was honored internationally for Rudaali at the Asia Pacific Film Festival in Japan.
Demise and Historic Funeral of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
Dr. Hazarika passed away on 5 November 2011 at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai, due to multiple organ failure. His funeral became one of the most attended funerals globally. Reports suggest over 500,000 people paid their last respects, and over 30 million viewers watched the telecast across Assam and India on 8–9 November 2011.
He was cremated at the Gauhati University campus, Jalukbari, on 9 November 2011, with full state honors. His funeral drew more attendees than those of iconic figures like Princess Diana, Pope John Paul II, and Michael Jackson, according to media sources.
Legacy :
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika remains a towering figure in Indian music and cinema. His works are a powerful expression of social justice, humanity, and harmony, transcending language, caste, and region. He not only uplifted Assamese culture but also enriched Indian art and literature on a global scale.
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