Skip to content Skip to navigation

Jajabar remembered on his 89th birthday

By Prantik Deka |

The 89th birthday of Dr Bhupen Hazarika is being observed as a month-long celebration in Assam and the rest of the country. The world of Dr. Hazarika came to life in a grand function organised by the prominent socio-cultural association Luitparia Sanskritik Gosthi at the Rabindra Bhawan on September 1. The function entitled 'Upaja Mahot Hudhakonthak Suwaran' was inaugurated by veteran actor Dilip Kumar Hazarika. This well-known actor who appeared as Piyali Barua and around whom the famous song 'Buku Hom Hom Kare..' was picturised in the landmark Assamese film 'Maniram Dewan', musically composed by Dr Bhupen Hazarika, delivered a stirring keynote speech. Everyone in the audience listened intently as Hazarika, an engaging speaker, regaled his audience with various anecdotes from his checkered career, including his close association with Dr Bhupen Hazarika. A minister or a political leader couldn't possibly have made that much of an impact.

The cultural evening kicked off with a scintillating display of dance by talented new generation dancer Rodali Bora to the popular devotional tune 'Aa Joy Raghur Nandan, Aa Joy Raghav He..'. Soon after, several kids and young dancers danced to a medley of Dr Hazarika's evergreen tunes. Shristi, Pankaj, Lukas, Ragini, Ankit, Jivitesh, Runak, Nisha among others regaled the audiences with their dancing skills in songs like 'Kinu Mayare Jorire..', 'Autorickshaw Solau..', 'Gaile Ki Asiben..', etc. Altogether 17 dancers danced to the popular song 'Senehir Phota Riha..' which was rendered by Dr Hazarika in duet with Sandhya Menon. It was back to Rodali to enthrall once more. The young dancer danced to the Hindi, Assamese and Bengali versions of the haunting melody 'Buku Hom Hom Kare..'.  Like the opening song, this too was a very enjoyable presentation. Rodali was accompanied on stage by several dancers, including Snigdha, Niki, Akangsha among others.

Several youngsters danced to the tune of 'Natun Natun Saah..' -  a song that epitomizes strength, courage, energy and hope. This  was followed by a group dance performed by several actresses to the tune of 'Gupute Gupute Kiman Khelim Alingonor Ai Khela..'. Both the Assamese-Hindi versions of  the song was played on stage. It sort of cast a magic spell on the audiences. The Hindi version was rendered by Lata Mangeskar.

It was now the turn of Dr Hazarika's youngest brother and prominent singer Samar Hazarika to perform on stage. Hazarika presented evergreen hits like 'Suwarani Mur Rangoli Jeevan..', 'Liyen Macao..' and 'Aah Aah Ulai Aah..' with his trademark style to the delight of the audiences. Samar Hazarika also mentioned of his fond association with Luitparia Sanskritik Gosthi's 'Upaja Mahot Hudhakanthak Suwaran', which has grown in stature over the years.

After Samar Hazarika, it was the turn of well-known violinists Manoj Barua and Purabi Sarma to mesmerize the packed capacity crowd with their lucid interpretations of Dr Hazarika's songs. Following every nuance and detail, it was collaboration of a high order.

It soon came to knowledge that students, teachers and guardians of Guwahati-based missionary school St Frances De Seles have been providing unstinted help and support to Luitparia Sanskritik Gosthi since its inception. Various cultural items during the show were directed by Sitarani Hazarika, Ranjit Gogoi, Akash Jyoti and Monalisha Barua. Our sincere thanks to chief organizer Rosy Bora and other members of her team for giving us the opportunity to enjoy the programme. Luitparia Sanskritik Gosthi deserves big praise and appreciation for organising such a show, which is being held every year in honour of legendary artist Dr Bhupen Hazarika.

  • 14262 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Bhasa Sanskriti Milan Utsav held

The 13th Bhasha Sanskriti Milan Utsav 2019 – a cultural event, organised by the state’s well-known socio-cultural organisation Byatikram MASDO (Mass Awareness and Social Development Oraganisation), successfully concluded at the Pragjyotish ITA Centre, Machkhowa, Guwahati, recently. The five-day event, held to mark the Mother Language Day - a day celebrated annually on February 21 worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and the preservation and protection of languages, saw several cultural programmes, discussions, book launches, poets’ meets, art exhibitions, felicitations, among others, where several artistes and noted figures from Bangladesh and...

New film: Siyahir Rong

It has only recently completed its shooting portion, but ‘Siyahir Rong’ is already creating a lot of buzz on the social media. The film, based on noted senior political journalist and writer Jitumoni Bora’s acclaimed novel of the same title, is directed by Prodyut Kumar Deka. In 2016, Bora brought out a book that takes an objective inquest into the true nature of journalism in Assam, uncovering a number of concealed truths and stories. Based on his own professional experiences over the past 25 years, his book, published by Bani Mandir, enabled readers to have a refreshing look at the field throughout the 312 pages of the searing novel. The astonishing lengths to which he traversed to unfold...

Shankar Barua's film 'Rongeen’ to release on Mar 15

At long last, the people of Assam will get to savour the beautiful colours and electrifying music of the widely awaited Assamese film ‘RONGEEN’. Scheduled for a March 15 theatrical release, the people of Assam are expected to throng the movie theaters to watch  ‘RONGEEN’ this election season.  In director Shankar Borua's words: "RONGEEN is a political musical with 8 songs, primarily what we would call as Assamese rap music. The content is fairly local and reflective of the political mood on the ground in Assam at this moment, just the right time to take this powerful movie with a strong political message to the people of Assam. A down-and-out guy who manages singers for a living...

Rd Burman Memorial Music Competition On January 5

An all-round musician and a trendsetter, RD Burman, better known as ‘Pancham da’, was one of the most prolific music directors that India had ever produced. The iconic music maestro revolutionized the music scene in the country forever.  It’s heartening to know that music lovers of the city will get a rare opportunity to relive the evergreen compositions of the legendary RD. A music competition on the occasion of RD Burman’s 25th death anniversary, organised under the aegis of North East RD Burman Fan Club, is scheduled to be held on January 5 at the District Library in Guwahati. The winning contestants stand to gain cash prizes, certificates and a trophy. There will be separate...

Raas leela celebration concludes

As with the previous years, this year too, the husband-wife duo of Basanta  Kumar Baruah and Bobby Sarma Baruah successfully organised Raas Leela from November 23 to 25, under the banner of BB Creation on a grand scale at the Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium, of the Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati. Besides entertaining, the cultural extravaganza, which has contributed immensely in building intercommunity bridges in Assam, celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year. It all started in the year 2011, with the participation of Bodo, Karbi, Deuri, Mising and tea tribe communities, performing Raas in their own dialects. This year, too, the artistes of the Asom Nepali Natya...

Puppet show performed in Port Blair

Puppet dance, popularly known as 'Potola Nach', was once the most popular form of entertainment, especially for children, but the tradition has struggled to survive against the onslaught of modern popular culture.  For some years now, people in the State have been able to enjoy the ancient art form of puppetry due to the tireless efforts of the artistic couple, master puppeteers Binita Devi and Simanta Sarma. This couple has invested a great deal in reviving this art form with their clever and refreshing approach by adopting new but simple techniques, enacting stories through glove puppetry that act as a bridge between the child’s world and that of the adult.  It has also...

New documentary ‘slaughtered dream’ released

‘Slaughtered Dream’ (Understanding Woman & Child Trafficking in Assam), a documentary film on women and child trafficking was screened to immense praise and appreciation at the Jyoti Chitraban in Guwahati recently.  In a clarion call that compel us to take a sharp look at one of the most striking human rights abuses which has been going on in our backyard, the documentary recounts the harrowing experiences of a number of women, children and the destitute in general.  A first-hand accounts and stories of survivors, victims' families and alleged traffickers, this documentary film is a clarion call. Sonapur-based Reema Teron, a survivor of human trafficking, describes the...

New short film Not My Thing released

Women’s participation in the work force has increased over the years, yet, a healthy percentage of the female employees have also had to constantly endure sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of their employers, leading to an oppressive environment in the workplace. Many women prefer to suffer silently over the injustices committed against them, out of fear of losing their jobs. At times, when they do speak up, they are often met by apathetic superiors and colleagues.  A healthy public awareness about the issue of sexual harassment may, perhaps, help prevent its recurrence, which prompted Partha Bharadwaj to produce an Assamese short film - ‘Not my Thing’, that celebrates the...

Natasurya Drama Fest Concludes Successfully

Without doubt, this year’s Natasurya Drama Festival has turned out to be the most outstanding one since its inception. The 23rd edition of the event, organised by Natasurya Memorial Celebration Committee in association with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam, from August 1 to 7, treated the audience to a weeklong theatre festival at the Sri Sri Madhab Dev International Auditorium and Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium, Kalakshetra, Guwahati.  I was highly impressed with the quality of plays this year, distinguished by their singular artistry and aesthetics. One could notice a sea of change and obvious professionalism in the use of sound, make-up, costume and...

Short film: Kio Eman Humoniyah

A new short film 'Kio Eman Humoniyah', inspired by real life stories of people who have succumbed to drugs, depression and alcoholism, has been creating waves in social media. Directed by Prasant Saikia of ‘Rum Vodka Whisky’-fame, the musical takes a look at the epidemic of addiction in our society where a lot of young people are overwhelmed by drug and alcohol addiction, resulting in severe anxiety and panic attacks.  The film emphasises on the importance of compassion and fellow feeling. Many lives can be saved if we pay heed to the quiet whispers of those who are suffering and those struggling to liberate themselves from the grip of addiction. It is those very affected who...