A tribute to Bhupen Hazarika on his death anniversary

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and Byatikram MASDO jointly hosted a discussion and cultural programme titled Aj Jibon Khuje Pabi to mark the 7th death anniversary of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, at the National Theatre Hall, BSA, recently. 

The BSA Director General, Liaquat Ali Lucky, and eminent singer Sudakshina Sarma attended the programme as guests of honour. The programme began with a one minute silence followed by the ceremonial Mangaldip lighting. Byatikram MASDO presented Liaquat Ali Lucky with 18 books and 2 documentaries along with the biography of Dr Hazarika.

Padmashree Suryakanta Hazarika, the writer of Dr Hazarika's biography, shared his experience of a 40 year  association with the artiste in writing the biography.  He revealed that Dr Bhupen Hazarika's parents would lovingly call him Bor Moyna, meaning the elder singing bird. “He wrote the first song when he was only eleven.  During his lifetime he was also a professor at Guwahati University in the Department of Philosophy and directed around 11 films, wrote scripts and acted as well,” Suryakanta said.

After the discussion, singer Sudakshina Sarma, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Rishiraj Sharma, Dr Sangeeta Kakoti and Abhijit Kumar Barua performed in the solo rendition segment.  Dhaka Sangskritik Dal performed choruses and BSA artistes performed group dances in the cultural programme. Singer Yasmine Ali performed Bimurto ei Ratri Amar from the Alamgir Kabir film Simana Periye, in which Dr Hazarika was the music director. Roksana Rupsha, Sohanur Rahman and Suchitra Rani also performed in the evening. The programme concluded with the famous song Manush Manusher Jonno, where artistes from both Bangladesh and India took part.