Late Iconic Singer Dr Bhupen Hazarika Awarded Bharat Ratna

NEW DELHI: Former President Pranab Mukherjeee on Thursday received the Bharat Ratna — the highest civilian award in the country — which was also conferred to late iconic singer-composer Dr Bhupen Hazarika and late social activist Nanaji Deshmukh. Dr. Hazarika’s son, Tez Hazarika received the award on his behalf while Mukherjee received it himself and Deshmukh’s family members received the honour from President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. (IANS)

Hazarika had earned widespread recognition in the national and international platforms for his magnanimous personality and amazing musical traits. He was not only a great singer but a universal composer and lyricist as well. The songs were written and sang by him decades ago are still going fresh and relevant in the modern age and this proves the universality of the artist.

Bestowed with several national and international honours, Bhupen Hazarika had won the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1992. A host of other awards won by the singer are National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1975, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, Padmashri in 1977, and Padmabhushan in 2001. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2008.

Born on September 8, 1926 and died on November 5, 2011, Hazarika was equally famous and loved in West Bengal and Bangladesh as he had written and sung a number of songs in the Bengali language as well.

Bhupen Hazarika, dearly called as the ‘Sudhakantha’ by his admirers, was gifted with a baritone voice for which the songs sung by him stand out in a row of thousand other songs. However, in addition to earning ample fame in the music industry, Hazarika bagged particular significance as a film director as well. The Assamese films made by him were the award-winning Shakuntala and Pratidhwani. On the other hand, the well-acclaimed Hindi films Ek Pal (1986), Rudaali (1993) and Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001) had his music for which he was widely appreciated.

Bhupen Hazarika, for his incredible contributions to Assamese and national music industry, will forever be remembered and respected by his successors.

Also Read: Late Bhupen Hazarika to receive Bharat Ratna by President Ram Nath Kovind today

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