The event, held at the Veterinary Ground in Khanapara, was marked by cultural tributes and the unveiling of a special centenary coin and a biography of the music icon.
Photo: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Guwahati to participate in the centenary birth anniversary celebrations of Bharat Ratna and legendary singer Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
The event, held at the Veterinary Ground in Khanapara, was marked by cultural tributes and the unveiling of a special centenary coin and a biography of the music icon.
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Modi released a Rs 100 commemorative silver coin, the first such honour for a personality from Assam, and also launched a book on Hazarika’s life authored by Sahitya Akademi awardee Anuradha Sarma Borpujari.
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Describing Hazarika as the “hero of India’s unity,” the Prime Minister said that though Bhupen da is no longer physically present, his voice continues to energise the nation and inspire generations.
“A few days ago, on his birthday, I expressed my feelings in an article dedicated to Bhupen da. It is my good fortune to participate in this centenary celebration. We all used to lovingly call him ‘Sudha Kontho’,” he said.
Modi highlighted how Hazarika’s songs carried the message of harmony, resilience, and unity even during turbulent times in the Northeast.
He noted that the singer had dreamt of a prosperous Northeast and that his vision of cultural connectivity still guides the region’s progress. Calling the Northeast the land of new light and new hope, the Prime Minister asserted that India’s development could not be imagined without the progress of the region. He also urged the people of Assam to take pride in their culture and identity, adding that he always promotes the Assamese gamosa and encourages people to be “vocal for local.”
The celebrations also witnessed the presence of Hazarika’s son, Tej Hazarika, making the occasion deeply personal for the family and symbolic for Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the Prime Minister for honouring the state’s cultural icon, saying that the people of Assam would always remember this gesture.
Alongside the tribute, Modi’s visit set the stage for a series of major development projects worth over Rs 19,000 crore, including initiatives in energy, healthcare, infrastructure, and connectivity, which will be inaugurated during his two-day tour of the Northeast. By intertwining homage to Bhupen Hazarika’s enduring legacy with a vision for Assam’s growth, the Prime Minister underlined the state’s pivotal role in India’s cultural and developmental journey.
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