(November 5, 2019, is the 8th death anniversary of The Bard)
Pranjal Dutta
(The writer is Assistant Professor and Head, Department of English, Sarupathar College, Golaghat. He can be reached at
A socially committed lyricist, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was aware of today’s increased understanding of the problems in dealing with nature and the environment, and of their broader social and cultural contexts. An analysis of certain lyrics of Dr. Hazarika reveals that he was more preoccupied with capturing the reciprocal relationship between nature and mankind. To refer to these lyrics as ecologically informed lyrics indicates that they not only deal with nature in an objectifying manner, but they have grown out of and reflect a more holistic concept of ecological life.
Dr. Hazarika so often focused his themes on rural landscape and wildlife that one can hardly deny him to be a nature poet. His lyrics connect the world of nature and that of human beings. One of the finest qualities in most of his lyrics is the liberal use of various aspects of nature. He breathed human feelings into natural things like trees, clouds, hills, flowers and seasons. He developed a passionate romantic love for the purely sensuous beauty of nature. The majesty of the trees and hills, the darkness of the forest, the fragrance of flowers and murmur of running streams, the chirping of birds and the sound of waterfalls held him spellbound. He was held enthralled and captivated by the scenery of verdant hills, birds and flowers of mustard seeds which is succinctly revealed in the lyric ‘Rong Rong Naana Rong’: xaari xaari paaharore xeuj rong suwa / Gonga silonir paakhi / Kene muhoniya / xoriyoh phuloni suwa / Mitha haalodhiya (Behold the verdant hues of rows of green hills/ How thrilling is the wings of gliding kites/ Look at the mustard seed flowers/ How sweet is its yellow hue!).
Being a naturalist, Dr. Hazarika wrote several lyrics in which he has shown not merely concern about natural phenomena but also talked about the beauty of sunset, sunrise, the moon, flowers, trees, seasons and other natural species. In his lyric ‘Kaziranga’, he has observed in the wilderness something more dear and admirable than in the human world: Oronyoi juge juge jonmo dile / Xaadhona broti rishi muni / Koto xoto gnanor aadorsho dile / Dile koto monishi muni / Xeiye Bharot aaji hol dhonyo (Forest across the ages gave birth/ To wise sages committed to meditation/ Hence, India today is blessed with their wisdom). He shows his concern towards the creatures of nature by presenting a beautiful life about them. This is succinctly manifested here: Kazirangar siro xeuj poribesh / Hosti byaaghrore baas / Ek khorgor gorh prithibiye sai / Pokhir xuwodi prokash / Mur Kaziranga nohoi je bonyo (The verdant ambience of Kaziranga/ Abode of jumbos and tigers/ One-horned rhino is world’s attraction/ The chirping melodies of birds/ My Kaziranga is not wild). Dr. Hazarika saw man becoming more “ego-centric” due to his preoccupation with own interests and less “eco-centric” paying a deaf ear to the call of nature: Kazirangat mili juli khele / Gorh aaru horinir jaak / Jono oronyor hingsro jone kaahani xikibonu taak / Xobhyo maanuh henu maanyo! (Rhinos and deer play about merrily together/ When will the ferocious one in the human abode perceive it?/ Do civilized people deserve reverence?)
Dr. Hazarika’s lyric ‘Jongli Jongli’ also eulogizes the fresh air and innate beauty of nature in glowing terms. The lyric suggests that the natural world can not only be seen as equal to the human world, but greater than it. Another popular lyric ‘Dug Dug Dug Dug’ is based on the observation that the natural realm can communicate human emotions and sentiments, and can even comprehend human predicament. The lyric ‘Paahar Bhoiyamor Songom Tholite’ reveals the lyricist’s nostalgic yearning for living in harmony with nature. But the lyricist’s passion for nature has been made sober by human suffering. He is now disillusioned by the horrible spectacles of terrorism and bloodshed in the human world. In the lyric ‘Paaharor Sipare’, the lyricist has expressed concern over the degradation caused to environment: Paahar bhaangi bhaangi ogni urise / Rohdoi lowori polai (Sparks of fire erupt from the broken hills/ The lass takes to her heels). In another popular lyric ‘Oi Nilaaj Paahar’, Dr. Hazarika expresses his resentment over the exploitation of natural resources leading to degradation of the environment. In his lyric ‘Xeujia Bononir Bin Boragi’, the lyricist has expressed his concern over the landscape that is inhospitable and bleak. We are told that the earth is too barren to yield fresh air. There are no flora and fauna in the wilderness: Aaji mukoli botaahor aah-jaah nai / Bononit bon nai nai sorai (No free flow of fresh air today/ No trees, no birds in the woods).
Dr. Hazarika perceived that accelerating industrialization, widespread deforestation, and depletion of forests have not merely jeopardized the existence of mankind but also seriously challenged the survival of flora and fauna in the world. Under such circumstances he felt that environmental awareness among people is the need of the hour for building a favourable environment for the next generation. He felt an urgent need to educate humankind on the conservation of forests.
Dr. Hazarika’s lyric ‘Xuna Xuna He’ not only manifests the lyricist’s preoccupation with conservation of forests but also reveals how he delves deep into the logic for conservation. Here, Dr. Hazarika touches on the process of photosynthesis by which trees convert sunlight energy into chemical energy stored in carbohydrate molecules: Bon ek kaarkhona / Jyoti propator / Omlojaan baaspo sristi kore nirontor / Prokitir pora bone o’ / Kore aahoron / Boignanik upadan kori monthon. / Tene bhaabe toru trino / Sroje shetosaar / Xehi khaadyot pai jibe / Jibonor aahar (Forest is just a factory/ A fountain of light/ Producing oxygen incessantly/ Synthesizing chemical elements/ Yielding carbohydrate abundantly/ For living beings to nourish). The lyric also stresses the necessity of preserving forests: Bonobhumi xewar tholi he / Maanob kolyanor / Bon xongrokshon houk / Sinta xomaajor (Forestry is a provider of service/ For the welfare of humanity/ Let forest conservation be society’s top priority).
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, while highlighting the inevitability of preserving trees for the well-being of our future generations, poignantly and vehemently explodes against man’s depredations that degrade the sanctity of nature. His lyrics have overtones of deep ecology which offers a philosophical basis for environmental advocacy which may, in turn, guide human activity against perceived self-destruction. Nature, according to him, is at once ‘together and apart’ with the human workings. And this unflinching honesty in revealing the facts between man and nature becomes the recurrent theme in his lyrics. The lyricist’s reflection on environmental problems is of no common mind but somewhat tinctured with the gloomy aspects of modern civilization.pranjalduttaspr@gmail.com)