One of the most renowned musician of all time Dr. Bhupen Hazarika marks 10th Death anniversary today on 5th November. Dr.Hazarika was born in 8th September 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. Being the eldest of all his 10 siblings, Hazarika was introduced to music folklore by his mother. Being surrounded by music, it was no surprise of him to count his step in the music industry. He first released his original when he was only 13 years old.
His song writing in no time grabbed the attention of prominent artists like Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha. With professional guidance his artistic skills grew further and got renowned recognition. He gradually grew as a song writer, singer, poet, film maker. His interest in Art was widely known by the songs he wrote and sung himself.
He garnered several awards after winning the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1975. In 1987, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Award. In 2019, he was made an honorary the Bharat Ratna.
Hazarika graduated from Banaras Hindu University with a BA in 1944 and an MA in political science in 1946. Before pursuing his career as a musician, he got his doctorate from Columbia University in New York, New York, in 1952.
Throughout his time in New York, Hazarika met Paul Robeson, a well-known civil rights activist, who inspired him to write the classic song Bistirno Parore, which was centered on the visual and concept of Robeson's Ol' Man River, which emphasised the country's widespread racial inequality. The song is now one of Hazarika's signature milestones, and it is today regarded as one of his legendary masterpieces, having been adapted into several Indian languages.
Composing soundtracks for films like Arop, Ek Pal, and Rudaali was among his greatest contributions to Hindi cinema. In 1993, he won the National Award for Best Music Director for Rudaali. From 1998 to 2003, he served as chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Hazarika, a Bharat Ratna recipient, died of old age illnesses on November 5, 2011 in Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. He was 85 years old at the time.
Approximately 1.5 million people gathered at a parcel of ground near Gauhati University for his memorial.