Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Pune organization Sarhad wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rename the Mumbai-Guwahati Express. They submitted a formal request on August 22. They want the train, numbered 15647/15648, to carry the name Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Express. It is a big ask. The group cites the upcoming birth centenary of the legendary musician as the reason for the tribute.
Sarhad has pursued this change since 2015. Founder-president Sanjay Nahar claims Hazarika served as a bridge between the Northeast and the rest of India. The group previously worked with the icon on music programs designed to stop violence. They continue this work today with his family's blessing. The group stated that "naming the train after Hazarika during his birth centenary year would recognise his contribution and hold significance for people in the Northeast."
Nahar also included a 2015 letter sent to former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. That old proposal requested that the Naharlagun-Guwahati Intercity Express be renamed the Lummer Dai Sampriti Express. That train carries numbers 15617/15618. This earlier request honors Lummer Dai, the first recognized Assamese author from Arunachal Pradesh. Sarhad hopes to improve ties between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh through this legacy. For now, the group waits for a response from the Prime Minister on their primary request.
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