Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma honored the late Bhupen Hazarika on Thursday, November 5. He marked the death anniversary of the man known as the Bard of the Brahmaputra. Hazarika died in Mumbai in 2011. He left behind a massive musical and cultural footprint.
Sarma took to X to share his thoughts. He highlighted the singer's lasting impact on the state. "Dr Bhupen Hazarika — a name that echoes through every household in Assam and beyond. The Bharat Ratna awardee’s contribution to Assam’s cultural landscape is unparalleled, and we are fortunate to have witnessed his performances live," Sarma wrote. He also called the artist Sudhakantha.
The government granted Hazarika the Bharat Ratna in 2019. This stands as the highest civilian honor in India. The nation currently celebrates his birth centenary. These events kicked off on September 8, 2025. They run until November 29, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the final event in New Delhi.
Updated at 5th November 2026 at 6:00pm
A new 61-minute documentary, Bhupen Da Uncut, offers a raw look at the icon. Shot in the United Kingdom in 1999, the footage features candid talk about his childhood, his academic grind in New York, and his connection to film pioneer Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. It also covers his marriage to Priyamvada Patel and includes previously unpublished poetry recited by the man himself.
Directed by Bobbeeta Sharma, the film captures the artist away from the stage. It has toured extensively, showing at the 56th International Film Festival of India and various venues ranging from the Nehru Centre in London to academic archives at Rutgers University. Further screenings are planned, including a November 13 stop at the Mumbai-Indie Film Festival.
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