Key Points

PM Modi called the contribution of Bhupen Hazarika in music unforgettable. In a post on X, he said, "My salutations to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, who gave Assam's culture global recognition, on his birth anniversary. His contribution to Indian culture and the music world will remain unforgettable."

Meanwhile, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), has launched "Bistirna Parore: A Musical Voyage from Sadiya to Dhubri" today at Guijan in Dibrugarh to mark the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika.

The unique cultural journey, named after one of Dr Hazarika's most iconic compositions, will span the length of the Brahmaputra River and bring together communities through music and celebration.

The press release informed that the opening ceremony at Bogibeel, Dibrugarh, will feature a wide range of activities designed to honour Dr Hazarika's creative legacy and inspire young minds. These include an art competition, a quiz competition based on the life and works of Dr Hazarika, and group dance performances showcasing the traditions of Moran, Motok, Tea Tribe, Sonowal Kachari, Deuri, and Gorkha communities. Together, these events will reflect the diversity of Assam's cultural mosaic that Bhupen Da so vividly captured in his music, said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Adding to the significance of the occasion, video tributes from some of India's most prominent voices in music will be screened. Among those paying homage are violinist Sunita Bhuyan Khound, music directors Dhrubajyoti Phukan, Amrit Pritam, Lohit Gogoi, and Syed Sadulla, as well as noted artists Ramen Choudhury, Samar Hazarika, and devotional singer Anup Jalota. Their messages will celebrate Bhupen Da's unparalleled contribution to Indian music and his ability to transcend borders with his art.

The Brahmaputra, flowing from Sadiya to Dhubri, has long been the lifeline of Assam, binding together its diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic communities. Dr. Hazarika transformed this river into a metaphor for humanity--its boundlessness mirroring his universal messages of equality, friendship, and justice. Through his music, the river became more than geography; it became a symbol of cultural solidarity and global harmony.

As IWAI conceptualised this river journey, the idea was not just to pay tribute but to retrace Dr. Hazarika's footsteps across the Brahmaputra, connecting communities and carrying his message downstream, much like the river carries life itself. Bistirna Parore is thus both a homage and a living journey of remembrance.

- ANI