Himalayan States Join Nation in Remembering Legendary Bard of Brahmaputra on Birth Centenary
SHIMLA/GUWAHATI, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026:
The Himalayan states have joined the nation in remembering legendary singer, composer, poet and filmmaker Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his 100th birth anniversary, celebrating a cultural giant whose voice carried the soul of Assam and the spirit of the Northeast far beyond the banks of the Brahmaputra.
Dr. Hazarika, popularly known as the Bard of the Brahmaputra and Sudhakantha, remains an enduring symbol of music, humanity and social consciousness.
His timeless songs such as “Bistirno Parore,” “Manuhe Manuhor Babe,” “Moi Eti Jajabor,” “Ganga,” “Dil Hoom Hoom Kare” and “O Ganga Behti Ho Kyun” touched millions, carrying messages of humanity, brotherhood, migration, longing and social justice across linguistic and geographical boundaries.
For Assam, his connection with the Brahmaputra runs much deeper than poetry and music. The river that inspired some of his most memorable compositions has also been associated with his name through the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, popularly known as the Dhola–Sadiya Bridge.
Spanning the Lohit River in Assam, the bridge connects Dhola and Sadiya and stands as a major landmark of the Northeast, carrying forward the name of the man whose music made the rivers, people and landscapes of Assam part of India's wider cultural imagination.
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma paid tribute to the legendary artist, describing him as more than a name for the people of Assam.
He said Dr. Hazarika is an emotion that continues to live in the heart and soul of the state. The year-long nationwide celebrations of his life and creations, he said, have reaffirmed the enduring legacy of the iconic cultural figure.
The centenary celebrations have brought renewed national attention to Hazarika's extraordinary contribution to Indian culture. His music transcended linguistic boundaries and gave expression to the lives, struggles and dreams of ordinary people.
His songs were not merely melodies but powerful social statements, often speaking directly to the human condition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recalled Dr. Hazarika on his 100th birth anniversary, saying his voice carried the soul of Assam and the spirit of the Northeast to the entire nation.
He warmly recalled attending the launch of the birth centenary celebrations in Guwahati last year and said Bhupen Da's life and work would continue to inspire generations.
Born on September 8, 1926, in Sadiya, Assam, Hazarika was a towering multi-faceted personality—singer, lyricist, composer, poet, filmmaker, actor and public figure.
His creative world remained deeply rooted in the Northeast, with the Brahmaputra serving as both a geographical presence and a recurring metaphor for life, struggle and human relationships.
His contribution was recognised with some of India's highest honours, including the Bharat Ratna, conferred posthumously in 2019.
He had earlier received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and National Film Awards for his contribution to Indian cinema and music.
From the haunting “Bistirno Parore”, inspired by the vast Brahmaputra and reflecting on human suffering, to the deeply moving “Manuhe Manuhor Babe”, which calls for humanity to stand together, Hazarika's songs continue to remain relevant. “Moi Eti Jajabor”, with its imagery of a wandering traveller, captured the restless spirit of his own artistic journey, while “Dil Hoom Hoom Kare” brought his distinctive musical sensibility to a wider Hindi-speaking audience.
As India marks his birth centenary, the Himalayan states and the rest of the country join Assam in remembering a man whose art knew no regional boundaries.
The Bard of the Brahmaputra transformed the river, its people and their stories into a shared cultural inheritance of India.
The Bhupen Hazarika Setu today carries thousands of travellers across the Northeast, while his songs continue to carry the voice of the Northeast into the hearts of generations.
The river may flow onward, but the voice of its Bard remains timeless.
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