Why in the news?

As India celebrates the birth centenary of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (1926–2026), tributes pour in across the country for the legendary musician, poet, and philosopher who gave a moral and musical voice to the soul of India. His art continues to resonate as a symbol of unity, compassion, and cultural renaissance in the Northeast.

Early Life and Education

• Born: September 8, 1926, in Sadiya, Assam, to Nilakanta and Shantipriya Hazarika.
  
• Education:
  
  • Completed schooling in Tezpur and Guwahati.
    
  • Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Columbia University, New York (1952), with a thesis on “Audio-Visual Techniques in Adult Education.”
    
  • Received the Lisle Fellowship from the University of Chicago.
    
• Discovered by Assamese icons Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha while singing Borgeet in Tezpur — an event that marked the beginning of his artistic journey.
  

Artistic Legacy and Music Career

Dr. Hazarika was not just a singer but a moral voyager whose songs carried the message of humanism, equality, and cultural unity.

• His early musical debut began with “Indramalati” (1939), composed by Jyotiprasad Agarwala.
  
• Deeply influenced by Paul Robeson, he created the timeless Assamese classic “Bistirno Parore”, inspired by Ol’ Man River—giving it an Indian soul and moral depth.
  
• Famous compositions like “Manuhe Manuhor Babe”, “Ganga Amar Ma”, and “Dil Hoom Hoom Kare” became cultural anthems of empathy and oneness.
  
• His music traversed linguistic and regional boundaries—sung in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, and English—reflecting India’s pluralistic ethos.
  

Cinema and Cultural Leadership

• Directed & composed music for acclaimed Assamese films such as:
  
  • Era Bator Sur (1956)
    
  • Shakuntala (1960)
    
  • Pratidhwani (1964)
    
  • Lotighoti (1966)
    
  • Siraj (1988)
    
• Created documentaries like Emuthi Saular Kahini and Through Melody and Rhythm, celebrating folk life and tribal traditions.
  
• His Hindi compositions for films like Rudaali (1994), Ek Pal (1986), and Mera Dharam Meri Maa (1976) gained national acclaim.
  
• Composed the Gauhati University Anthem, Jilikabo Luitore Paar.
  

Public Life and Philosophy

• Served as MLA from Naoboicha (1967–72) and later as Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi (1999–2004).
  
• His political philosophy was rooted in humanism, not ideology. He believed art should heal divisions and elevate the moral conscience of society.
  
• Advocated unity through culture, weaving together Assamese, Bodo, Mising, and Arunachali identities into a shared melody.
  

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Hazarika’s towering contributions were recognised nationally and globally:

• Padma Shri (1977), Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Vibhushan (2012, posthumously), and Bharat Ratna (2019, posthumously)
  
• Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992) – India’s highest honour in cinema
  
• National Award for Best Music Director for Chameli Memsaab (1975)
• Asom Ratna (2009), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2008)
  
• Muktijoddha Padak (Bangladesh, 2011) for his support to Bangladesh’s Liberation War
  
• Arunachal Gold Medal (1979) for tribal cultural upliftment
  
• First Indian to win Best Music at the Asia Pacific Film Festival (Japan, 1993) for Rudaali
• Commemorated through postal stamps (2013, 2016) and the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu (Dhola–Sadiya Bridge), India’s longest river bridge.
  

Philosophy and Humanism

Dr. Hazarika’s music embodied the Indian ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family).

• His songs like Manuhe Manuhor Babe ask a timeless moral question: Why can’t humans live for one another?
• His art reflected the Bhakti spirit of Srimanta Sankardev—rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and devotion to humanity.
  
• He saw womanhood as Shakti—a moral and creative force symbolising civilisation’s endurance.
  
• His vision of nationalism was humanistic and ethical, not political—a call to awaken India’s conscience through empathy and unity.
  

Exam Hook – Key Takeaways

• Bhupen Hazarika’s legacy bridges the cultural, moral, and musical dimensions of India’s identity.
  
• His philosophy combines Assamese folk tradition with universal humanism, resonating with India’s spiritual ideal of harmony.
  
• His works align with National Integration, Cultural Policy, and the Promotion of Regional Art and Cinema – topics relevant for UPSC/APSC Mains under “Art and Culture.”
  

Mains Question

“Discuss how Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s music and philosophy embodied the spirit of India’s cultural unity and humanism.”

One-line wrap:
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was more than a musician — he was the moral melody of India, reminding us that compassion, not power, is the true rhythm of civilization.

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