Why this matters now
Bhupen Hazarika is tested for: his role as a cultural ambassador of Assam and Northeast India, his Bharat Ratna 2019 (posthumous), his playback role in Bollywood (Rudaali, Saaz, Daman), and his iconic Ganga river song “Bistirno Parore” (Bengali) / “Ganga Behti Ho” (Hindi) / “O Ganga Tumi”.
Early life: Sadiya to Banaras Hindu University
Born on 8 September 1926 in Sadiya, upper Assam to Nilkanta Hazarika (teacher) and Shantipriya Devi, Bhupen was the eldest of ten children. He sang his first stage song at age 10 (1936) at Tezpur in the presence of Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha — pioneers of modern Assamese cinema. He recorded his first commercial song at 12 in 1939. Education: Cotton College Guwahati (BA 1942), Banaras Hindu University (MA Political Science 1946, PhD on mass communication 1952 from Columbia University, New York).
Music, cinema and ideology
Hazarika returned to Assam in 1953, taught briefly at Gauhati University, then became a full-time singer-songwriter-filmmaker. He composed for Assamese cinema (Era Bator Sur 1956, Shakuntala 1961), Bengali (Jiban Trishna), and Hindi (Rudaali 1993, Saaz 1997, Daman 2001, Gandhi to Hitler). His famous compositions:
- “Bistirno Parore / Ganga Behti Ho / O Ganga Tumi” — the Ganga river song, adapted by Hazarika from Paul Robeson’s “Ol’ Man River” (1949). His most-played song.
- “Manuhe Manuhar Babe” (Man is for Man) — humanism anthem.
- “Dil Hoom Hoom Kare” (Rudaali 1993).
- “Dola He Dola” (Rudaali, with Asha Bhosle).
- “Saaz” (1997, with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia).
Hazarika held the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Padma Shri (1977), Padma Bhushan (2001), Dadasaheb Phalke Award 1992, Padma Vibhushan (2012, posthumous), Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2009), and Bangladesh’s Muktijuddho Padak (2011) for his support of the 1971 Liberation War through his song “Joi Joi Naba Jato Bangladesh”.
Death (2011) and Bharat Ratna (2019)
Bhupen Hazarika died on 5 November 2011 in Mumbai aged 85 from multiple-organ failure. His funeral in Guwahati drew over 5 lakh people. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously on 25 January 2019. The Dr Bhupen Hazarika Setu (Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, India’s longest river bridge at 9.15 km across the Brahmaputra) was named after him on inauguration on 26 May 2017 by PM Modi. India Post stamp 2016.
UPSC angle
Know Bhupen Hazarika (b. Sadiya upper Assam 8 Sept 1926, d. Mumbai 5 Nov 2011) — “Sudhakantha”; mentored at age 10 by Jyotiprasad Agarwala + Bishnu Prasad Rabha at Tezpur; Cotton College BA 1942, BHU MA Pol Sci 1946, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY New York PhD Mass Communication 1952; Assamese films Era Bator Sur 1956 + Shakuntala 1961; Bollywood compositions Rudaali 1993 + Saaz 1997 + Daman 2001; iconic songs “Bistirno Parore / Ganga Behti Ho / O Ganga Tumi” (adapted from Paul Robeson “Ol’ Man River” 1949); “Manuhe Manuhar Babe”; “Dil Hoom Hoom Kare” Rudaali; awards: Padma Shri 1977, Sangeet Natak Akademi 1987, DADASAHEB PHALKE 1992, Padma Bhushan 2001, Padma Vibhushan 2012 (posthumous), BHARAT RATNA 25 Jan 2019 (posthumous); Bangladesh Muktijuddho Padak 2011 for 1971 support; Dr Bhupen Hazarika Setu Dhola-Sadiya Bridge (9.15 km Brahmaputra, India’s longest river bridge, inaugurated 26 May 2017 PM Modi).
Frequently asked questions
Why is Bhupen Hazarika called “Sudhakantha”?
“Nectar-voiced” in Assamese — the popular title given to him for his rich baritone voice and lyrics.
What is “Bistirno Parore”?
His iconic Bengali/Assamese/Hindi Ganga river song, adapted from Paul Robeson’s “Ol’ Man River” (1949). Recorded in multiple languages.
When did Hazarika receive the Bharat Ratna?
Posthumously on 25 January 2019.
What is the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge?
The 9.15-km bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh — India’s longest river bridge, inaugurated 26 May 2017 and renamed Dr Bhupen Hazarika Setu in his honour.