Guwahati pays tribute to Bhupen Hazarika on 15th death anniversary
The All Assam Students’ Union has issued six demands to preserve the legacy of the Bharat Ratna awardee.
Tributes were paid to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika in Guwahati on Thursday to mark his 15th death anniversary, according to The Assam Tribune. Commemorative events took place at his memorial in Jalukbari and his statue by Dighalipukhuri.
The Assam government’s Department of Cultural Affairs conducted a programme at the Sudhakantha’s Samadhi Kshetra in Jalukbari. Jalukbari MLA Vijay Gupta and Minister Biswajit Daimary attended the event to offer floral tributes.
At the Dighalipukhuri statue, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) presented six demands to protect the singer's intellectual legacy. AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said the group wants Hazarika’s works included in academic curricula and the establishment of university chairs in his name.
Other AASU demands include renaming Guwahati Railway Station after the singer, creating a dedicated cultural train, and building an international research institute. The group also requested the immediate redevelopment of the Hazarika samadhi kshetra with better infrastructure.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also shared tributes on social media. Sarma described the contribution of the singer, known as the Bard of the Brahmaputra, to the state's culture as unparalleled.
The year-long birth centenary celebrations for the musician began on September 8, 2025, and are set to end on November 29 in New Delhi.