Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a ₹100 commemorative coin on the occasion of the birth centenary of the great Assamese singer, poet, and cultural icon at a public event in Guwahati.
- Paying heartfelt tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a ₹100 commemorative coin on the occasion of the birth centenary of the great Assamese singer, poet, and cultural icon.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled this coin at a public event in Guwahati, marking the beginning of a series of celebrations in honor of Hazarika’s immense contribution to Indian culture and music.
- Along with the coin, a detailed biography of Hazarika published by the Assam Publication Board will also be released. To spread his message and life story across the country, this biography is expected to be translated into several Indian languages.
- This coin release is part of a year-long centenary celebration, which started on 8 September 2025 and will conclude on 8 September 2026 with a grand ceremony in which the President of India will also participate.
- Various memorial events are planned in major cultural and political centers such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
‘Bistrirna Parore’ Marks Bhupen Hazarika’s Birth Centenary
- To celebrate the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways launched a unique cultural initiative titled “Bistrirna Parore: A Musical Journey from Sadiya to Dhubri.”
- The journey was flagged off from Guijan Ghat, Tinsukia, with a vibrant festival of art and culture dedicated to the Brahmaputra river.
Announcement as centenary tribute
- The Bhupen Hazarika memorial site located at Jalukbari will be renamed Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Tirth, reflecting the values of harmony and unity he embraced.
- A dedicated museum will be constructed at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, where his personal belongings, creations, music, and awards will be preserved as a permanent heritage site.
Bhupen Hazarika
- For his unique influence on Indian art, music, and social consciousness, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 2019.
- Bhupen Hazarika was born on 8 September 1926 in Assam. He sang songs about the lives of common people, the struggles of the oppressed, and the beauty of Assam and the Northeast.
- He passed away on 5 November 2011 at the age of 85.
Education and inspiration
- He studied at Banaras Hindu University and later earned a PhD from Columbia University, New York. There he met the famous civil rights activist and singer Paul Robeson, who deeply influenced him.
- Some of his most favorite songs include:- Bistrirno Parore, Moi Eti Zazabor, Manuhe Manuhor Babe
Contribution to cinema and politics
- Apart from being a singer, Hazarika was also a film director and lyricist. He made award-winning Assamese films and composed music for Hindi and Bengali films such as Rudali and Daman. He also served as a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly and was Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi between 1998 and 2003.
Awards and honors received by Bhupen Hazarika
- National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1975)
- Padma Shri (1977) and Padma Bhushan (2001)
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2008)
- Padma Vibhushan (2012, posthumous)
- Bharat Ratna (2019, posthumous)
- His legacy is honored through statues, postage stamps, and even the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge in Assam named after him.
