Guwahati, 23 October (HS): The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Friday took several important decisions, including announcing the recipients of the state’s highest civilian honours for 2025 and outlining plans for the grand finale of legendary singer Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s birth centenary celebrations.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan, Sarma announced that the centenary celebrations would be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 29. Eminent singer Usha Mangeshkar will receive the Bhupen Hazarika National Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will attend the event in person.

The national award will be presented once every three years and will carry a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh along with a citation.

The nearly two-hour programme will feature around 1,000 singers from Assam performing two of Hazarika’s timeless songs, ‘Manuhe Manuhor Babe’ and ‘We Are in the Same Boat, Brother’. Renowned singers Shreya Ghoshal and Shankar Mahadevan will also participate in the musical tribute.

Announcing the recipients of the state’s highest civilian awards for 2025, the chief minister said Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee, founder of Sankaradeva Nethralaya, would receive the Assam Baibhav award.

The Assam Saurav awards will go to Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma for his contributions to veterinary science and elephant conservation, Nuruddin Ahmed for art and culture, Pulak Banerjee for music and cultural activities, and Purnima Devi Barman for environmental conservation and the protection of the greater adjutant stork, locally known as ‘Hargila’.

The Assam Gaurav awards will be conferred on 10 distinguished individuals for their contributions to various fields. The recipients are Deviprasad Bagrodia, Halicharan Narzary, Simu Das, Harkanta Basumatary, Dhanjit Talukdar, Nivedita Inn, Mayank Chakraborty, Jiten Charangphangsa, Tanumaya Sonar Biswakarma and Dikpal Lahon.

The announcements reflect the state government’s efforts to honour distinguished contributions to society while paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Bhupen Hazarika through a national-level musical celebration.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash