Guwahati, 06 November (HS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh, has welcomed the Assam government's decision to organise the grand concluding ceremony of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 29, describing it as a significant step towards taking the legendary singer's universal ideals and cultural legacy to national and international platforms.

In a press statement issued on Friday, the party congratulated the Assam government under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for the initiative, stating that Bhupen Hazarika, fondly known as Sudhakantha, was not merely a cultural icon of Assam but an invaluable treasure of India and humanity.

The party said Hazarika's music carried powerful messages of humanism, equality, harmony, brotherhood and universal unity, and the initiative would help take his philosophy and timeless compositions to younger generations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the historic event and confer the first-ever Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award on renowned playback singer Usha Mangeshkar. According to the BJP, the introduction of the award would further enhance national recognition of Hazarika's extraordinary contribution to Indian music and culture.

The party also observed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Assam's language, literature, music, art and cultural heritage had received increased recognition and importance at the national level. Organising the concluding ceremony in the national capital was a reflection of this recognition, it said.

The event is expected to feature prominent artistes from across the country as well as celebrated performers from Assam. A special highlight will be a collective performance by 1,000 artistes from Assam, who will present Hazarika's iconic songs 'Manuhe Manuhor Babe' and 'We Are in the Same Boat Brother'.

The BJP also appreciated the state government's arrangement to take 1,000 students from Assam to New Delhi by a special train to participate in the celebrations. The initiative, it said, would provide students with a unique opportunity to understand Hazarika's life, musical journey and humanistic philosophy.

The party further welcomed the launch of a dedicated online portal, sudhakantha.assam.statedatacenter.in, through which members of the public can obtain free e-invitations to attend the programme. It said the facility would enable admirers of the legendary artiste from across the country and abroad to be part of the historic occasion.

The BJP stated that the birth centenary celebrations were not merely a tribute to a legendary musician but also an opportunity to showcase Assam's cultural pride, identity and historical contributions before the world.

Expressing confidence that the November 29 programme, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, would mark a significant milestone in Assam's cultural history, the party appealed to people from all sections of society to participate in the celebrations and help take Hazarika's immortal creations and humanistic ideals to every corner of the world.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash