Kolkata, 07 September (H.S.) :

The Assam government has stepped up efforts to preserve the former Kolkata residence of Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika as a memorial to mark his birth centenary.

A high-level delegation from the Assam government inspected the building in Tollygunge, South Kolkata, on Sunday evening. The team explored the possibility of preserving a room on the first floor of the building where Hazarika spent several years of his life. Discussions were also held on coordinating with the West Bengal government and cultural organisations for the restoration and preservation of the space.

Assam Additional Chief Secretary B. Kalyan Chakravarty said the location holds considerable historical and cultural significance because of its association with Hazarika. He said the matter would be taken up at the appropriate level and efforts would be made to explore the possibility of restoring and preserving the room in coordination with the West Bengal government and other cultural institutions.

The three-storey building, located at 77B Golf Club Road in Tollygunge, was initially rented by Hazarika. He later purchased the property in 1981. However, he sold the house in the late 1990s before moving to Mumbai.

According to Tridib Sharma of the Assam Association, the property currently has multiple owners, with several families residing in different parts of the building. This has made the process of converting the property into a memorial more challenging.

Sharma said the house was not merely Hazarika’s residence but also served as an important hub for musical and cultural activities during that period. Legendary artistes such as Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey are also known to have visited the house.

Hazarika gave voice to songs in several languages, including Assamese, Bengali and Hindi, and played a significant role in connecting different linguistic and cultural traditions through his music.

Sharma said an earlier initiative to develop the property as a memorial had also been undertaken during the tenure of former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, but the proposal could not be taken forward. The latest initiative has renewed hopes that the project could move ahead with the cooperation of the West Bengal government.

Officials are now considering a joint strategy to preserve Hazarika’s sitting room on the first floor and develop it as a memorial space. The Assam government delegation emphasised that Hazarika’s music transcended linguistic, social, religious and communal boundaries and carried a message of cultural unity.

The official also pointed out that Kolkata and Bengal have historically been major centres of Indian art and culture. Keeping a place associated with an iconic cultural figure like Hazarika in a deteriorating condition, the official said, would not be appropriate. Hazarika had a deep connection with Bengal and its cultural traditions, while he continues to have a large following in the state.

The Assam government is expected to formally raise the matter with the West Bengal administration. The initiative comes as several programmes are being organised across the country to commemorate Hazarika’s birth centenary. A special musical programme was also held in Kolkata on Sunday as part of the celebrations.

The Assam government said Hazarika’s music, deeply influenced by folk traditions, continues to hold a significant place in the cultural heritage of Assam, Bengal and the wider Indian subcontinent. Preserving his former Kolkata residence as a memorial is therefore being seen as an important step towards honouring his enduring contribution to Indian music and culture.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh