Guwahati, Nov 18 : The Department of English of The Assam Royal Global University (RGU), in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, on November 15 organised a day-long colloquium to commemorate the birth centenary of Dr Bhupen Hazarika and reflect on his wide-ranging contributions as an artist, poet and humanist.
Titled “Reminiscing Sudhakantha: A Colloquium on His Life and Variegated Contributions”, the programme brought together scholars, journalists, authors and cultural figures from across the region and beyond.
Dr Sandhya Purecha, Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, joined the gathering virtually.
In the inaugural address, Sangeet Natak Akademi secretary Sri Raju Das underlined Dr Hazarika’s enduring role as a cultural bridge-builder who gave voice to the emotions, aspirations and struggles of ordinary people through music, cinema and activism.
He also recalled that it was on this very day twenty-five years ago that Sattriya dance was accorded classical status, making November 15 a doubly significant date in Assam’s cultural calendar.
RGU vice chancellor Prof Alak K. Buragohain highlighted the timeless power of Dr Hazarika’s songs to bind communities and articulate the collective soul of Assam. Prof Pradip Jyoti Mahanta and Prof Indrani Sinha Ray also addressed the inaugural session.
The first technical session, chaired by Prof Shiela Bora, featured Sri Himangshu Sekhar Das, IAS (Retd.), who recalled his personal association with Dr Hazarika, particularly during the period when the latter served as Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and described how his leadership was instrumental in elevating Sattriya to national recognition.
Nagaland University chancellor Dr Samudra Gupta Kashyap spoke on “Bhupen Hazarika: A Global Citizen”, focusing on the artist’s cosmopolitan sensibility and his ability to merge regional identity with universal themes.
Prof Prasenjit Biswas of North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, examined the intellectual and aesthetic depth of Dr Hazarika’s creative vision, while Prof Bibhas Choudhury of Gauhati University discussed the contemporary relevance of his works and the need for sustained efforts to preserve and reinterpret his legacy for future generations.
The second technical session, chaired by Prof Krishna Barua, saw Sahitya Akademi awardee Smt. Anuradha Sharma Pujari, Prof Debarshi Prasad Nath of Tezpur University and Prof Jyotirmoy Prodhani of NEHU offering further reflections on Hazarika’s literary, musical and cultural impact.
The colloquium concluded with musical performances by faculty members and students, presented as a tribute to the bard whose art continues to inspire unity and imagination across generations.
