Arunchal Pradesh to set up Bhupen Hazarika Museum to mark his birth centenary
A bilingual commemorative book capturing his life, works, and values—cultural pride, inclusivity, and communal harmony—will also be published to mark his birth centenary.
The announcement was made following a coordination meeting chaired by deputy chief minister Chowna Mein at the civil Secretariat on Saturday.
'The celebration will be a tribute not just to his music, but also the values he championed—of unity, dignity, and harmony across communities,' Mein said.
Officials said the museum in Roing will feature rare photographs, musical archives, handwritten lyrics, and audiovisual material from Hazarika's career, including his contributions to films, literature, and social activism.
Born on September 8, 1926, in Sadiya (then part of undivided Assam), Bhupen Hazarika was a multifaceted cultural icon—lyricist, composer, poet, filmmaker, and politician. He earned his doctorate from Columbia University in 1952, where he was deeply influenced by American civil rights icon Paul Robeson. This inspired Hazarika's iconic Assamese song 'Bistirno Parore', based on Robeson's 'Ol' Man River'.
Hazarika's ties with Arunachal Pradesh are also significant. He composed the Hindi anthem 'Arunachal Hamara', and directed the state's first colour Hindi feature film, Mera Dharam Meri Maa (1976), marking a historic cultural milestone.
Over the decades, he composed for Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi films, including Chameli Memsaab, Rudaali, and Daman, often using his art to address issues of social justice and unity.
Hazarika was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1992, India's highest honour in cinema. He was also awarded the Padma Shri (1977), Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Vibhushan (posthumously in 2012), and Bharat Ratna (2019)—the country's highest civilian award.
In 1979, the Arunachal Pradesh government honoured him with a Gold Medal for his contributions to the state's cultural integration. He was also the first recipient of the Asom Ratna in 2009.
The birth centenary celebrations, which began in 2023, will culminate on September 8, 2026, with programmes planned across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. These include academic seminars, concerts, exhibitions, and the release of a peer-reviewed biography in multiple Indian languages.
Hazarika passed away on November 5, 2011, in Mumbai.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
12 minutes ago
- India.com
This web series has won 43 awards, based on true events, has an 8.8 IMDb rating, lead actors are..., series is...
This series is among the highest-rated Hindi shows on IMDb, boasting a rating of 8.8. It has garnered a total of 43 awards, and the performances of the cast were highly praised. If you haven't watched it yet, make sure to do so right away. One Of The Most Finest Series On OTT The series we are talking about is Rocket Boys, which tells the true story of scientists Homi J. Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai. The narrative unfolds during the pivotal decades of the 1940s to the 1960s in India, showcasing the country's journey towards becoming a strong, courageous, and independent nation. It highlights the early years of Independent India in the realm of science. With aspirations in their hearts and a vision in their minds, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha spearheaded India's Nuclear Programme, while Dr. Vikram Sarabhai laid the foundation for the Indian Space Programme and various other institutions. The Positive Reception And Accolades For Rocket Boys This series consists of 16 episodes spread across two seasons. Key roles were played by Jim Sarbh, Ishwak Singh, Regina Cassandra, Saba Azad, Divyendu Bhattacharya, and Rajit Kapoor. According to IMDb, the series has won 43 awards, encompassing both minor and major accolades. It received the Best Web Series award from the Indian Television Academy. Abhay Pannu and Kausar Munir were honored with the ITA Award for Best Dialogue. Jim Sarbh won the ITA Award for Best Actor, and the series also received awards for Best Story, Best Editing, Best VFX, and Best Director. More About Rocket Boys Additionally, Jim Sarbh was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke International Award for Best Actor. The series won the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay, and Abhay Pannu was recognized with the Filmfare Award for Best Director. It also received the Filmfare Award for Best Web Series (Popular Award). The theme, soundtrack, and score for both seasons were composed by Achint Thakkar, who gained recognition from Hansal Mehta's Scam 1992. Both series are currently streaming on Sony-LIV
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking charges, convicted on prostitution counts
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was found guilty on Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses but cleared of more serious charges, in a blow to prosecutors who had urged a jury to find him guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture. The verdict followed a criminal trial in which two of the music mogul's former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them. Combs faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each of the two prostitution counts. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian will determine Combs' sentence at a later date. The acquittals on the sex trafficking counts mean he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. He could have faced life in prison if he were convicted on sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy. After the judge dismissed the jury and lawyers for both sides, Combs knelt before his chair and appeared to pray. Combs then rose and faced the courtroom gallery. 'I'm gonna be home soon,' he said, smiling and clasping his hands. 'I love you. Thank you, I love you.' Combs' family and supporters erupted into applause and cheers. After the jury read its verdict, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked Subramanian to release Combs on bail, which prosecutors opposed. Subramanian asked lawyers for both sides to submit written arguments on whether he should release Combs by 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). Prosecutors say Combs for two decades used his business empire to force two of his romantic partners to take part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances sometimes known as 'Freak Offs' with male sex workers in hotel rooms while Combs watched, masturbated and occasionally filmed. During raids of Combs' homes, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant that he would use in the performances, prosecutors said. Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties for the cultural elite in luxurious locales like the Hamptons and Saint-Tropez, was at times violent in his domestic relationships. But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual. The seven-week trial in Manhattan federal court exposed the inner workings of Combs' business empire and gave the 12-member jury an intimate look into his volatile romantic relationships with the rhythm and blues singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane. Ventura sued Combs in November 2023 for sex trafficking, the first of dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. Combs, also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy and once feted for turning artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, settled with Ventura for $20 million. He has denied all wrongdoing. At the trial, jurors saw surveillance footage from 2016 showing Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in the hallway of an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, where she said she was trying to leave a 'Freak Off.' Jane later testified that Combs in June 2024 attacked her and directed her to perform oral sex on a male entertainer, even though she told him she did not want to. That alleged attack took place a month after Combs apologized on social media for his 2016 attack of Ventura, footage of which had been broadcast on CNN. According to prosecutors, physical violence was just one way Combs compelled Ventura and Jane to take part in the performances – an act of coercion they say amounts to sex trafficking because the male escorts were paid. Both women testified that he threatened to withhold financial support and to leak sexually explicit images of them if they refused to comply. 'The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,' prosecutor Christy Slavik said in her closing argument on June 26. 'He doesn't take no for an answer.' Combs' defense lawyers argued that while Combs may have committed domestic violence in the context of volatile romantic partnerships, his conduct did not amount to sex trafficking. They argued that Ventura and Jane were strong, independent women who voluntarily took part in the sexual performances because they wanted to please Combs. Both women testified they spent time with Combs and took part in sexual performances after he beat them. Defense lawyers argued that Ventura and Jane were retrospectively accusing Combs of forcing their participation in the performances because they were jealous he was seeing other women. 'If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn't all be here,' Combs' defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in his closing argument on June 27. 'He did not do the things he's charged with.' Besides Ventura and Jane, jurors also heard testimony from Combs' former personal assistants who said their jobs included setting up hotel rooms for 'Freak Offs' and buying their boss drugs. An InterContinental security guard testified that Combs, in the presence of his chief of staff, paid him $100,000 to hand over what he thought was the only copy of the surveillance tape of his attack on Ventura. And Scott Mescudi, the rapper known as Kid Cudi, told jurors Combs was likely involved in an arson on his car after Combs found out he was romantically involved with Ventura. According to prosecutors, those were all acts Combs and his associates undertook in furtherance of a racketeering conspiracy whose aim was, in part, to facilitate his abuse and keep evidence of his wrongdoing under wraps. The defense argued Combs was a successful entrepreneur who used drugs recreationally, but kept his professional and personal lives separate. Combs has been held in federal lockup in Brooklyn since his September 2024 arrest.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Kanye West blocked from entering Australia over Hitler song
American rapper Kanye West has been blocked from entering Australia over the release of his song 'Heil Hitler', which glorifies Nazism and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, Australia's Home Affairs Minister confirmed on Wednesday. The controversial track came months after the rapper, also known as Ye, made several antisemitic posts online — including declaring 'I love Hitler' and calling himself 'a Nazi' on X (formerly Twitter). While those earlier remarks did not lead to immediate action, Home affairs minister Tony Burke revealed that his department had cancelled West's valid visa after the song was released in early May. 'If someone argued that anti-Semitism was rational, I would not let them come here,' Burke said, while bringing up West's case. '[West] has been coming to Australia for a long time… and he's made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the Heil Hitler song, and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia.' 'It was a lower-level visa, and the officials still looked at the law and said if you're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism, we don't need that in Australia,' Burke told ABC News. 'We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.' Ye has longstanding personal ties to Australia. He married Bianca Censori, an Australian architect, in December 2022, and has visited the country frequently. Burke declined to specify when exactly the visa was cancelled. Ye's team has not responded to requests for comment. It was also not clear if West has been permanently banned from Australia. This is not the first time Australia has blocked entry over controversial speech. In October 2024, US conservative influencer Candace Owens was also denied a visa. At the time, Burke remarked: 'Australia's national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.' Despite global backlash, Heil Hitler amassed millions of views shortly after its May 8 release. Ye later attempted damage control by releasing a reworked version of the track titled Hallelujah, swapping references to Nazism with lyrics referencing Christianity.
