An artist’s primary obligation is towards his or her audience and the spectators. His popularity and greatness depend on their estimation. It has been observed that sometimes great artist need to shift from one to another ideology just to adjust himself with the demand of changing and varied popular taste. No doubt, the saying goes that masterminds think alike. It has been proved by the ideals, opinions and writings of the eminent thinkers, writers and artists throughout the ages and all over the world. Assam is proud of her illustrious son Dr Bhupen Hazarika whose position in popular estimation is somewhat nearer, if not similar to the great Srimanta Sankardeva, the founding father of modern Assamese culture. Bhupen Hazarika is the worthy inheritor of that culture.
In the western world, Paul Robeson is his match. Both Robeson and Bhupen Hazarika wanted to usher in ideal changes in their respective countries through music. For Robeson the guitar was a means of social change. So also, Bhupen Hazarika too visualised ushering in an ideal society free from exploitation which he wanted to do through music. Even at the tender age of 13 Bhupen Hazarika composed and sang the song —
“Agni Jugar Firingati Moi
Natun Axom Garhim
Xarba Harar Xarbaswa
Punar Phirai Anim
Dr Hazarika in his later life proved himself a worthy creation of what he at the age of thirteen predicted about himself as “I am the spark of the age of fire”(Agni Jugar firingoti Moi). The ideals of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha instilled in him at an early age, the spirit of looking at things freely and independently which is the basis of his revolutionary thoughts.
While pursuing higher education at Banaras Hindu University, brought him into contact with many a luminaries of then India; his contact with Paul Robeson may be called a rare fortunate occasion. At the Columbia University he came into contact with Paul Robeson, the great Afro American artist, who believed that music could be a powerful instrument for social transformation.
He declared that Guitar was not a musical instrument, it was a social instrument. Robeson’s revolutionary utterings, his songs and his public speeches convinced Dr Hazarika that art and music could really be powerful forces, which might be utilised for social transformation. In spite of such inspiration derived from Paul Robeson, it must be said with due respect to Dr Hazarika that he could not elevate himself to the height of Paul Robeson as far as their aims and objectives were concerned. While Paul Robeson remained steadily sticking to his avowed purpose, Dr Hazarika diverted his attention to some other artistic activities such as filmmaking, literary activities and also to politics. Such diversion of Hazarika deviated him from his avowed purpose of attaining social transformation.
Dr Hazarika claimed, “I am really a believer of Marxist philosophy and I have grown up believing in the philosophy of saint Sankardeva. My ideals are Paul Robeson, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Junior; I am a believer in socialism”. However, he could not confined himself solely into it.
Dr Hazarika’s song “Bistirna Parare” may be called a translation though not literal of Paul Robeson’s song ‘Old Man River’. While Robeson sings on the theme of Mississippi, Dr Hazarika does so taking the Brahmaputra as the theme of his song. While the Mississippi is described as witnessing the toil and hardship of the Blacks because of the exploitation by the Whites, Dr Hazarika blames the mighty Brahmaputra for helplessly witnessing the miseries of the dwellers on its sprawling banks.
In ‘Old Man River’ Robeson has personified the river Mississippi, attributing on it human qualities. The river is imagined as an old man helplessly witnessing the hardship of life experienced by the Blacks who remained perpetually exploited by “the rich man boss”, who is no other than the white man. Going a step ahead of Paul Robeson, Dr Hazarika wants the Brahmaputra to inspire the people to revolt against the ruthless oppressors. Elevating the river to the status of fatherhood, he wants it to inspire the sons who are none other than the dwellers on its banks.
In Robeson’s ‘Old Man River’ the singer hasneither directly questioned nor asked the river to inspire the Blacks — the toiling masses on its banks, to revolt against the oppressor. This amply proves that Hazarika’s revolutionary zeal for social transformation is somewhat more forceful than that of Robeson. Dr Hazarika wants the Brahmaputra to install the spirit of rebellion in the hearts of the oppressed lots.
Although want of space has restricted any more comparison between the songs of Paul Robeson and Dr Bhupen Hazarika, it must be said that Dr Hazarika may be called a soul no lesser than Paul Robeson, so far his talent and popularity are concerned. It is a fact that Robeson by virtue of his unwavering faith and unity of purpose proved himself a greater revolutionary artist. He remained sticking to his mission of life — that was to gain equal social status for the Blacks. On the other hand, Dr Bhupen Hazarika, in spite of his superior talent and academic excellence, is said to have not attained the status of Paul Robeson. This is possibly because of diverting his talent to various other artistic activities as mentioned earlier.
Yet another reason for Robeson’s wider popularity is his identification with a cause having international ramification — the age old conflict between Blacks and white. Incidentally, Dr Hazarika did not have the scope to associate himself with any International cause, as a result of which his popularity remained confined to his country. Had he got an international platform like that of Robeson, probably with his superior talent Dr Hazarika too could have elevated himself to a height not lower than that of Paul Robeson.
In fine it must be said that Dr Bhupen Hazarika proved himself a more popular artist than Robeson. This has been amply proved by the millions of his patrons and fans who rushed out to pay homage to his mortal remains.
If in death Dr Bhupen Hazarika could attract millions of his patrons and his fans, one can guess what sort of popularity he used to have while alive. The mourning millions wept bitterly worrying if ever Mother Assam would be blessed with another son of Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s worth.
Writer is an Associate Professor, Sonapur College