Music was always my first love since I was a little child, but destiny had other wicked yet surprising plans in store for me. So, after completing my Master’s in English from the erstwhile Cotton College (now Cotton University), yours truly, like many others, landed up in Delhi in search of jobs. And luck had it that, after working in various capacities at different organisations, my first job worth mentioning was with Music Today of The India Today Group.
I was rightfully delighted, as it kept me connected to music. After nine months of nurturing and care, like in a mother’s womb, I was called for an interview at Hindustan Times, and fortunately, I got selected. I’m setting the tone with these slightly elaborate opening remarks to offer an insight into what nudged me to write this piece. Upon my return to Assam for personal reasons, I never really had the luxury to get back to writing or publish anything substantial. But today came along as an opportune moment to return to the passion of writing once again, thanks to a few well-wishers who kept pestering me to start living the life and art I’ve always loved.
And Bhupen Da, as always, came to me as a knight in shining armour - in his spirit! Today, as Assam and the entire nation celebrate 100 years of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika, I had to pause and take a breather from the fast lanes of life to pen a heartfelt tribute to our very own Bhupen Da, a household name, deeply loved across generations, irrespective of caste, creed, community, and religion. The Bard of the Brahmaputra stood for unity. Bhupen Da is the epitome of our identity, our culture, and an enduring love for humanity.
I grew up listening to his songs, played every morning on our humble yet proud possession, a radio that sat atop our wooden dining table. My Ma would play it gleefully, loud enough to wake her three sleepy children in time for school. Every celebration at home was incomplete without his music.
Seeing my growing love for melody, Ma enrolled me in Dhemaji Music School when I was in the 4th standard at S.F.S. School. Thus began my six-year journey of formal training in Hindustani vocal under the Vishnu Digambar Gharana, guided by seasoned gurus.
Every Friday evening and Sunday morning, Ma, Dada, and I headed for our music classes. (Oh, and by the way, Dada, now an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at AEC, is also a trained tabla player.) I eventually earned my B.Mus by the time I reached Class X.
Back at school, we had a Literary Activities class every Friday from 2-3 p.m., mandated for all students by the Father of our missionary school, a beautiful initiative. We performed songs by legends such as Bhupen Da, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Jayanta Hazarika, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Rabindranath Tagore, Lata Di, and Asha Tai.
But Bhupen Da remained our favourite, especially when Rudaali was the rage. I loved music so much that I even had it as my elective subject for the matriculation exam. For the practical exam, which was held in Lakhimpur, if my memory serves me right, we had to learn at least two songs by Bhupen Da, one Rabindra Sangeet, one Nazrul Geeti, and one Bhajan as well. The best days of my life indeed.
Fast forward to my college days at Cotton, our chorus performances during friendly intro sessions at SKL hostel and other events were often interspersed with Bhupen Da’s melodies. He never really left us. His music stayed like a silent companion - in spirit and in soul.
Later, when I began my career in Delhi, I found solace in his songs once again. I met many like-minded souls in the journalism community, friends from Bengal and the Northeast, all chasing dreams in the world of mainstream media.
At least twice a month, we’d hold jam sessions, bringing along our musical instruments. I had my acoustic Gibson, though I never quite mastered it. Others brought smaller percussion instruments; a tabla was too cumbersome to carry on buses (this was before the Delhi Metro came along).
At HT City, our chai addas were often set to music, with Bhupen Da, Rabindranath Tagore, and Abida Parveen always being favourites. Those moments felt like home away from home.
What I’m trying to say, through these fragments of memory, from childhood mornings to college corridors to newsroom evenings in Delhi, and now, being back in Assam, is that we have all lived and loved Bhupen Da in our own unique ways. And he will continue to inspire generations. My personal favourite from his legacy is Kohua Bon, Asanta Mon. The Government of Assam has announced a year-long celebration as a tribute to Assam’s son of the soil — our beloved Bhupen Da.