CM Samrat Choudhary Pays Tribute to Bhupen Hazarika on Death Anniversary
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on 5 November 2026 paid tribute to Bharat Ratna-winning Assamese singer, lyricist and filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika on his death anniversary, calling his contribution to Indian music and art 'incomparable'.
Key Takeaways
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to Bhupen Hazarika on his death anniversary, 5 November 2026 .
Bhupen Hazarika was an Assamese singer, lyricist, musician, and filmmaker who passed away on 5 November 2011 .
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019 , alongside Pranab Mukherjee and Nanaji Deshmukh.
CM Choudhary described Hazarika's contribution to Indian music and art as 'incomparable' and said it would 'always be remembered'.
Memorial events are held across Assam and India each year on 5 November to mark his passing.
A voice that turned rivers into metaphors and sorrow into song — Bhupen Hazarika left India a musical inheritance that no anniversary can fully measure. On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paused to honour the Bharat Ratna-winning legend on his death anniversary with a heartfelt tribute posted on X.
In his post, CM Choudhary wrote: 'Mahan geetkar, sangeetkar evam film nirdeshak tatha Bharat Ratna se sammanit Bhupen Hazarika ji ki punyatithi par unhe vinamra shraddhanjali' — 'A humble tribute to the great lyricist, musician, film director and Bharat Ratna awardee Bhupen Hazarika ji on his death anniversary.' He added that Hazarika's 'incomparable contribution to Indian music and the world of art will always be remembered.'
The Man Who Sang the Brahmaputra Into Every Indian Home
Bhupen Hazarika was born on 8 September 1926 in Sadiya, Assam, and went on to become one of independent India's most distinctive artistic voices. A singer, lyricist, composer, and filmmaker rolled into one, he composed songs in Assamese that crossed every linguistic and regional barrier — his adaptations reached Bengali, Hindi, and beyond. His musical language drew from the folk traditions of the Brahmaputra valley and translated universal themes of humanity, displacement, and solidarity into melody. Hazarika passed away on 5 November 2011, and 8 November 2011 saw his state funeral in Guwahati. The loss resonated far beyond Assam — tributes poured in from artists, politicians, and ordinary listeners across the country.Bharat Ratna Conferred in 2019 — Posthumously
In 2019, the Government of India awarded Hazarika the Bharat Ratna — the country's highest civilian honour — posthumously, recognising a lifetime of artistic achievement that had shaped Indian cultural identity for decades. He received the honour alongside former President Pranab Mukherjee and social activist Nanaji Deshmukh. The recognition was widely seen as long overdue, cementing his place alongside India's most celebrated figures.A Ritual of Remembrance That Transcends Party Lines
CM Choudhary's tribute follows a well-established pattern across Indian political leadership — marking the death anniversaries of national cultural icons with public homage. What makes such gestures significant is not ceremony alone, but the signal they send: that artistic legacies rooted in one region can claim the entire nation's grief and gratitude. Hazarika's work, anchored in the Assamese experience, did exactly that — and continues to do so, fifteen years after his passing. Every 5 November, memorial events are held across Assam and by cultural organisations nationwide. His songs remain fixtures in school curricula, concert halls, and playlist algorithms alike — a rare kind of immortality.Point of View
Connecting regional artistic giants to a unified national identity. For a Bihar Chief Minister, paying homage to an Assamese legend also signals pan-India cultural solidarity, reaching beyond his state's immediate constituency. Such tributes cost little politically but accumulate significant soft-power capital over time.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bhupen Hazarika?
Bhupen Hazarika was a legendary Assamese singer, lyricist, composer, and filmmaker, born on 8 September 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. He is celebrated for bringing Assamese folk music to a national and international audience and was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019 .
When did Bhupen Hazarika die?
Bhupen Hazarika passed away on 5 November 2011 . His state funeral was held in Guwahati on 8 November 2011 .
Why did Samrat Choudhary pay tribute to Bhupen Hazarika?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paid tribute to mark the death anniversary of Bhupen Hazarika on 5 November 2026 , honouring his incomparable contributions to Indian music, art, and filmmaking.
When did Bhupen Hazarika receive the Bharat Ratna?
Bhupen Hazarika received the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — posthumously in 2019 , alongside former President Pranab Mukherjee and social activist Nanaji Deshmukh.
What is Bhupen Hazarika remembered for?
Bhupen Hazarika is remembered for composing and singing songs rooted in the folk traditions of the Brahmaputra valley, with themes of humanity, solidarity, and displacement that resonated across India's linguistic and regional boundaries.
