CM Himanta announces Usha Mangeshkar to receive Bhupen Hazarika Award
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that legendary playback singer Usha Mangeshkar will be conferred the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award in the presence of PM Narendra Modi, marking the centenary year of the iconic Assamese cultural giant.
Key Takeaways
Usha Mangeshkar , veteran Indian playback singer, will receive the Dr.
Bhupen Hazarika National Award .
The award ceremony will take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
The event is tied to the centenary commemorations of Bhupen Hazarika (#BhupenDaAt100), born in 1926 .
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted Usha Mangeshkar's deep cultural connection with Bhupen Hazarika and Assam .
Bhupen Hazarika was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012 for his contribution to Indian music.
A legend of Indian playback singing is set to receive one of the country's most culturally resonant honours — and the occasion promises to be extraordinary. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday, 23 October 2026, that veteran singer Usha Mangeshkar will be conferred the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sarma wrote: 'Bharatiya Sangeet Jagat ki suprasiddha kalakar aadaraneeya Usha Mangeshkar ji ko... Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Rashtriya Puraskar se sammanit kiya jayega.' — 'Celebrated artist of the Indian music world, the respected Usha Mangeshkar ji, will be honoured with the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award in the revered presence of Narendra Modi ji.' He added that Usha ji's deep cultural connection with Bhupen Hazarika and Assam makes this recognition even more special, marking the occasion under the hashtag #BhupenDaAt100.Usha Mangeshkar's bond with Bhupen Da and Assam
Usha Mangeshkar, a stalwart of the Mangeshkar family — arguably the most celebrated musical dynasty in Indian film history — has lent her voice to Hindi, Marathi, and numerous regional film industries across several decades. That cross-cultural reach is precisely what makes this award so fitting. The award is named after Bhupen Hazarika, the legendary Assamese singer, lyricist, and composer whose folk-rooted music became a bridge between the Northeast and the rest of India. CM Sarma's emphasis on her 'deep cultural connection' with Bhupen Da signals that this is not a ceremonial gesture — it is a recognition of a genuine artistic kinship.
Bhupen Hazarika at 100 — a centenary with national weight
The hashtag #BhupenDaAt100 anchors this ceremony firmly in the centenary commemorations of Bhupen Hazarika, born 8 September 1926. Hazarika, who passed away in 2011, was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012 for his lifetime contribution to Indian music — a towering legacy that Assam and the Northeast continue to celebrate with justified pride. His centenary year has become an occasion for the Central government to place his name and Northeast India's cultural richness at the front of the national stage.
PM Modi's presence — and what it signals
The announcement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will personally be present at the ceremony elevates the event well beyond a routine state award. Central government events have increasingly featured national honours to veteran artists from the Northeast, threading regional cultural figures into a wider national narrative. A Prime Ministerial presence at a cultural award sends an unmistakable signal: this is not simply Assam honouring a musician — it is India doing so.
For Usha Mangeshkar, the honour arrives as a bridge moment — where a voice that shaped Hindi cinema meets the cultural soul of the Brahmaputra valley. That is the kind of recognition that outlasts a single ceremony.
Point of View
Publicly flagging PM Modi's presence is also a political statement: it demonstrates the Northeast's growing visibility in New Delhi's cultural calendar. The choice of Usha Mangeshkar — a cross-regional icon — suggests a deliberate attempt to build a cultural bridge between Bollywood's mainstream and Assam's folk traditions.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is receiving the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award in 2026?
Veteran Indian playback singer Usha Mangeshkar has been announced as the recipient of the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award, as stated by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Will PM Modi attend the Bhupen Hazarika Award ceremony?
Yes, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the award will be presented to Usha Mangeshkar in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Why is the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award significant?
The award is named after legendary Assamese singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika, whose music bridged Northeast India's folk traditions with mainstream Indian culture. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012.
What is #BhupenDaAt100?
#BhupenDaAt100 refers to the centenary commemorations of Bhupen Hazarika, born on 8 September 1926, which are being observed in 2026 with cultural events across India.
What is Usha Mangeshkar known for?
Usha Mangeshkar is a celebrated playback singer from the Mangeshkar family, known for her contributions to Hindi, Marathi, and other regional film industries spanning several decades.
