GUWAHATI: Amid the ongoing celebrations marking the 100th birth anniversary of legendary singer and cultural icon Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the Assam government has sought one to two bighas of land from Gauhati University for the development of his Samadhi Khetra at Jalukbari.
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement while speaking at a centenary programme at Samannay Tirtha in Jalukbari on Tuesday, September 8, where tributes were paid to Hazarika on his birth anniversary.
The programme, organised by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, saw the participation of Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Sarma, his Cabinet colleagues, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, author and journalist Anuradha Sharma Pujari and several other dignitaries.
Sarma said Gauhati University had also been requested to establish a Performing Arts Department inspired by Hazarika’s ideals, while the possibility of setting up a small auditorium was also being considered.
The government is also planning a museum dedicated to Hazarika at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra at an estimated cost of Rs 35.77 crore. The museum will come up across 3.24 bighas, with Rs 14 crore to be provided by the North Eastern Council and the remaining amount funded by the Assam government.
As part of efforts to preserve Hazarika’s legacy, Sarma said the government was also in talks with the West Bengal government to acquire Hazarika’s former residence in Tollygunge, Kolkata. He said he had written to the West Bengal Chief Minister regarding the matter.
Speaking at the centenary programme, author and journalist Anuradha Sharma Pujari said the occasion should not be seen merely as a remembrance of Hazarika but as the beginning of another century of his influence.
She highlighted Hazarika’s contribution to giving Assam a distinct cultural identity through his songs and urged younger generations to understand his works rather than merely reproduce them.
The state government has also announced plans for augmented and virtual reality facilities at Samannay Tirtha, along with a regional theatre workshop. An Instagram reel competition for people aged 16 to 45 is also being organised to encourage younger audiences to engage with Hazarika’s life and work.
The centenary celebrations were launched in September 2025 and are being held across Assam throughout the year. The celebrations will conclude with a national-level programme at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 29, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.