Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi presented Bishwaratna  Dr. Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award to renowned singer Usha Mangeshkar at a function held at NEDFi House, Guwahati on Tuesday The award consists of a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, an angavastra, a commendation and a collection of books.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Prof. Mukhi said that Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was a musical genius who put Assam on the country’s cultural map through his compositions and songs. “It is an honour for him to have presented this coveted award instituted after the name of a musical genius to another singing genius”, the Governor added. He moreover, said that the unique compositions and rendition of soul-stirring songs by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika have made him the most celebrated artiste of the country. He also thanked Assam Sahitya Sabha for instituting this coveted award after the legendary singer which is indeed a fitting tribute to the bard of the Brahmaputra.

He said that this prestigious biennial award has already been awarded to prominent international personalities of culture, literature, and filmmaker like Smt. Lubna Marium of Bangladesh, Sri Adoor Gopalkrishnan of India, Sri Prasanna Vithanage of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Eric Kho of Singapore. He also said that he is happy that this year, the prestigious award is presented to another most deserving personality, Smt. Usha Mangeskar who has greatly contributed to Indian music. He also said that Usha Mangeskar and her legendary elder sister Lata Mangeshkar have sung many beautiful Assamese songs mostly created by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.

The Governor also said that the century old people’s organisation Asam Sahitya Sabha has done a great service by instituting this prestigious award in the name of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika who also happened to be President of the Sivasagar session of Sahitya Sabha in the year 1993. Thus Dr. Bhupen Hazarika had been closely associated with Asam Sahitya Sabha like many other luminaries and stalwarts in the field of literature and culture of Assam. Asam Sahitya Sabha is the largest literary and socio-cultural organisation in India. Therefore this prestigious award bears great significance to the awardees and to the people of this country.

The Governor congratulated Usha Mangeskar on receiving the award and coming all the way from Mumbai despite her busy schedule. He also thanked Numaligarh Refinery Limited for its gesture to sponsor this award with Assam Sahitya Sabha.

President, Assam Sahitya Sabha Dr. Kuladhar Saikia, CMD, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd.  B.J. Phukan, CGM SBI Arvind Kumar Singh along with a host of other dignitaries were present at the function.

Advertisement | InfoCom Solutions