Google pays tribute to legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika

Google paid tribute to iconic singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika today, on his 96th birth anniversary, through one of their famous doodles. The illustration showcases the renowned Assamese music maestro, who can be seen with a harmonium and his trademark Gurkha cap.

Bhupen Hazarika was felicitated with India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 2019. The renowned singer was a composer, poet and filmmaker who created music for numerous films in Assamese, Hindi, Bengali and a few other languages.

"Happy birthday, Bhupen Hazarika! Your songs and films continue to command respect for Assam's rich culture," said Google in their tweet.

Hazarika's songs have inspired generations of progressive youth who dreamt of socialism and an egalitarian society.

Popularly known as the 'Bard of the Brahmaputra', Hazarika was born on this day in 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. He did a master's in political science from Banaras Hindu University in 1946 and went on to earn a PhD in mass communications from Columbia University in 1952.

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After completing his education in America, he returned to India to continue working on songs and films that popularised Assamese culture on both a national and global scale.

Over a career spanning six decades, Hazarika won several prestigious awards including the National Film Award for 'Best Music Direction' in 1975, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, the Padma Shri in 1977, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award— the highest cinematic recognition in India—in 1992.

Bhupen Hazarika passed away on November 5, 2011.