The bard of the Brahmaputra
Written by Debojit Barthakur   
I can never ever forget that November 5, 2011 afternoon, and the scenes in the television screen during the days that followed. My eyes opened wide in shock and disbelief as I looked at the still figure of Dr Bhupen Hazarika on the hospital bed even as the news of his death flashed continuously on the TV screen.  And as the familiar, compassionate baritone voice of the genius was played in the audio track accompanying the shocking visuals, my mind was filled with those memorable songs that stirred my soul throughout my life, and I found it impossible to hold back the wells of tears in my eyes.
How can we describe a man of such extraordinary talents and yet so humble and kind; a man who felt so deeply for his fellow men, empathized with their emotions, their sorrow and mirth, their hopes, aspirations and struggles, and lived for their happiness till his last breath? Will it suffice to call him a literary giant who composed the most sublime poetry, spreading the message of love, brotherhood, compassion and every exalted value of life; a musical genius whose music seems to have a soul of its own; or a great singer who narrated the innermost feelings of the common man, extolled the beauty of everything that is good, sang the most effusive praises for his motherland, with a compassionate voice that came straight from his heart and permeated down the hearts of millions? Bhupenda had so much of love and compassion in his heart for his fellow men, and he was so selfless in pursuit of that love that it is difficult to imagine what is it like to have a heart as that of Bhupenda’s. It is best to study the character of this great human being through his timeless melodies which are the truest representations of his golden heart; songs, which are no mere songs but narratives of his life, his emotions, and the emotions of the common man. He sang the language of peace, harmony and brotherhood; lent a voice to the pains and sufferings of the common man; with such passionate earnestness that the songs virtually seeped the emotion that his heart infused into them. Understanding and enjoying Bhupenda’s songs also encompasses ones entire lifetime. From the puerile perception of childhood when the deeper significance behind his exquisite language escaped us to the more mature perception of adulthood, when the true meaning of the songs, based on real-life situations, revealed their inner beauty and mesmerized us with their poetic brilliance and emotional renderings. 
Bhupenda’s passion for singing, writing and painting, was driven not by the quest for fame, money or any personal gain. He sang out of love and compassion, out of pain, out of sorrow, out of ecstasy and joy, out of his intense love for his motherland. It is the emotion which came from the deep inside of his heart that defined his songs, and made them permeate the deepest corners of the heart, in the deepest corners of the land. The Assamese people are known to be soft-hearted and sentimental, especially in matters of human sensitivity. Bhupenda was himself an epitome of this innate Assamese nature, and all his ballads echo the sentiments of his audience across all sections of Assamese society, cutting across race, creed and religion, which is why he is loved so much by all. He sang with the same earnestness and emotion as a farmer prays for the bounty of his crop, as a wanderer pines for his home, or as a lover admires the beauty of his beloved. He virtually lives every emotion in his songs, which is perhaps the reason why his spirit penetrated every being, and every person --- be it the persevering farmer, the intense lover, the die-hard patriot, the avid naturalist, the soulful artist, or the common man in the street.
One aspect of Bhupenda’s personality that shines forth in his songs is the unmistakable fire of patriotism in himt. He loved his motherland beyond his own comprehension; such is the passion that exudes from his songs in praise of Assam. The self-professed wanderer, the nomad with a purpose (the jajabor, as he called himself), Bhupenda regarded the world as his home, and its people, his brothers and sisters. All through his peregrinations across the world, he attempted to awaken people to the values of humanity through his songs; to the values of unity, harmony and peace, and those of empathy and compassion for one’s fellow men. Yet, in spite of all his sojourns, Bhupenda was always drawn to his roots, to the land of his birth, Assam, and it was his attachment for his homeland that lay at the core of all his immortal creations. It was the force that moved his heart the most, and inspired him to create such timeless melodies of joy, melancholy, patriotism, love and empathy. He travelled far and wide, won the love and adulation of many, but his mother, Assam was always omnipresent in his world, and the center of all his affections. He thrilled numerous audiences across the globe, and earned uncountable accolades, but his heart always yearned for that little bit more love and appreciation from his own people. He was the voice of the Assamese people; of the poor villager, the man in the street, the old and the young, and their emotions, struggles, hopes and aspirations. He virtually breathed the air of Assam, of its people, its history, its hills, forests, fields and rivers, of life in its villages, towns, cities, households and streets. The great river Brahmaputra, the lifeline of Assam, has found fond personification in Bhupenda’s compositions as his closest companion, with whom he played during his childhood; with whom he quarreled in frustration; whom he turned to in times of distress and helplessness; and whom he revered as the creator, provider and protector of his dear motherland. Every song of Bhupenda that speaks about his beloved motherland and his dear Brahmaputra are not just lyrical compositions of extraordinary literary excellence but are emotive ballads, so steeped in his pride, reverence and love for his motherland that the sublime strains make the listener live the throes of the emotions and the situations depicted in the song.
Through his songs, Bhupenda dreamed of infusing a sense of brotherhood, unity and harmony among the disparate sections of society, and to make the voice of the poor and underprivileged heard and empathized by the masses. He exhorted people to immerse themselves in the beauty of love and life; in the beauty of Mother Nature. He had always hoped that his songs, his clarion calls for the betterment of society, would create an awakening in the minds of the people of Assam, and an united and progressive Assam would lead the economic and social renaissance of the Indian civilization. His songs were his medium of communication with his people, his instruments for inciting social reform, and his means of preaching love, compassion and brotherhood. 
Yet, even such a kind, humble and loved man as Bhupenda had his moments of despair. Even he had to face the jeers and jibes of some people, ironically, from amongst the very people upon whom he showered his total, and unconditional love. He despaired for a united Assam, free from all discord and violence; a dream which remained unfulfilled to a large extent. He wanted desperately to spend the last moments of his life in his motherland, which too was cruelly denied by Fate. However, the manner in which Bhupenda’s demise triggered the unified chorus of mourning and remembrance that the entire North-East reverberated with, and the flood of humanity that broke out on to the streets to bare their souls to him, must have gladdened his soul even in its passing.
Although there is no one visible who can be expected to fill the huge gap that Bhupenda has left in the hearts and minds of the people of Assam, the North-East and India, Bhupenda’s dreams of a prosperous Assam may yet come true. Notwithstanding the rising discord in every society including that of the Assamese, and the surfeit of misery and helplessness that continue to engulf several sections of the society in Bhupenda’s beloved homeland, his soul-touching ballads and his infinite love for Assam has enough power to infuse an inspiration to accomplish, and a determination to emulate the virtues that Bhupenda had so painstakingly preached. Bhupenda is gone, but he has left for us his glorious footsteps. We can learn much from his life to make our life better. There can be no better tribute in memory of the great “Bard of the Brahmaputra” than this.